Sep. 29, 2020
There was a time when people shared their thoughts and interests with others via these things called blogs. Then social media came along and undercut the medium, rendering it rather quaint and antiquated.
But social media has become more and more anti-social. While I’ve enjoyed keeping up with friends on Facebook over the years, it’s become increasingly toxic. I fear it now tears us apart more than it brings us together. Then there’s the relentless advertising, the psychic and mental manipulation, and nefarious data mining that these platforms engage in. All of which makes me feel inclined to leave Facebook. I’d be happy to find a viable alternative platform that is user-friendly and not so evil, but I haven’t seen a good one yet. (Tried Ello, hated it. Detest Twitter. No interest in Instagram, Snapchat, etc.)
However, I’d still like to stay in touch with my far-flung friends, and nearby ones too. I’d still like for us to share news of our latest creative projects, important life events, personal ponderings, or art, music, and ideas that we find beautiful or important. So I’m suggesting we reclaim the blog format, sign up for notifications of each other’s new posts, and continue to share things with each other this way.
I’m tentatively planning to leave Facebook by the end of this year. If you’d like to keep up with me and what I’m doing or thinking about, this might be the best place. And be sure to let me know if you decide to return to the blogosphere. I’d love to follow along.