An ode to screens?!?!

Yes. Because wonderful things have happened to me there.

“Nothing wonderful will ever happen to you on a screen.” -Scott Galloway

Sometimes things just TRIGGER me. I’ll admit that Galloway is one of those popular “thought leaders” who say many things with which I agree, but even when I do, I tend to bristle at the way he says them. Sweeping. Hyperbolic. To score points and win. Typically low on nuance, high on intentional provocation. I mean this is the guy I heard on a podcast advocate for in-person collaboration because apparently in-person collaboration is like sex to him. Way to creep me out. Also, it really made me wonder what kind of sex he’s having…and NOBODY ASKED FOR THAT.

But I’ll confess that the particular statement above about screens triggered me because I took it personally. I mean, gee, i had no idea that 80% of what I thought was pretty wonderful about BlogHer and its community was actually, in the opinion of this thought leader, "nothing."

I mean, this thought leader? The one who most of us who have even heard of him know about from his digital content…not the classes he teaches at NYU or his IRL appearances at a $12K conference most of couldn’t afford even if invited?

Satire piece titled "Touch Grass, Says Famous Podcaster in His YouTube Ted Talk" coming right up! -Wendi Aarons on my Facebook post

Nope nope nope. I rebuke thee, Professor!

I got your wonderful right here, my dude!

That support and "i'm not alone" feeling we get from writers (and commenters) sharing their mental health, disability, parenting, and countless other journeys? Wonderful.

Let’s see. I met my husband. I found support through the darkest experiences of my life. I met my closest friends, some of whom have traveled multiple times to support my sons this year as part of our chosen family. But ya know, none of that mattered apparently? Cool, cool. -Jenna Hatfield [note: I met my spouse there too, Jenna!]

The laughs we get from humor writers like Luvvie Ajayi Jones, Wendi Aarons, or Jenny Lawson (all of whom had blogs as their jumping off point)? Wonderful.

The skills and perspectives we learn, analysis we absorb, fun we have, opportunity to help others we take, friends we make? Beyond wonderful.

It's not just blogging being dismissed when dissing screens, by the way…it's entertainment on-screen in general. Most people don’t generally or frequently go to museums or live theatre. I can wish that was less the case, but it is mos def the case. Fewer than 30% of Americans got a museum every year. Fewer than 20% go to live theatre. So, the vast majority get art and entertainment on screens.

What about accessibility? Privileged much? And FaceTiming weekly with my sons who are 800 and 3000 miles away in college brings me great joy. This take is totally off for many reasons. -Ilina Ewen

I’m not claiming reality TV and shoot-em up movies are “wonderful.” But the way Ted Lasso and WandaVision and Marvel Movies got me through COVID lockdown? Wonderful.

And…via yet another screen…the way audiobooks and ebooks have increased how many books I read per year? Totally wonderful. (Because yes, that counts as reading, shut up reading gatekeepers.)

So, the conversation I’d like to have is WHY are today’s social platforms so motivated to get people on their platforms and keep them there at all costs that the things they allow and even amplify are the worst? That is a conversation to be had, but for me, that conversation would be about how the American flavor of capitalism makes growth at all cost the only corporate good and has led to both technical development and business decisions that are damaging to humans, notably at these behemoth social network companies.

Basically, if a company needs to get more and more users and then get more and more out of the users it has, especially since the customers are paying with time and attention more than $$, it must foster addiction. Because having 85% of the American adult online population on our platform is insufficient, even when generating hundreds of millions in revenue.

It’s a complicated conversation. Which we refuse to have. And which social platforms certainly refuse to reward.

I frickin' hate sweeping, provocative, completely un-nuanced statements being the hallmark of "thought leadership." Mostly because they often mask the real issues. [Which, BTW, Galloway actually really knows, given he’s been one of the most consistent voices calling out Facebook leadership (mainly Zuck and Sheryl) for the evil-doings that have happened on that platform.]

And he plays right into how the platforms reward when he makes these sweeping provocative statements. Which may be unintentionally ironic? But is also obviously triggering for me. My facebook post about this garnered a lot of commentary, so I’m hoping to hear what you all think too!

What else is going on?

Optionality

Here’s the latest we’ve been up to with Optionality:

• Last week Jory and I had to talk about the recent ruling against The Fearless Fund giving $25K grants to black women-owned businesses. We spent the first half venting and the second half talking about how each of us can figure out how to remember that “ally” is a verb that we can all keep verbing. Check it out here.

• I discovered that I’m apparently an outlier in not having a bunch of friends from the jobs I had when I was in my 20s! Do you?

• And Jory explored the concept of finding “passion” in your profession. Possible? Preferable? Pipedream?

We’re planning to end our early adopter Premium Membership price at the end of this quarter, so if you’ve been toying with the idea of upgrading or subscribing for all the benefits of premium membership at the low low price of $299/year, now’s the time. We have our monthly live Office Hours for premium members coming in a week on June 12, so it’s perfect timing to join and get introduced to people live right away!

That’s it for today. Until next time, please leave a comment and let me know your thoughts on any or all of the above. This is basically my blog now! And as always, I appreciate a share of Optionality and this newsletter.

If I can help you break through the things that keep you stuck (or if you are intrigued by the idea of securing my advice for your initiative), set up your first introductory 30-minute consult for free by booking it in my Calendly. And you can always check out my new LinkedIn Learning Course, Telling Stories That Stick, a 57-minute course on crafting your stories for different audiences (media, investors, prospects, hiring managers) and ensuring those stories stick…and convey exactly what you hope to convey.

Thanks for reading!

-E