Without reaction and interaction, social media is pointless.
Just sharing for the sake of sharing, throwing it into the wind and all that... sure, that sounds nice too, but it can also be considered a complete and utter waste of time. Pointless.
Wasting time, one of the few things I consider a sin.
Some turn to provocative posts, in order to ensure a reaction.
I am not going to do that.
Some are content to share whatever it is they share, and make a few bucks.
That doesn't work for me.
Yes, I do want to show my artworks, but, if it was just that, I could show up once a month, or so, and that be all. Perhaps I wouldn't even bother. Not anymore. To be here regularly, here or anywhere, there has to be more. There has to be interaction, quality interaction.
Does that even make sense though?
Are social platforms really built for quality interaction?
Consider the versatility and the amount of input. So many people... Most of you follow hundreds of people. Some follow thousand of people.... Why?
It's impossible to treat everyone with the kind of respect with which you would treat someone in real life. The one on one, direct eye contact, body language, words, interaction, sharing experiences, insights, etc.
So what do we look for here?
Why are we here?
A couple of months ago, I posted the following text on Minds.com, another social platform I am fond of:
So you witness a group of men all excited about a little girl who is doing porn, and who is younger than my youngest kid, telling themselves it's ok because the website says she is much older than she looks.
On that same platform I post my artworks, my thoughts, my inspiration. You will also find photos of me with my artworks, where I (and you, too) can witness a conversation on whether I'm a "babe" or just "an angry bitch". Or scary bitch?
I don't know..., some kind of bitch anyway.
These are important questions evidently.
Why am I on social media?
Someone remind me, please.
I can't remember.
I received many answers, some good ones too! A few elaborate, and beautiful ones... and then, there is one that stood out through its simplicity: It said:
"Because you're looking for resonances."
Yes. I am looking for the real within the unreal. So yes, you will see me share, you will see me try.
Any time it seems pointless, fruitless, and a waste, I simply stop, because, in a way, if the result is the same, whether I share or don't share, then... might as well stop. Might as well do better things with my time.
Like paint, and write.
Read.
Draw.
Swim.
Go for a walk.
Write long letters to faraway friends.
Travel.
Listen to music.
Dance.
Sway.
Do yoga.
Have breakfast in bed.
Have lunch by the river.
Have dinner in a fancy restaurant.
Play badminton.
Have philosophical discussions with intelligent people.
Have philosophical discussions with experienced people.
Play around and be silly.
Experiment with cooking.
Surprise someone.
Sleep.
Ride the bicycle.
Watch a movie.
Learn a new language.
Learn a new skill.
Do a random act of kindness.
Pay the bills.
Strike up a conversation with a complete stranger.
Write a poem.
Sing in the shower.
Sing to someone.
Sing in the middle of the street.
Play the guitar.
Get some clay and sculpt.
Carve oneself a magic wand.
Call it a paintbrush.
Create a talisman.
Do laundry.
Clean out the closet.
Create a present for someone.
Publish a book using a pseudonym.
Communicate with birds.
Play a game.
...and hundreds upon hundreds of other things. Some of the best ones I haven't even mentioned here!
Basically, anything is better than wasting time.
Wasting time, the killer of spirit.
"As if you could kill time without injuring eternity."
~ Henry David Thoreau (from "Walden")
I am posting all of this on a platform where, past experiences have shown me, a vast number of people don't even read... Sometimes they even post comments, have opinions, have something to say, after merely glancing across a post.
The illusion of interaction.
Is it interaction, or is it noise?
What's the point? Why would anyone ever choose an illusion of anything?!
Why not just go for the real thing?
I can enjoy solitude, I can enjoy the silence, alone, or with another. However, if with people, if on social media, or at any social gathering, I do require interaction. Joining people is a choice, it means wanting exchange - real and meaningful exchange - or else it is death, and I don't have time for death right now.
There is life to be lived!
Carpe diem, carpe noctam, carpe vitam.
With love,
Sabina Nore
www.SabinaNore.com