This is a thought-provoking article. I’ve written about wearing masks and putting on performances in our everyday life but not to this social media-induced scale. All I know is that performances eventually break down, and masks will crack. The problem you describe in this article though makes me think this will happen way too late for so many people, and their ‘real lives’ may have totally disappeared from reality when it does. What then?
Praise is not the same as peace. Validation is not the same as alignment. And a life that impresses everyone else can still feel unlivable from the inside.
Thank you for sharing. It is nice to get some perspective on this relatively new phenomenon that I often feel to be too close in my face to have any real perspective on.
I enjoyed that! I found myself questioning what you said, and then agreeing with you and then questioning and then agreeing. I’m a huge believer in the fact that we live our lives inside a story and the people we see all around us also exist within that stories, In all of that, it’s hard to see the truth.
This is so helpful. I appreciate social media AND struggle with having to play the "marketing game" due to the fear of being invisible! I'm grateful this wasn't all happening in my younger years, because I don't think I would have dealt with it well. FOMO and loss of visibility are still challenges. Thank you for writing and sharing this!
The solitude point near the end is the one that hits hardest. There's a real difference between being alone and being unobserved. A lot of people are physically alone constantly but still performing, internally narrating, pre-framing, imagining how the moment would read. The audience doesn't have to be present anymore to change how you experience something. It's already been internalized. Which makes the question less about logging off and more about what's left when you do.
This is brilliant. Thanks for sharing. I've also noticed this type of behaviour is becoming more and more prevalent in general society. People are more "selfish", less courteous, because they don't have the time to make time for others - simple stuff like waiting for somebody to pull out of a parking space or a driveway, giving way in a supermarket when somebody wants to access the shelf you parked your trolley in front of, little things that would just happen no longer do and it's because others think that what they are doing is more important, they are the lead character in a world inhabited by extras.
Recently I was in Europe on vacation. I was posting the selfies online as requested with regular updates on my travels. Then I caught a bug and went radio silent. I guess I didn’t want to taint my performance with a sick call. Now back home I’m grateful to have friends with whom I can be my authentic, boring self.
This is a thought-provoking article. I’ve written about wearing masks and putting on performances in our everyday life but not to this social media-induced scale. All I know is that performances eventually break down, and masks will crack. The problem you describe in this article though makes me think this will happen way too late for so many people, and their ‘real lives’ may have totally disappeared from reality when it does. What then?
Praise is not the same as peace. Validation is not the same as alignment. And a life that impresses everyone else can still feel unlivable from the inside.
Thank you for sharing. It is nice to get some perspective on this relatively new phenomenon that I often feel to be too close in my face to have any real perspective on.
Thank you /
I enjoyed that! I found myself questioning what you said, and then agreeing with you and then questioning and then agreeing. I’m a huge believer in the fact that we live our lives inside a story and the people we see all around us also exist within that stories, In all of that, it’s hard to see the truth.
This is so helpful. I appreciate social media AND struggle with having to play the "marketing game" due to the fear of being invisible! I'm grateful this wasn't all happening in my younger years, because I don't think I would have dealt with it well. FOMO and loss of visibility are still challenges. Thank you for writing and sharing this!
The solitude point near the end is the one that hits hardest. There's a real difference between being alone and being unobserved. A lot of people are physically alone constantly but still performing, internally narrating, pre-framing, imagining how the moment would read. The audience doesn't have to be present anymore to change how you experience something. It's already been internalized. Which makes the question less about logging off and more about what's left when you do.
Yes a Stocholm syndrome response to the "Surveillance State".
This is brilliant. Thanks for sharing. I've also noticed this type of behaviour is becoming more and more prevalent in general society. People are more "selfish", less courteous, because they don't have the time to make time for others - simple stuff like waiting for somebody to pull out of a parking space or a driveway, giving way in a supermarket when somebody wants to access the shelf you parked your trolley in front of, little things that would just happen no longer do and it's because others think that what they are doing is more important, they are the lead character in a world inhabited by extras.
Lead the way <3
Your post is very thought provoking. I will be thinking about your very well written post throughout the rest of the evening and night at least!
Thank you so much .
Thank you. I enjoyed your article.
Recently I was in Europe on vacation. I was posting the selfies online as requested with regular updates on my travels. Then I caught a bug and went radio silent. I guess I didn’t want to taint my performance with a sick call. Now back home I’m grateful to have friends with whom I can be my authentic, boring self.
👍👍
Was it not Shakespeare who said life is but a stage?