Why Bother?

I’ve been on a crusade lately involving social media. Some of you may have noticed while the greater number of you most likely have not. I’m not giving up. It’s just not what I do. I’m tenacious to a fault at times, but hey, if not me then who?

This crusade has become a daily constant and emotional drum beat for me. But it’s not for me at all. I’m nothing more than the organic vehicle, pounding out the message, which speaks to a higher emotional purpose. If not me then who?

Yesterday was an anniversary for me of sorts. I have been an arts commissioner in my home town for over 14 years now and have worked with my colleagues to bring public art both the respect and the notoriety it deserves in our community. This information can be readily found in my bio’s on my social media channels. Because of the way a certain social media channel reminds people of work anniversaries I began receiving “congrat’s” very early yesterday morning. It hasn’t stopped yet and I’m pushing somewhere around 200 messages thus far. Sadly, only a mere handful, as in about ten, has been anything more than the push button, knee jerk reaction that a single keystroke click conveniently provides. It’s virtual acknowledgement at its convenient best and professional indifference at its worst.

I totally understand the chance I’m taking as I write this of offending close to 200 of my connections. They know who they are. Instead of taking time to actually create a short, meaningful, personalized message, they have taken the fast lane and pushed that magic button which quickly sends a fast and indifferent message winging its way towards my email box. It’s done, now, let’s move on.

Before you dismiss me as just another ungrateful person who won’t get so much as another indifferent keystroke from you, unless it’s the one that permanently disconnects our virtual tether, I ask that you stop for a moment. Stop and think about what you’ve, or in this case, you haven’t done. Yes, you did take a millisecond to scan a message and react by clicking on a pre-fabricated sentiment that has as much meaning as sending someone a greeting card and not bothering to put your signature to it. What you didn’t do is stop to think why you were sending it in the first place. You resorted to a Pavlovian response that some programmer placed on your screen instead of slowing down to consider why or even if you wanted to respond in the first place. Rest assured I’m not blaming you. It’s a problem for modern society today and has become an accepted way of life.

It’s time to take a breath, step back, and ask yourself why you even bother to respond if it really doesn’t mean anything to you other that a quick task accomplished? If it will make you feel any better I can assure you that the vast majority of people who you send those little keystroke kudos to don’t pay any attention anyway, other than to possibly do a rough count of who bothered to even notice. It’s a numbers game, the game is rigged, and it’s not in your favor.

We are increasingly occupying space in a world that ignores actuality and embraces virtuality. Although my spell checker seems to dislike it, the term virtuality is a philosophical term that involves continuous multiplicity of potential. To briefly define this idea of virtuality; the potential of its reality exists but lacks tangible evidence of its actual existence. This expresses what I’m trying to convey. We consistently shun the real organic and meaningful relationships we have an opportunity to embrace and wholeheartedly accept and espouse artificially suggested ones that disengage our true emotional senses in order to simply get the point across in the quickest, most convenient manner. To put it succinctly; it sucks.

If we are to be engaged with other people we must make an attempt to do so. This attempt must be real, personal, meaningful and heartfelt. If it’s not it becomes the virtual emoji smiley face that is meant to convey an idea yet lacks a personal touch that is unique, warm and caring. So, the question you must ask yourself is, “if not me then who?”

Who will take a moment to actually think about what they are doing and write or say or share something that uplifts and makes another person genuinely happy? Who will slow down long enough to contemplate the meaning of the words they choose to string together and share with another person? Who will be brave enough to show some emotion through the words they choose in the hope of touching someone’s heart and mind. I ask you, if not me then who?

How about this: if not me then you.

#michaelddavis

?2017 Michael D. Davis – All Rights Reserved