In 2003 or so, a site called Friendster appeared, reconnecting me with my high school and college classmates in a way that was exciting and novel even though we were so young we’d barely lost touch yet. It was a delight to see familiar faces reappear and find out what people were up to.
Read MoreWhen I was a performing songwriter, there was one moment when I was onstage somewhere and thought, “Why on earth should I bare my soul to these people?”
Back then, most of the songs I had written were like the songs I had been hearing singer-songwriters perform for most of my life. They were confessionals about love and romance and adjacent topics. You know, feelings and stuff. This material was so entrenched that I couldn’t seem to write about anything else.
Read MoreI recently returned to Instagram after some time away.
I generally dislike social media, but after months of pandemic life, I really missed those casual connections with friends and the glimpse into their lives afforded by the platform.
Everything was going fine — “fine” meaning that I was able to view others’ posts without going too far down the rabbit hole — when I downloaded a routine update.
Read MoreIt’s up there with those other ugly childhood taunts, like “I know you are, but what am I?” and “Kindergarten baby, stick your head in gravy…"
It’s said with a sneer, emphasis on you. “What do you know?”
The implication being that whatever you could possibly share (right now, whenever, forever) has no value. “Just shut up. No one cares.”
Read MoreLast Thursday, Good Morning America did a quick segment about Prince George’s activities. Host Lara Spencer, encouraged by a laughing audience and co-host, used a mocking tone when she mentioned that George is taking ballet classes. She implied that the child’s enthusiasm for dance will not last.
I watched the segment, which has been shared widely by appropriately outraged people, with a mix of revulsion and dismay. First of all, why are adults even talking about a child’s activities on national television? I understand that the British royal family is fascinating to many, but surely we can find things to discuss other than a six-year-old.
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