“You can’t have too much of a good thing” is a bullshit statement. And as opening sentences to my articles go that might be the most jarring one I’ve done in a while. But, it’s true—so very true. I am inundated with stuff I want to watch and read and experience and do. I realize, like a lot of the stuff I talk about online, that this is a first world problem. But, hey, I am being more open, and this is what I am dealing with. My problems, shared by others, may not actually matter much in the long run, but that doesn’t mean they are not valid in the immediacy of strong emotion.
And, so, this is the issue: having anything recommended to me now is something I treat with almost indifference. It’s not because I am not interested, it’s not because I think the person supplying the recommendation has bad taste, it’s simply that I do not even have enough time to keep up with the stuff I like, let alone like new things. So, I basically must ignore it beyond a cursory, “yeah, I’ll check it out,” that half the time I don’t even mean.
Have you ever asked on a social media site for recommendations? I don’t suggest it, you will never stop getting notifications of people telling you options. It’ll take several days for it to die down, and then off and on you might get little pings of people jumping on the bandwagon.
In our media-saturated world of constant and endless series and continuations and new projects, and with it all being quite good too, it is an insane, ludicrous venture to keep up with it all. And, funnier still, it’s an insane and ludicrous venture that most still attempt.
But, unlike some, I am too busy. I can’t binge my way through Stranger Things 2, I can’t devote a whole night to Rick and Morty. I cannot sit down and marathon a whole series on the regular.
Don’t get me wrong, I want to, oh how I would love to be on the up and up on the latest shows and games and movies. And, given just a twinge more of free time, I would be on it in seconds—but I can’t, so, I don’t, so, I won’t.
Additionally, I am part of the problem. If you are a “subscriber” to this blog, then you already know I flood your inbox with my twice-weekly posts (some bloggers go even further and write daily, but I am not that prolific, and the editing would be so time-consuming.)
Somehow, being media savvy became a second job. And watching television with others became both a date and platonic activity. And, again, I don’t think that is a bad thing. We are a technological race, especially now, and our interactions with media and screens and programs will only increase—so it’s not odd. But, this transition is a little difficult, simply because I spend a lot of time on other things.
Here’s a controversial statement, and some may balk: but I am not watching enough television. I am not seeing enough movies. Oh yeah, that sounds lazy. But, as a content creator, it behooves me to view media, to consume it, to learn. If I do not read enough, I am like a chef on a 2000 calorie diet. Possibly that’s healthier, but leads to a blander meal overall for those I serve.
And I don’t want that, and I’m sure you don’t either.
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Coolerbs Writes 