🛜

[solarpsychedelic]

I keep returning to my theory:

We had a healthier and happier relationship with the internet when there were fewer of us online and we had simple Goecities websites and long form blogs.

The unhealthy combination of reality tv shows, smartphones, and social media apps have resulted in niche echo chambers and a main character syndrome and slacktivism that is off the charts. Nuance, context, and understanding of history and culture? Nah, dawg, it’s all about the extremes and persecuting everyone who doesn’t agree.

I am beyond sick and tired of people on both sides who think it’s their moral duty to issue purity tests and then attempt to destroy someone who doesn’t pass while they ignore their own imperfections.

You ain’t all that and a slice of cheese, dawg. Look in the mirror.

“Touch grass” is now a feeble cliche. If you are THAT unhappy with the state of the world, you have the following options:

1. Get off line and volunteer in person for a cause you believe in.


2. Find a job that relates to a cause you support (if you can).


3. Build a time machine and go back and fix things.

Since the third option is still unlikely, then work on obtaining the other two options.

The longer we remain divided and polarized, the worse things will get.

On the one hand, the tech is amazing and I’m thankful I can write, do art, and make music because of it. But OTOH, I’m tired of the negativity and untreated mental illness that this apparently evokes.

Much of my frustration is from my age, I’m aware of that. Back in the day, the internet was a fun refuge from IRL. The internet was where I would go to over analyze shows like The X-Files on sites like Television Without Pity. It was a place to hang out, a third space.

Then of course, finally they managed to take over, destroy, and/or weaponize virtual third spaces, to their profit and out detriment.