we weren’t made to live like this
a few poems and thoughts about our digitized social lives
(Hola. If you’re just here for the poems, feel free to scroll down to them. I’m on a social media thing here for a bit…)
You’ve been manipulated.
Ok, maybe you haven’t, but I have.
It’s the quick hits of emotional highs and lows at perfect intervals as you scroll, tap, and swipe on a smartphone or computer. The expensive algorithms built to keep you.
I’d be surprised if you hadn’t heard about the negative effects of social media by now. However, even with the knowledge we have of the damage it does to our brains, bodies, relationships, etc., so many Americans are still held by its power.
I was deceived. I thought I could control it.
A virtual me does exist in the Meta-verse and Google-land, but I try to refrain from actively being there.
“What!?” you say. “You’re still on social media despite its damaging effects??”
Well, I am a millennial. So after AOL Instant Messenger, I got on the classics, Facebook and Instagram (sorry Twitter, didn’t really dig it). My eyes were opened before getting into Snapchat, TikTok, and beyond.
But now I’m stuck. Friends are there. Family’s there. People from school and other countries and random Facebook groups from the 2000’s are there.
If I leave, how will I stay connected?
What if I want to share a life event with the thousands of people I kind of know? What if I need help?
What if I want to start a business?
I need the connections right?
Manipulated.
You can’t leave.
Now, a short poetry break:
we weren’t made to live like this
by Durgan Maxey
we weren’t made to live like this desocialized by media electronic enemies - flesh on the other side not as smart as my phone, but I hold intelligence (artificial?) -a beautiful screen. a self-imposed prison I have to get o u u u t /intentions of greatness and justice and beauty and love and perfect loud intentions without humble active living we are commodity I’m crying when I see pain some are laughing some are arguing some are hating some are wanting someone to tell them what to post
Listen to the audio version
of me reading the poem “we weren’t made to live like this”
Now social media isn’t all bad, but it is forming us.
We think we can speak (or not speak) with people like we do online. We think we have relationships with them because we like and comment on their posts.
We’re convinced the perceived proximity to people’s shared activities is equated with trust and friendship. Or that we can control other people the way we can block them from our feeds.
Also, I’m saying “question mark” after I ask a question in real life now.
Thanks voice text...
And I definitely don’t feel positive after a scroll through my digital community. Most times I’m left with negativity, or lonely and left out at best.
Time for another poem:
Have you tried the newest drug?
by Durgan Maxey
Have you tried the newest drug? It’s faster than before It doesn’t have the side effects That drop you to the floor With just a tap or half a scroll It sends you on your way Your mind and information Is the only price you’ll pay The way it makes you happy Is through friends you wish you knew They’re giving you fake hearts and smiles That you can give them too! You mustn’t leave the drug for long You’ll miss important things Like how to fix your eyebrows or A silly dog that sings Be sure to post your life as well It’s easy as it sounds Post family, friends, and things you eat (And soon enough you’re drowned) It might seem you are using it But it is using you Do you remember anymore The sky of bronze and blue? Don’t worry, here’s a video That someone else has taken Of such a glorious, lighted sky Thine eyes have now forsaken
Listen to the audio version
of me reading the poem “Have you tried the newest drug?”
I hate looking at a quick video clip someone sends me, and then after I finish watching, I look up and realize my beautiful, tiny daughter is sitting next to me smiling at me and I’ve been missing it.
It hits my gut.
Or soul.
Or heart.
D. All of the above.
Didn’t matter the video. Something funny, enlightening, whatever.
I was gone.
My eyes on a screen removes me from reality. Period. Science shows it’s different than a book. We’re confused because it feels like people are here when they’re not. Most often we are willingly deceiving ourselves. Or willingly ignorant to the impact it has on us. It’s easier to let the TV play the next episode.
A lighter note
Remember, I’m not fully unplugged from digital “community”.
I’m not like, “You’re dumb! Get off of all the evil social media!”.
Well, stay away from TikTok lol
But seriously. We need to understand technology is a tool. Use it if you have to (like when you use a hammer), but quit letting it use you. You might be so addicted you need to remove yourself and find friends purely offline. Can you put it down?
My prayer is for an awakening of “silent” rebels (another poem coming…) to the world patterns we’re conformed by.
How about one last poem? (Might as well if you’ve made it this far)
it’s like you’re in my
by Durgan Maxey
it’s like you’re in my house asking me how I’m doing but I was in my underwear cooking oatmeal at the stove so it caught me off guard when you texted that it was underwear-cooking-oatmeal mode before the text invasion now I’m thinking about responding to someone not even here also politics promos sports sex encouragement violence meditation sarcasm in my home at the tap of a phone not really there (but they really are) so sorry I’m just responding
Listen to the audio version
of me reading the poem “it’s like you’re in my”
See you next time,
-Durgan