Now Seriously, folks…
I’m a bit older than some.
I remember when there was no internet.
Shocking, I know, but there was such a time.
Today, people are on line everywhere, connected at coffee shops, bars, home & work, by blackberry, Iphone, et al.
And we have a phenomenon called Bloggers. I think of myself as a writer, a columnist, but I suppose I fall into this categorey, as well.
One of the symptoms of Blogger Society appears to be Blog Wars, feuds of words, wherein various bloggers attack each other with what they believe is biting sarcasm, cutting edge one-up-manship, taunting and slander. What a huge waste of human potential.
Is this who we are?
Really?
At our fingertips is the greatest tool ever known to humanity, a conduit where we can come together, learn each others ways, circulate information…and we get adolescent ego tripping, like a bad rap movie?
Right now, you could be at the Benefit for Chris & Otter, witnessing some of the best music and art in New Orleans, helping some artists who had a bad turn.
You could be attending a roller derby match to help support the family of Hana Morris, a woman who lost her husband and has three tiny children. Her husband was a vibrant and compelling voice for us all.
You could be signing on to SilenceIsViolence.com, as yet another youth dies, unprotected, in a hail of bullets.
Right now, a child is wondering if they should stay in school or sell drugs. A kid with a brain that could cure cancer is afraid of the crack dealers on the corner, and dropping out. A mother is trying to explain to her children why daddy isn’t coming home from Iraq. Someone is so lonely they are staring down a bottle of pills, wondering who would notice. All of us, at one time, reach out, often too late, for friendship, for love, for hope. By clicking the keyboard we could find one another, answers to our questions, something like the truth, another way to go, another like us.
Instead, I find myself beset by this Biggie vs Tupac Blogger mentality.
Is this who we are?
Really?
At our fingertips is the greatest tool ever known to humanity, a conduit where we can come together, learn each others ways, circulate information.. and change the world.
Next time you start reading that crap, do us all a favor;
Turn it off & simply walk away.
Paint something.
Read a book.
Teach a child to play a musical instrument.
Roll on the grass with your dog.
Tell a stranger they’re beautiful.
Find yourself….
Because this is NOT who we are.
Really.
I know you better than that.
You can do just about anything.
Just do what you dream.
Don’t waste another second on this foolish game.
It diminishes us all.
And you deserve better.
Lord David
Pirate & Artist
Skull Club
New Orleans
April 19th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
That was beautiful man. I have art projects aplenty just sitting there, waiting for me… I need to get my butt out of the living room and over to the studio portion of my apt.
Thanks! Hugs (or do Pirates do hugs? I can be wenchy if needed, I do it well - it’s not ARRRRRhhhhduous)
;) Elspeth
April 19th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
You hit the nail on the head. Too much psychobabblepap and not enough action.
April 20th, 2008 at 2:56 am
I could kiss you on the mouth for this.
I don’t mind the humor and good-natured jest, as long as everyone is in on the joke, (including the butt of it), but that’s too often not the case.
When bloggers start sniping at one another, it makes me feel like I’m back in high school–and it’s exactly why I hated high school so much.
I do believe that we’re all better than that and I refuse to give up my perhaps naive idealism.
April 20th, 2008 at 4:21 am
Actually, I do enjoy sarcasm and have a knack for the biting comeback. It’s been a part of my personality long before blogging was invented though. However, I do try to use my powers for good instead of evil and not for high school games; and I totally agree with you.
Bloggers need to do more to channel our passion and insight into ACTION, especially N.O. bloggers. There’s a lot of damn work to be done ’round here. I thank you for the reality check and for the call to be more balanced and action-oriented and, I dare say, more involved in making shit happen in the real world.
April 20th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Well said!
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Just dropping in because I think this posting is very well written and makes a great point. I can think of few things more foolish than trying to use a blog to create or perpetuate pointless, dead end, petty sniping. I also like the comments posted here a lot — I love to see people talking about naive idealism, because I am all about naive idealism. So once again, kudos and more power to y’all.
– Humbly Opinionated Obama supporter