I get the irony here. If you’ve stumbled upon this post, you likely found it because you follow me on social media. I can’t stand that stuff. It’s a good idea in theory (I suppose). An internet telephone. But it’s too easily manipulated. I love communicating too much, so I get roped into arguments I don’t want to have. I obsess over things that have a lot less meaning than my mind ends up thinking they should (when I use social media). It’s just all around bad, at least for me. Maybe your experience is different. But, I bet it’s similar for most people. And, even if it’s not, your time could be better spent. Here’s my argument for why:
You’ve got the world at your fingertips. Literally anything you’d like to learn about, you could learn about. Think of a thing you’d like to be better at, or know more about, and then Google it. Find out the best way to learn about it (videos, books, podcasts) and then go do that instead of social media.
If you’re doing a form of social media that isn’t TikTok, then you’re already reading anyways. You might as well read something that benefits you.
For instance. I’m a teacher (by day) and my class is currently getting into chess. I want to learn more about it because I want to be able to easily beat anyone of them, and, I also want to pass the skills I learn on to them. It just makes everyone more into it, and helps create a fun culture in my classroom. To do this I did some Googling, found some books, couldn’t get them at my library so I did Abe Books to get them cheap, and then I searched the library’s website and got a different big fat book that wasn’t on the list from them while I wait for the Abe Books to get here. Now, I don’t have to read the whole book if I don’t want. It was free. I’m just learning about chess for fun because I like it, and I now play it all the time. I can easily put the book down and never touch it again if I don’t want to (could you do that so easily with your social media…could you?) but I enjoy the book (do you enjoy your social media? Do you really?) so I’m not putting it down. I can read it whenever. On the couch randomly for a few minutes. On the toilet. In a waiting room. Wherever. And, the best part is, I can read more than one book at a time.
Check this out:
Ignore the fact that this screenshot says Miranda (that’s my wife, and this is her account. But I AM on the account, so it’s perfectly legal that I use it. We’ve just always used hers, and I like to keep the running record of the HOW MUCH YOU SAVED BY USING YOUR LIBRARY number that spits out at the bottom of the receipt ridiculously high), and look at the diversity in these books. So, first off, we always have a ton of picture books because I read 4-5 a night with the kids (used to be 10, but Willow is getting more interested in all her other activities now and wants to trim book time some). Next up we have a couple fitness books. Yes, both are for me. If the Naked Fitness one is lame (or if the other one is), I’ll simply not read it. Easy. But, I’m hoping they both have interesting ideas. Fitness is a current interest of mine. I’ve been going to the gym for a few months, I’m using this app called FitBod that does all the work for me. Builds the workout, keeps track of my sore muscle groups, spits out tons of data. It’s awesome. So, anyways, I’m interested in reading about fitness. I have a union book in there because my school district is fighting with my union over benefits right now. They’re being ridiculous, and I’m trying to get my fellow teachers to go to the meetings so they can see first hand just how ridiculous the situation is. So, unions are a current interest of mine and I want to read more about them and, in the process, maybe be better able to describe their importance to people and dispel any misconceptions they’ve been propagized to believe. There’s also a book in there you didn’t see in the screenshot about outside activities for dad’s to do with their kids. Who doesn’t want to be an awesome dad that does outside things with their kids? Sign me up!
I also have a writing book that’s already checked out to me by this guy who’s a comic book artist. It’s all about how to keep yourself writing, even when it feels like a slog and you just want to abandon the craft forever. It’s a super fun book. He’s got a whole series of them.
The greatest thing about having all these different books at the ready that are about my interests, is that if I start to feel bored reading about chess all the time (or if it’s kind of late and I can’t concentrate on the nitty gritty of chess moves anymore) I can start reading about how I need to go for walks when I’m stumped in my writing, or I can get some history on unions or fitness (or learn some cool things to do with my kids outside!). I have a book for every mood, and every situation. And, I’m in control of the content. If I don’t like it, I stop reading it, grab a different book. Easy. I decide my fate. My mood. And therefor, my life.
Take that Twitter.