PERSONAL THOUGHTS ABOUT AN OVER-CONFIDENT SOCIETY
In a world where selfies have become the new norm, what are we really saying about ourselves? Is looking inward the new looking out? Whatever happened to humility and always striving to be better?
I remember a time when feeling like you knew everything and being self-important was something people were not proud of -- it was called high school. Yet, in today's society, we live in our own individual bubbles instead of as a whole society. We think everyone wants to know who we are and wants to see our face on YouTube or read our thoughts on Twitter. It would never occur to some people that they are just not that interesting and no one really cares that you got locked out of your apartment...or whatever stupid thought you had to tweet. For example, the world does not care that I am part Dalmatian and that I belong to a pack. But, it's true. So, does the fact that it's true make it relevant news?
We have become a shameless, self-promoting society where everyone thinks they are experts and can advertise their way into our lives through our Facebook pages. Apps like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest -- they're all places you can go to self-promote and 'like' things other people promote. And, it's not just local advertising. Get the right followers and your message could go global.
However, only a select few -- mostly with talent -- are ever noticed or recognized. If you're great at what you do and it's interesting to other people, film yourself doing it, put it up on YouTube and watch the viewer count begin rising. If you're great, news travels fast and suddenly, you're an internet sensation!
The trouble with this theory, for our society as a whole, is that it encourages people to believe in themselves...no matter what. Which is what we are told to do from a young age. Aim high. Live your dream. You can do anything. The difference is, when I was a kid we knew that meant hard work and a long commitment to something stable and professional. No pain, no gain.
Today, everyone thinks they're shit is so important that everyone else wants to waste time watching it on YouTube or reading about it on your blog! What nerve.
And so, we post.
| A Shameless selfie of me and Lucy. 3/21/14 |
I remember a time when feeling like you knew everything and being self-important was something people were not proud of -- it was called high school. Yet, in today's society, we live in our own individual bubbles instead of as a whole society. We think everyone wants to know who we are and wants to see our face on YouTube or read our thoughts on Twitter. It would never occur to some people that they are just not that interesting and no one really cares that you got locked out of your apartment...or whatever stupid thought you had to tweet. For example, the world does not care that I am part Dalmatian and that I belong to a pack. But, it's true. So, does the fact that it's true make it relevant news?
We have become a shameless, self-promoting society where everyone thinks they are experts and can advertise their way into our lives through our Facebook pages. Apps like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest -- they're all places you can go to self-promote and 'like' things other people promote. And, it's not just local advertising. Get the right followers and your message could go global.
However, only a select few -- mostly with talent -- are ever noticed or recognized. If you're great at what you do and it's interesting to other people, film yourself doing it, put it up on YouTube and watch the viewer count begin rising. If you're great, news travels fast and suddenly, you're an internet sensation!
The trouble with this theory, for our society as a whole, is that it encourages people to believe in themselves...no matter what. Which is what we are told to do from a young age. Aim high. Live your dream. You can do anything. The difference is, when I was a kid we knew that meant hard work and a long commitment to something stable and professional. No pain, no gain.
Today, everyone thinks they're shit is so important that everyone else wants to waste time watching it on YouTube or reading about it on your blog! What nerve.
And so, we post.
