I really enjoy your writing. You do a great job of humanizing subcultures that I maybe once would have found foreign, or even might have rolled my eyes at—then contextualize them in a way that connects with the things I've personally felt and internalized over the years and perhaps failed to relate to, having been without a context that felt lived in and real.
Glad you're out here making it easier for divides to close. Respect.
I recently had a similar overall feeling. I appreciate how you've captured this sense of it all. A couple of years ago I got caught up in all the hype around 10X "manifestation" in the spiritual and coaching industries. Then I felt exhausted. Then I realized it was just another program in the zeitgeist. I've also (finally!) begun recognizing that the healing industry is now designed to make us all feel like we can never be healed enough. And then it encourages us to sell healing to each other. I'm not sure it's anyone consciously pushing that agenda, but it has inevitably become such. Anyway, I'm thoroughly enjoying and appreciating your writing and contemplations.
Have you defined who your audience is, and the reason for writing to them? What connection do you feel with your readers? What kind of relationship do you want with them? These kinds of questions definitely get me stuck in my own writing and the sharing of that writing. And look, here I am asking you to give perspectives that I hope will help me develop my thinking on my own issues. Maybe you don't choose to advise people on concrete practical topics, but aren't you advising people to shift their perspectives?
I learned a lot by reading this essay. I’m old enough to have experienced a world without social media algorithms and social media influencers and I miss it. I wish you well in your writing work and I hope you find a way to break through without compromising yourself.
so much about this essay resonates so deeply, especially in regards to the problems of social media which I've also put words to, before hehe. but the project you've set aside to ignite curiosity and independent critical thought without dictating peoples' actions in particular is what hits home for me. I'm in the midst of figuring out how to engage storytelling and move away from strictly expository to find some blend that feels right. I like applying an anarchist ethos to the issue, to share /exchange knowledge knowing we can learn from each other without the pressure of exact duplication and uniformity. thank you for this!
As a certified coach trying to launch my business, I've been given SO MUCH advice from other entrepreneurs about what to do on socials to play the algorithms. I also prefer long form writing and am ardently against buying in to the algorithm game to try to get business... It feels misaligned with my anti-capitalist and anti-oppresive values to buy in to this system... And it will definitely take me longer to grow a business... So it will be
Oh, how I wish I could just write. Just provide theories and tools and curate other people's theories and tools. Offer my own thoughts and interpretations and not be held to them because I'm no one's boss or guru.
I don't know if your title is self-aware in its irony (I'm assuming so), or if it's showing how hard it is to avoid the "how to" structure of titles if one wants to get eyes on something.
I amen-ed about 30 times while reading this. Great job explaining the enshittification process of social media.
Insightful thoughts on the culture of social media!
It's strange how being vulnerable and authentic have become a cultural norm, despite most calling for these things claiming they want you to free yourself from cultural norms. Acting "normal" was frowned upon in my friend groups. And I feel weird for not posting my emotional breakdowns publically.
I used to work as a manager of a digital member's forum for a magazine, and most there wanted "authenticity" - as in, a hermit living in the woods disillusioned with all of society. I had to manufacture a persona to be listened to. My authentic self who found everyone deciding to become hermits in the woods melodramatic if not possibly emotionally unhealthy was seen as somehow corrupted.
As a therapist, do you know how much time I spend complaining about this guru BS in my own analysis? One part of me envies the attention the gurus get (I like attention, but I would rather get it for telling a good fart joke). The guru speak on para socials bumps up against the most congruent part of me and my value system that thinks therapy is about facilitating a client's wisdom, not telling them the right ways to perform. I am still on the para-socials but less often, and I write crap I want to say, or frankly, most posts are a letter to some part of myself.
I did get a compliment the other day for a piece I wrote that said something to the effect of "Traci never writes to tell you what to do," and that was a proud moment. I don't think it is always true, but I strive to get better at being a curious human about what is shaping us. Great piece. Thank you for it.
“the moment I realized I didn’t actually believe that the cosmos affected personalities and world events, it felt dishonest to continue, and I closed up shop”….I would love to hear more about this, and how you arrived there if you are willing to expand
I really enjoy your writing. You do a great job of humanizing subcultures that I maybe once would have found foreign, or even might have rolled my eyes at—then contextualize them in a way that connects with the things I've personally felt and internalized over the years and perhaps failed to relate to, having been without a context that felt lived in and real.
Glad you're out here making it easier for divides to close. Respect.
I recently had a similar overall feeling. I appreciate how you've captured this sense of it all. A couple of years ago I got caught up in all the hype around 10X "manifestation" in the spiritual and coaching industries. Then I felt exhausted. Then I realized it was just another program in the zeitgeist. I've also (finally!) begun recognizing that the healing industry is now designed to make us all feel like we can never be healed enough. And then it encourages us to sell healing to each other. I'm not sure it's anyone consciously pushing that agenda, but it has inevitably become such. Anyway, I'm thoroughly enjoying and appreciating your writing and contemplations.
Have you defined who your audience is, and the reason for writing to them? What connection do you feel with your readers? What kind of relationship do you want with them? These kinds of questions definitely get me stuck in my own writing and the sharing of that writing. And look, here I am asking you to give perspectives that I hope will help me develop my thinking on my own issues. Maybe you don't choose to advise people on concrete practical topics, but aren't you advising people to shift their perspectives?
I learned a lot by reading this essay. I’m old enough to have experienced a world without social media algorithms and social media influencers and I miss it. I wish you well in your writing work and I hope you find a way to break through without compromising yourself.
so much about this essay resonates so deeply, especially in regards to the problems of social media which I've also put words to, before hehe. but the project you've set aside to ignite curiosity and independent critical thought without dictating peoples' actions in particular is what hits home for me. I'm in the midst of figuring out how to engage storytelling and move away from strictly expository to find some blend that feels right. I like applying an anarchist ethos to the issue, to share /exchange knowledge knowing we can learn from each other without the pressure of exact duplication and uniformity. thank you for this!
As a certified coach trying to launch my business, I've been given SO MUCH advice from other entrepreneurs about what to do on socials to play the algorithms. I also prefer long form writing and am ardently against buying in to the algorithm game to try to get business... It feels misaligned with my anti-capitalist and anti-oppresive values to buy in to this system... And it will definitely take me longer to grow a business... So it will be
Good for you. Social media's biggest flaw, besides anonymity and lack of real life encounters, is that it makes everyone on earth an "expert."
a thoughtful piece but it does not achieve the claim in its title.
The title is ironic ;)
that fact does not make itself clear
I have nothing to add or critique, but want to comment so Substack has a stat that tells them this piece was awesome.
Hehehe. Thanks, Ryan!
Oh, how I wish I could just write. Just provide theories and tools and curate other people's theories and tools. Offer my own thoughts and interpretations and not be held to them because I'm no one's boss or guru.
I don't know if your title is self-aware in its irony (I'm assuming so), or if it's showing how hard it is to avoid the "how to" structure of titles if one wants to get eyes on something.
I amen-ed about 30 times while reading this. Great job explaining the enshittification process of social media.
The title is ironic ;) I did run it through an automated headline tester and it got a very high score!
Insightful thoughts on the culture of social media!
It's strange how being vulnerable and authentic have become a cultural norm, despite most calling for these things claiming they want you to free yourself from cultural norms. Acting "normal" was frowned upon in my friend groups. And I feel weird for not posting my emotional breakdowns publically.
I used to work as a manager of a digital member's forum for a magazine, and most there wanted "authenticity" - as in, a hermit living in the woods disillusioned with all of society. I had to manufacture a persona to be listened to. My authentic self who found everyone deciding to become hermits in the woods melodramatic if not possibly emotionally unhealthy was seen as somehow corrupted.
“i feel weird for not posting my emotional breakdowns publically” was not on anyone’s bingo card twenty years ago!
As a therapist, do you know how much time I spend complaining about this guru BS in my own analysis? One part of me envies the attention the gurus get (I like attention, but I would rather get it for telling a good fart joke). The guru speak on para socials bumps up against the most congruent part of me and my value system that thinks therapy is about facilitating a client's wisdom, not telling them the right ways to perform. I am still on the para-socials but less often, and I write crap I want to say, or frankly, most posts are a letter to some part of myself.
I did get a compliment the other day for a piece I wrote that said something to the effect of "Traci never writes to tell you what to do," and that was a proud moment. I don't think it is always true, but I strive to get better at being a curious human about what is shaping us. Great piece. Thank you for it.
I can only imagine how much more annoying the guru speak would be if I was a trained therapist!
Thanks for the empathy. Didn't realize I needed it til you said it.
“the moment I realized I didn’t actually believe that the cosmos affected personalities and world events, it felt dishonest to continue, and I closed up shop”….I would love to hear more about this, and how you arrived there if you are willing to expand
Thanks Sara! I will definitely consider this :)