Someone posed this question to me on the X platform. I tend to post quite a bit, but as a proportion of the stuff that scrolls on by, perhaps less than 1% is some reaction or comment from me. Same Facebook.

But I’ve also been quite reflective about all of it lately.

… You ever go on Netflix or any of the movie and TV streaming services and scroll through dozens of offerings where it plays a short teaser clip? Then you go to the next, then the next, and so on. 30 minutes later you end up not watching anything at all. And I come away from that experience feeling weird. Like almost depressed. Bored.

It’s like an information overload and then, nothing is interesting at all except perhaps pouring an alcohol drink or two and just sitting quiet in my own thoughts.

If everything is important, then nothing’s important.

You’ve got 8 billion people on the planet; several billion of those are connected to a fully developed global high-speed internet with social media, apps, point-to-point video communication, ads, endless how-to posts and threads, audio and video long-form podcasts discussing everything, and now AI where anything can be made up or faked, and huge numbers of people take it at face value.

Add to that, we have come to the point where the term “fake news” is a redundancy. Essentially, most of what passes for “news” now is just someone’s take. Their opinion. And like assholes, everyone has one. That observation is not new. It’s just amplified by a few million or billion now.

How many of those billions of takes, opinions, might be at all really important to you? How does it square with the takes and opinions of your mom & dad, brothers and sisters, close friends, and co-workers? Sure, the take of a stranger or personality might be a better take than anyone. How many are you going to scroll through to find that nugget? What’s the cost to your own psyche in the process?

In the end, it’s metaphysical. By that, I mean that since the advent of print, then radio, TV, the Internet everything is and will continue to be driven by advertising revenue. That’s why I say “metaphysical,” a sorta indirect way of saying “natural” or baked in the cake.

There is an underlying message to get you to spend money in every commercial enterprise you pay attention to. That isn’t necessarily bad, but it is if you believe they’re being only charitable and only want to spread the “truth.”

By the way. “Truth” is a static word, usually used manipulatively. “Honest” is a dynamic word, usually avoided (at all costs). Think about that. “The Truth About X” is often used to defend or prop up disintegrated lies. Truth does not require full context and integration. “Let’s Be Honest,” does. Better.

So, what do I care about?

I’ll tell you. What I really care about is only peripherally in the public view. I put maybe a few percent out there and what I do put out there is roughly chosen to appeal to what I crudely think people might be interested in. Because if there is no real connection, like they aren’t avid in reading my stuff and engaging, know me, what’s the point? I can see stuff from complete strangers roll past my feeds, but if there’s no connection, there’s no resonating. Do I dislike it? No. Do I wish them well and continued joy? Absolutely.

But what does that mean beyond a complete waste of time that does nothing real for you and them? It only serves, really, as an opportunity for a few more ads to scroll by on your respective feeds as you feel satisfaction that another person Liked your post.

I’m not advocating for anything here, or telling you how you should run your life. I’m advocating for myself and reporting honestly about my daily disappointment and disillusionment. I don’t think I’m the only one.

Nothing commercial is designed to be perfect. It’s designed to make money. That’s great, but I can also pass it by.

I’m doing that more and more. You can do the same, if you want.

I’m writing this because I’ve been getting this vibe, lately. People are getting tired of the daily hot drama. Why do you think everything is a daily drama, now?

Advertising revenue. Occam’s Razor.

I’m just really sick of it.

I like lots of stuff but over the last month, Far is what I like the most. She came down here from Mukdahan, set up a small food cart with a friend, works it every day, is making some money.

But more than that, she comes home every evening after she’s finished, and we first sit for a few hours chatting about anything and everything. We go to bed, and get up in the morning and enjoy the morning sun on the balcony.

I care about a lot of things, but it’s hard to beat that.