Erik the Hermit

One thing I’ve developed a skill for is knowing when to step away from social media. Like Ross and Rachel, we’re always on a break, never a breakup.

(Though now that I recall, they did break up on that show, didn’t they?)

This time, I’m taking time away from Facebook and Twitter in particular. There are a few reasons, chief among them a need to reclaim some free time for NaNoWriMo next month. I’m also noticing that I’m getting angry over social media interactions as much as real-world tragedies, which is so very wrong.

I just can’t give the same spite to Ellen befriending George W as kids locked in cages in detention centers. Ellen’s friend group – and no, under no circumstances would I befriend W., just to be clear – don’t really matter.

I would rather reserve my anger for things that matter. Like, you know, the fact that our country is locking kids in cages. But that’s difficult when the topic du jour changes every damn hour on social media.

It’s like being locked in a white room with wall-to-wall computer screens, each displaying a rotating mix of tabloids, tragedy, shouting matches, and cat videos. Eventually the distinctions blur. (I’d like to keep the cat videos, of course.)

Naturally, like coming off of any addictive substance, there’s a serious drop in dopamine during a withdrawal period. Let’s just say I’ve been watching a lot of restoration videos on YouTube lately.

I’ll continue posting here, of course, especially as NaNoWriMo gets into swing. So I’ll see you folks around.