Is It Taboo If Not Trending?

October 6, 2026

There are a few people that I told I'm using this for my day-to-day need/urge to write and not completely draw into myself. Most get it. One doesn't (😹👋). Recently, that person reached out and asked if I'd participate in something on social media. I said, “Thank you, but no.” On the flipside, another person who has no idea this exists asked me if I'd participate in something and I said, “Yes.” and sent along what was needed. What is the difference between the two asks?

I don't do strategic reciprocity to elicit followers and/or likes. I can't stand performative empathy. And if the math don't math, the math don't math. There's nothing wrong when people are transparent about that being what they are doing, but it offends my creative soul because I think it sucks the essence of creativity out of the act. I'm not fond of the whole distribution mechanism of corporate creativity either. It all feeds into an illusion that bleeds the souls of those who crave to be seen and heard.

I find it offensive. I'm sure there's plenty of persons who start out with good intentions. It's hard to know what's happening until you're already doggy paddling in the deep end after all. But once you do know, what you do with the knowledge is on you. There is no right or wrong answer, as people have the right to work the system however they want. It's absolutely not organic, interested engagement though.

For myself, I don't want that. Even if it got me a million followers. I'd take ten interested any day over the million. I do have to acknowledge that with that high a number there'd likely be more interested than ten, but would it be sincere interest or fade like mob-driven interest? That is the question.

Yes, yes. I said the parts out loud we've made a social contract to keep quiet. Oh, well. I've upset people with my opinions before, and I'm sure I will again. That sort of goes along with having an opinion.

It makes me very grateful for having established my love of all things creative before I stepped behind various curtains. When young and competing, I fully believed the stage fair and skill-based. I was absolutely blind to every machination out there. Whether that be a positive or negative, it taught me the complex depths of having a creative soul, and it gave me the discipline and spirit to develop it. I don't know what I might have done had I seen behind the curtain too early.

It is true that each of us are different persons with different needs and wants. I doubt social media lines up with most persons needs and wants when they're honest with themselves about what it actually is. I could certainly be wrong, but in this case I hope I'm not, because that'd be soul-sucking awful.