Generating Content
This morning, I made my cup of tea — I splurge on Yorkshire gold brand — and wondered what I should do as I sipped on the balcony. That’s when I thought: “I should write something!”
But I didn’t think of ‘writing’… I thought of ‘generating content’.
Wait, what? Who actually thinks that? I don’t produce more creative work either way, so when did I start thinking of creating as ‘generating content’? And for whom, exactly? I don’t have any followers. I am not an influencer and have no desire to be one.
When did the shift happen?
Was it after university, when social media became a must? I got a Facebook account when I realised my entire uni class had gotten together ahead of the start of the school year. They had created a Group, added each other as friends, and had a real-life dinner together, all before the first day. I was an outsider before I even reached the campus.
So I got on Facebook. But I never cared to share anything, except a few witty status updates to amuse myself and a few select others. I certainly didn’t think of generating content then.
I made an Instagram in 2015 but didn’t post more than 10 or 12 times — and never showed my face. Just couldn’t do it. What was the point? I couldn’t figure it out.
I did recently start an account on Tumblr but it is only to look at cats. Don’t judge — when you need it, you need it. Also, PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: stop hash-tagging ‘cats’ if isn’t a photo, video, or drawing of a cat. You know who you are.
I might as well admit to having a short-lived Twitter account, where I posted what time I woke up each day. I did that for several weeks (I think?) before letting it go and then closing the account when Musk took over. Why? Again, it amused me, and required little thought, and no one was watching.
A personal sandbox. Sort of like this website.
Newsletters, posts, stories — I can’t keep up. I never liked sharing to begin with, and now I find myself forced to do it if I want to ‘make waves’. Told I will get no traction without a following. But I’ve always been wary of cults…
So why do I think of creating as generating content? Maybe the idea of ‘generating content’ hurts less when it gets nothing but ambivalence in this cacophonous world of self-worship.