A Generation of Brevity
Everything is disposable nowadays. Theres a new artist every 2 weeks who’s supposed to “take over.” Twitter has become the newest and one of the most pervasive form of networking, boasting 65 million 140 (or less) character tweets a day. Many people text more than they call. People don’t buy physical copies of music anymore they download them either for free or on iTunes and never hold the music in their hands. The idea of alphabetizing CD’s in a book or on a shelf is unheard of nowadays. Movies are going the same way and unfortunately so are relationships.
I’ve heard people say that unprotected sex is the new engagement ring. I’m not one who puts a lot of stock in the idea of marriage but the idea is noble enough. I’ve encountered many women in my journey. So many have told me that I have this amazing personality, or that they have never met anyone like me. They come and go. They ask me for advice or insight, we have a few laughs and a few good times and then its done. Either I or she will stop contact and its over. Women are iTunes.
Unlike many of my other writings this is not about my need for connection or loneliness (though there is some of that peppered in). I personally think there are pros and cons to our generation of brevity.
I think the pressure of having a long term relationship whether happy or contrived is somewhat relieved. I think that for would be players its easier to kick a woman out and cut ties indefinitely. I think that social networks make it easier for people to share ideas quickly and serve very quick but sometimes significant purposes in each other’s lives. Speed is convenient for the short term, but what comes fast goes fast too.
The idea of growing something is almost dead. Record companies no longer believe in artist development. They swoop in when an artist is at his peak and ride the wave of success even after the career meets its end (google 360 deals). Lasting relationships, be they personal or business can be hard to maintain in a world where things change so rapidly. People could never be trusted, plainclothes, suits or uniforms. A world of rapid change decimates the already slim chances of finding someone worth your trust.
Social networks have become this haven for attention starved, validation seeking, societal bottom feeders to try to attribute some kind of significance to their exploits. They comment on other people’s headlines such as “Why do I feel this way? :(” or “planning a wedding is harder than I thought” in hopes that those people will comment on their equally tiresome statuses and they will. The comment circle jerk continues.
Queen Latifah said in regard to social networks, “When I meet someone I want to enjoy the moment of connecting with them. If they’re scrambling to get a picture to post on twitter, they’re losing the memory by missing the moment. Real life and social networking are not the same. I’m in a hotel room right now looking out at Central Park. The people out there are living life, playing soccer. Do I want to kick the ball? Or take a picture of it? I want to kick it”
Does anything last forever? No and theres nothing we can do about that fact. It is the quick exchange of information and our interconnectedness that makes the world change at the rate it does. What can we do to prevent ourselves from being flashes in the pan? Use the information you can get so quickly to improve the thing that will last forever: yourself. I believe that doing so will ultimately put you in the midst of others who have done the same and give you something to hold onto when the winds of change begin to blow again.
