What Are You Taking In?

In our internet era we’ve become the ultimate as I like to call it “serial scroller.” Yes I made that up.

Congested social media feeds and an overabundance of online content, a lot of people are scrolling their lives away. Social media timelines alone can be flooded with so many forms of (mis)information. Then the amount of blogs, news, videos, and propaganda online seems endless. Scrolling through the internet is a part of our daily routine. I know that you decide what you want to be exposed to, but even that can be a lot. With so much in front out of your face there is a continual wrestle of what to fix your eyes on and give attention to.

I wonder if you are truly digesting what you see online.

Do you click on that link?

Ponder on an interesting tweet or Instagram post?

Since the internet has conditioned most of us to this quick scrolling life we’re also in a time of short attention spans. Okay you did click the link, but did you read the entire lengthy article or watch the extensive video? For some doing this seems overwhelming, in fact most may not do it. They will start, but do not finish and continue back to scrolling. Do not become contented with these quick, little actions that you don’t allow yourself to slow down and feed your mind.

I truly want to believe my generation is not the superficial, skim the surface kind of people and dig a little deeper for information. That’s why I want you to ask yourself:

 Are you a “scroller” or a thinker? I hope your answer is the latter.

Now to the music you listen to.

I mention music as well because what is popular today is in my opinion too much of same thing that is not worth a replay. The bass production and drum beats hook you, but also disengages you. So caught up in the sound and moving to it that you aren’t tuned in.

Did you really listen to those lyrics?

I’m not talking about misogyny, drug references or violence because those will remain in rap songs. However what rappers say nowadays is unintelligent, sometimes inaudible, and doesn’t make sense. Its trance music, which is very much innovative and exuberant – hats off to these rappers. The words however are not saying a lot, if anything. Also the fixation is short lived. After one song you’re on to the next similar sounding track, then one more, and another.

Are you hearing or are you listening?

Next time I’ll be writing about more about the shift of rap today that I’m so critical about without being as cynical. If you’ve read this post- thank you. I hope you continue to read and be engaged.

-C