REELS…..

I have given talks to groups extolling the virtues of real human connection and excoriating the weakness of electronic communication as it overtakes our lives.  We negotiate; we argue; we fight; we break up; we disseminate all sorts of deeply emotional interactions over the internet ignoring the remarkable value of facial recognition and the wonder of the human voice.  The internet is awash in all varieties of time-wasting apps allowing one to squander the precious little time we have to shorten the communication gap between humans.  But now, I too have been ensnared by the electronic elixir known as “Instagram”.  Recently my new daughter-in-law suggested that Instagram would be a wonderful way to connect with family and friends.  It seemed so innocent--- follow the exciting lives of your family and perhaps some new friends.  Who knows maybe even developing a “your story” following and becoming an influencer?

                                    BUT NO

None of that would come to pass.  Why do you ask? Because what she forgot to tell me was after playing around with the message app you soon learn that with the flip of your index finger you can “scroll down!!!”. Suddenly you have lost the cute picture of a friend’s nephew or the picture of your son playing golf or pictures of food you will never eat;  no, no  you are now in the addictive realm of REELS!!!  You are now hooked to an endless stream of athletic achievements you will never achieve; pictures of attractive people you will never meet, funny jokes., advertisements, women telling slightly off-color jokes, and on and on it goes. An endless stream of nonsense that eats away at what little time you have while in return offering absolutely nothing of consequence and meaning…….

I don’t have time to write more thoughtfully I have to check my Instagram posts…….maybe a reel or two : I can’t help myself…..