Ever since Election Day, I’ve had the blues. The “feeling-unheard-ignored-isolated-so-how-can-i-become-a-writer-if-noone-cares-or-listens” blues.
I’ve had that feeling before but for some reason it came on stronger than usual this time. Like many, I went to Facebook to share my thoughts on the outcome of the election (which I was not happy with for many reasons) and what could have been done differently.
While I can’t say I was outright ignored, I felt a sting when I came across a post from someone on my newsfeed that was essentially saying what I was saying in my own separate post except they got a lot more reactions from mutual friends.
Interestingly, when I commented on a public post from a newspaper before this happened, I too got a lot of responses (good and bad) but from people I don’t know.
I’ve had a love/hate relationship with Facebook since I first joined, back when it was exclusively for students with a school email address in 2004.
What seems fairly easy and straightforward has all these tricky social rules and implications weaved in. Intuitively, you “friend” people (in my case, those I’ve known or have at least encountered more than once in person) and then interact with them.
But when I do that, I either sense reluctance, polite (but strained) reciprocity, or just plain rudeness (to those of us who grew up in the era of manners, not responding to someone who has addressed you in public but then posting something five minutes later loud and proud to other people is kinda dismissive and rude).
When I share something, most of the time I “hear crickets” (as I like to say) and it makes me want to stay quiet. Why bother? Why put myself out there?
Is it just me?
I’ve deactivated myself several times, but always come back with the hope that it will change and I’ll be able to interact better with my friends.
It gets me thinking of what it may mean for me as a writer: how can what I write have an impact if it’s not even acknowledged by those I know/have encountered in real life?
It’s an interesting trend that’s captured my attention, which also makes me uneasy. Essentially, it’s saying that the more you know people, the less you’ll interact with them in public. Or the less supportive/responsive they will be to you. That doesn’t sound right.
What do you think?
The Fearless Wordsmith 
I think your talent for writing has been acknowledged by the right people, and in time will reach many more. I believe it just takes lots of patience and time dedicated. I do understand what you try to say in your posts, however your messages may reach others in a different ways and they might have mixed feelings. I think that should be expected ???
LikeLike
Thanks hon, that’s very poignant advice 🙂 And yup, I can see what you mean now that I’ve had some perspective since I wrote this post. Thank you for reading!
LikeLike