Great point: we’re taking back our most important ‘commodity’, the one social media was designed to exploit. Our attention. We played by the rules & now we’ve changed the whole game.
Go Giada! Share examples that happen, too. Most of them, I think, will be about connection. Actual reaching out to real people we meet with our shared humanity. And yes, we can do it so I'm powerfully in soany ways, not with an agenda, but with hearts taking their tentative steps to fulfil their promise.
As you write, it is definitely about connection. Systems of oppression thrive on creating isolation and keeping each one minding their own business.
Working with individuals taught me it is also about acknowledging and unlearning beliefs and thought patterns that those systems ingrained in our minds and make us act in certain ways. Ways that negatively affect our well-being, the well-being of the communities we are a part of, and our collective well-being.
I’m currently researching this topic, and as soon as I find relevant examples, I’ll share them.
Meanwhile, I believe “Let This Radicalize You” by Kelly Hayes and Mariame Kaba is worth a read. It’s about organizing and shares a series of movements that survived and thrived after the initial momentum.
Oh, while I’m writing, I’m thinking about another element that has a role in building a new culture of shared humanity and collective care: attention.
We are bombarded by information and, on social media, mostly by ads, obvious or in disguise. We are so used to shifting our attention elsewhere that we tend to do it with social and humanitarian causes, too.
I think as online writers or creators, we have a chance to keep ourselves focused, but I still have to investigate how.
I agree! I think really, online stuff is very cool and I don't want to lose it, BUT--
I do think life in the ACTUAL community is even better. I'd like to see the things that I grew up with come back ... more. We've lost a lot of our community IRL to videos and such... I'd say this is deliberate! And I'd also say that we can get back to that without having to GIVE UP our online stuff. What do you think?
I agree. We don't need to give up our online stuff. We could have to learn to let go of some "habits" or routines that exploit our attention. In any case, I believe online and IRL can complement and expand each other, if use with care and intention.
But I do think the cell phones must go. Cell towers, all this radiation everywhere... it doesn't just harm PEOPLE, it harms ALL LIFE. Folks have been told for soooo long that it's "safe," but we now know better. Anyway, we'll get there... Cheers. ^_^
Excellent! And hooray for the leadership! As for what my role will be, I've written a book about the global Border Industrial Complex, in which Israel and the US play a outsized role, that ends with a Call to Action to divest from mass death and exploitation. Delighted to add the cult of celebrity to that unholy list! Coming in June and called Crossing the Line: Finding America in the Borderlands, it is also an attempt to raise a movement against the unsustainable greed of the status quo. Thanks for your posts and your voice, Joshua Hill.
appropriately enough, the met gala's theme this year ("the garden of time") is taken from a JG Ballard story about (in LitHub's words) "the inevitable doom of the aristocracy"
Great post! In terms of what steps people can take beyond viral block lists, I wrote a post last year exploring the potential influence of organized labor should it one day rediscover the meaning of solidarity beyond the interests of union members vis-à-vis their employers. https://shahidbuttar.substack.com/p/we-the-people-can-unplug-the-war
For those who might be looking for the block out list, here is one on IG: @choppingblock2024 there was another one, but Meta banned it (surprise, surprise 🙄)
Go to the accounts following tab, and that’s the list of celebs & companies to block.
For musical artists, don’t forget to block them on Spotify too “don’t play this artist” setting. Some of those hurt me, tbh….Radiohead 😭
You know, someone pointed out to me once, and I'm not sure if it applies to a majority or not, but apparently a LOT of celebrities are what they are because of their connections to wealthy muckities... I'm just repeating something that I haven't proven in any way, but... it just wouldn't surprise me at all! ;)
I wish I had seen this before posting my latest piece on Disenchantments & Discoveries! I think your view and mine are compatible, though we approach the same issue of how celebrities can use their platforms, or choose not to, shapes our engagement with them, or not, from different angles. I'd have liked to link to this one! (I did link to another of yours though!)
Haven't finished it yet, but bloody excellent article, JD. Not deplatforming platforms is an in idea thats been passing through my head, but I keep not catching it properly. Thanks for glueng it down.
Seemed like she had a chance to turn on the oil companies and government during the heatwave concert in Brasil. That was a sad and missed opportunity. One person died, many, many people suffered. Her crew supplied free water, which was awesome, but there was a bigger story here, a bigger song.
This is brilliant.
People are looking for and pursuing ways to make the power of the people, us in bigger numbers, affect real change!
Boycotts really work.
We have so much more power than we think, or have been tought.
This would be like a reset for attention.
Who get's our attention and why?
Attention is our power and we are being bombarded with agendas of others, who don't have the health and safety of people as a guide.
They have been creating a world FOR US on their own terms, and it's truly not working anymore.
It's so obvious, it's so evident, the CONTRAST is so clear!
We either keep following them blindly in this reality of a sinking ship.
Or we take our attention, our power back, and unite in a reality that truly respects earth and every living being.
And it's our free choice ♡
Great point: we’re taking back our most important ‘commodity’, the one social media was designed to exploit. Our attention. We played by the rules & now we’ve changed the whole game.
Exactly ♡
Let’s build a culture of collective care. Day after day, choice after choice, action after action.
Go Giada! Share examples that happen, too. Most of them, I think, will be about connection. Actual reaching out to real people we meet with our shared humanity. And yes, we can do it so I'm powerfully in soany ways, not with an agenda, but with hearts taking their tentative steps to fulfil their promise.
Hi Peter!
As you write, it is definitely about connection. Systems of oppression thrive on creating isolation and keeping each one minding their own business.
Working with individuals taught me it is also about acknowledging and unlearning beliefs and thought patterns that those systems ingrained in our minds and make us act in certain ways. Ways that negatively affect our well-being, the well-being of the communities we are a part of, and our collective well-being.
I’m currently researching this topic, and as soon as I find relevant examples, I’ll share them.
Meanwhile, I believe “Let This Radicalize You” by Kelly Hayes and Mariame Kaba is worth a read. It’s about organizing and shares a series of movements that survived and thrived after the initial momentum.
Oh, while I’m writing, I’m thinking about another element that has a role in building a new culture of shared humanity and collective care: attention.
We are bombarded by information and, on social media, mostly by ads, obvious or in disguise. We are so used to shifting our attention elsewhere that we tend to do it with social and humanitarian causes, too.
I think as online writers or creators, we have a chance to keep ourselves focused, but I still have to investigate how.
I agree! I think really, online stuff is very cool and I don't want to lose it, BUT--
I do think life in the ACTUAL community is even better. I'd like to see the things that I grew up with come back ... more. We've lost a lot of our community IRL to videos and such... I'd say this is deliberate! And I'd also say that we can get back to that without having to GIVE UP our online stuff. What do you think?
I agree. We don't need to give up our online stuff. We could have to learn to let go of some "habits" or routines that exploit our attention. In any case, I believe online and IRL can complement and expand each other, if use with care and intention.
Agreed.
But I do think the cell phones must go. Cell towers, all this radiation everywhere... it doesn't just harm PEOPLE, it harms ALL LIFE. Folks have been told for soooo long that it's "safe," but we now know better. Anyway, we'll get there... Cheers. ^_^
I couldn't agree more 👏👏👏
Excellent! And hooray for the leadership! As for what my role will be, I've written a book about the global Border Industrial Complex, in which Israel and the US play a outsized role, that ends with a Call to Action to divest from mass death and exploitation. Delighted to add the cult of celebrity to that unholy list! Coming in June and called Crossing the Line: Finding America in the Borderlands, it is also an attempt to raise a movement against the unsustainable greed of the status quo. Thanks for your posts and your voice, Joshua Hill.
If I learned anything as a young activist in the 1990s it's that SILENCE=DEATH
Hooray! What a wonderful trend -- may it grow! Thanks for letting us know about it, Joshua.
The well known people I follow are all champions of Palestine. Maybe more people will switch to following them instead of celebrities.
Someone has to fill the void.
Good point Diana - don't just block, but engage with those who will lift the direction of the movement. Excellent.
appropriately enough, the met gala's theme this year ("the garden of time") is taken from a JG Ballard story about (in LitHub's words) "the inevitable doom of the aristocracy"
Covid alone should’ve been the end for these pointless chancers. We don’t need them or their forgettable content.
Great post! In terms of what steps people can take beyond viral block lists, I wrote a post last year exploring the potential influence of organized labor should it one day rediscover the meaning of solidarity beyond the interests of union members vis-à-vis their employers. https://shahidbuttar.substack.com/p/we-the-people-can-unplug-the-war
For those who might be looking for the block out list, here is one on IG: @choppingblock2024 there was another one, but Meta banned it (surprise, surprise 🙄)
Go to the accounts following tab, and that’s the list of celebs & companies to block.
For musical artists, don’t forget to block them on Spotify too “don’t play this artist” setting. Some of those hurt me, tbh….Radiohead 😭
I never understood why anyone would follow a celebrity.
Most actors and actresses are dumber than a box of rocks.
And influencers? How pathetic to follow them is it?
Old expression: Never meet your heroes.
lol
You know, someone pointed out to me once, and I'm not sure if it applies to a majority or not, but apparently a LOT of celebrities are what they are because of their connections to wealthy muckities... I'm just repeating something that I haven't proven in any way, but... it just wouldn't surprise me at all! ;)
I love this post. Thank you for not only bringing the news to my attention, but also for pushing the analysis further. This is fresh.
I wish I had seen this before posting my latest piece on Disenchantments & Discoveries! I think your view and mine are compatible, though we approach the same issue of how celebrities can use their platforms, or choose not to, shapes our engagement with them, or not, from different angles. I'd have liked to link to this one! (I did link to another of yours though!)
https://open.substack.com/pub/jdgoulet/p/a-queering-argument-for-eurovision?r=10bxpq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Haven't finished it yet, but bloody excellent article, JD. Not deplatforming platforms is an in idea thats been passing through my head, but I keep not catching it properly. Thanks for glueng it down.
Thank you so much for saying so!
for those interested in learning more about striking, http://strikeforourrights.org is doing incredible work!
Thanks for the link. Practical action tools and support are gold. They may have tasers and has, we have things like these. Human things. Alive things.
Are you saying that the plastic one’s swifty fans are turning on her, great post.
Seemed like she had a chance to turn on the oil companies and government during the heatwave concert in Brasil. That was a sad and missed opportunity. One person died, many, many people suffered. Her crew supplied free water, which was awesome, but there was a bigger story here, a bigger song.
Maybe she's just CLUELESS, lol. I don't know, I know who she is, but I don't follow her AT ALL. I still like Black Flag, LOL!!! Cheers.
You had me at tickets to the gala are $75k.