Technology:
the ever present, ever whined about convenience and nuisance that I use now to
communicate with a wee audience. But, it is sooo
annoying, says the Original English Major.
Even
Upworthy has become tiresome. It is time sucked away that could be used
otherwise, that is lost forever. We don’t get this moment back. Ever.
Upworthy,
so long as we’re on the topic, is indeed worthy. One can learn about happenings
of which s/he is otherwise ignorant: stop and frisk, on-line sexual slavery,
etc. These things are outraging. The movements in response are the fruit of
well-managed anger.
But do we do anything? Enough to keep Upworthy
running. Is it a feel-good thing? The disconnect between humans that has come
with technology has harmed our ability to feel, to relate, to communicate, to
engage in legitimate understanding. Are media outlets such as Upworthy and
Change.org successful for some generated feeling of connection, of
participation? They are the news’ sources. Instead of reading the NY Times or
SF Chronicle, we watch Upworthy or vote on Change and feel informed and
involved; we feel something.
The
generation tired of apathy, tired of the postmodern blahs, finds in these media
a pseudo-connection. It is, though, the same generation that is heading the
initiatives. Is it not? At least it is an effort to make connection, to interact.
I, too,
subscribe to Upworthy, receive e-mails from Change and Avaaz and sometimes even
350.org and CREDO Action. How I wound up on all these mailing lists, I don’t
know; why I haven’t unsubscribed, well, as it is I feel guilty for
skipping over petitions or ignoring videos. Especially if I skip petitions
solely for my lack of knowledge regarding the cause, the event, the likely
relevant issue at hand. Instead of researching, I guilt trip myself while,
oops, deleting the e-mail.
Yet it is
too easy to simply click yes, this I support, to click “add my name to the
proposal,” to “sign the petition.” We become lazy. Instead of researching for
ourselves, we rely on others; we don’t dirty our hands.
“I’ll write
a check. I support art; I just don’t have to see it,” says Ouiser.
That is how
I’ve begun to feel about Change.org, Upworthy, et. al. Even World Vision. Even
the Mentoring Project, to which I’ve sent many a hard-earned dollar meant for
tuition.
I write a
check. I click “yes.” I support change. I just don’t have to do it. I’ll give
you my two to ten minutes of passion—for however long your filmed or written vignette may be— leave the rest to you. Good luck.
