All of this!! I have a friendship group, ironically met and are based online, where we are constantly talking about the need for community and are floating the idea of a cult-mune (our radical thinking is considered cultish) where we are in community, living off the land, learning and growing from each other, with as little technology as possible. Two of us that are very serious about this are Aboriginal and we talk about wanting to live like our ancestors albeit in a more contemporary way... will it happen or work? Maybe, but we all need to do something to break from the colonisers, big tech, consumer capitalist shackles
Also in complete agreeance over here. I just deactivated my Facebook for the 50th time, so sick of the relentless barrage of crap. I try to post thought provoking stuff, promote awareness about the inequalities and injustice in this world, and it’s like people are too afraid to engage or they just don’t care. It’s exhausting trying to get people to care about things that matter. Instagram is not much better. There I get caught up in the comments sections and afterwards feel so guilty for wasting that time. I know it’s because I currently lack connection irl, I just don’t know how to fix it or get over my social anxiety. I recently turned 40, and I’ve found myself yearning for the simpler times. Hanging out with friends, talking on the landline, going to the movies or out for a leisurely meal (still doable, but I have a 3yo lol). Thanks for vocalising what so many of us are feeling 🙏🏻
I totally agree with you. The rabbit hole we've all been sucked into is full of noise, hatred, manipulation ... SM is an addictive tool that we all must use to stay relevant. The dystopia is phenomenal. It's 1984 with the internet thrown in!
But there is some good in tech if we use it to our advantage, not the algo's!
I'm in a chat with my work besties that's been going on since covid. We still catch up most Friday arvos for a chat and a wine (the chat name is 'wine time') and we all catch up for 'live wine time' a few times a year. Our Xmas wine time is coming up next weekend and I'm so excited 😊
Feel this so much!! Every time I pick up my phone and check my social media accounts for the 100th time that day I’m disgusted in myself but ….. just ….. can’t ….. stop! I’ve even contemplated getting a landline phone again so when at home I can lock my phone away and tell my friends if I don’t answer my mobile call the home phone.
Whilst there are parts of social media I really enjoy (Instagram is a walking talking magazine and in the pre social media days I was a magazine freak!) I think we will all benefit from turning off the phone and turning to each other.
I feel exactly the same! I've been trying for years to reduce my Instagram time but I'm very serious about starting January witha digital detox. Cal Newport wrote a really good book called Digital Minimalism which I'm due to re-read. I've already changed my morning routine to involve no phone until at least 90 mins after waking up (Candice Brathwaite's recent book Manifesto has a really good loads of ideas for the 'Soft Stir' wake up).
I can feel social media numbing me into a stupor, I've got a 10 year old daughter who knows she's not getting a smartphone anytime soon so i really need to put my money where my mouth is and set a good example.
Looking forward to reading the substacks and being part of the Clemunity :)
I love this and I too have felt the invisible hand of the algorithm manipulating me, keeping on for just one more click….
I live in northern rivers NSW & would love to be part of a Clem covern here.
I’m always very jelly of the lucky Melbourne peeps with your opportunities for local meet ups.
I did meet you in the foyer of Brunswick Picture House (northern NSW)after your amazing show but was a little star struck 🥰
Anyway it can be a bit isolating living in the country - some country folk have some pretty wild views. It would be great to connect with others to build a positive irl community.
It's really draining and hurtful. AND, living around people like that makes you feel ashamed if you speak up against them because the attacks from them are so hurtful. I do love where I live very much because there are many fellow creatives around me and we do support each other, but I do fear for the LGBTIQ people living in our community, it must be a real blow when they hear some of the things people say.
That's the hard part for me because I actually love where I live too. I've lived here my whole life. And when I'm just with my family and my animals I'm in my peaceful place. But as soon as I decide to socialise outside of my family I realise how hateful our community is to minorities.
I think this resignates with a lot of people now. Something has to change as we've just being sucked dry. The grief I've been feeling lately looking back on how much life and growth I've missed out on, how much we've all lost out on! And, the wasted opportunities. The amazing things we could be using technology for. But, capitalism just has its claws in far far too deep. I don't see how we can get out of it without a massive reckoning and that uncertainty is scary - especially as we know who will suffer the most. The communities we desperately need to build seem more and more of an unlikely dream as we become so polerised and as systems are continuously built to oppress any form of resistence.
Calling it out and having these conversations is definitely progress, though. So, I'm very thankful for that :)
Remember when Insta was a place to share photos? I loved it. Now it’s where I get my news from all the awesome people who write and report from the ground up. I don’t know where else to go for honest reporting…certainly not your everyday corporate news. I dumped fb a long time back, and never twittered (tho I’m sure there were good journalists there…but I believe it’s gone down hill fast and the grave is marked with X). And dear Clem, I so enjoy you…but your sentences can be long and my attention wanders to the next item! With love and respect go well in your endeavours! 🕊️♥️
I am feeling the same. The past twelve months have been difficult for both my mental and physical health. I don't watch the news anymore, have shifted my radio listening away from ABC Melbourne to ABC Radio National and ABC Classic. I have found peace especially with classical music. I have returned to my records, CD's and cassettes and my books. My soul is tired, I am a creative yet I went three months without picking up one of my cameras, a brush or a pencil. I restore furniture and I've got three unfinished projects. This deep tiredness in my soul I feel stems from social media. I believe that it has increased selfishness and me, me ,me. The desire to constantly consume new things and throw them away. Thank goodness for the other creatives who live in the rural area that I live in, we share and we try to support each other. My social media use is being reduced to simply now supporting my fellow creatives. It's time to slow down and have real human interactions and connections once more.
All of this!! I have a friendship group, ironically met and are based online, where we are constantly talking about the need for community and are floating the idea of a cult-mune (our radical thinking is considered cultish) where we are in community, living off the land, learning and growing from each other, with as little technology as possible. Two of us that are very serious about this are Aboriginal and we talk about wanting to live like our ancestors albeit in a more contemporary way... will it happen or work? Maybe, but we all need to do something to break from the colonisers, big tech, consumer capitalist shackles
Also in complete agreeance over here. I just deactivated my Facebook for the 50th time, so sick of the relentless barrage of crap. I try to post thought provoking stuff, promote awareness about the inequalities and injustice in this world, and it’s like people are too afraid to engage or they just don’t care. It’s exhausting trying to get people to care about things that matter. Instagram is not much better. There I get caught up in the comments sections and afterwards feel so guilty for wasting that time. I know it’s because I currently lack connection irl, I just don’t know how to fix it or get over my social anxiety. I recently turned 40, and I’ve found myself yearning for the simpler times. Hanging out with friends, talking on the landline, going to the movies or out for a leisurely meal (still doable, but I have a 3yo lol). Thanks for vocalising what so many of us are feeling 🙏🏻
I totally agree with you. The rabbit hole we've all been sucked into is full of noise, hatred, manipulation ... SM is an addictive tool that we all must use to stay relevant. The dystopia is phenomenal. It's 1984 with the internet thrown in!
But there is some good in tech if we use it to our advantage, not the algo's!
I'm in a chat with my work besties that's been going on since covid. We still catch up most Friday arvos for a chat and a wine (the chat name is 'wine time') and we all catch up for 'live wine time' a few times a year. Our Xmas wine time is coming up next weekend and I'm so excited 😊
Feel this so much!! Every time I pick up my phone and check my social media accounts for the 100th time that day I’m disgusted in myself but ….. just ….. can’t ….. stop! I’ve even contemplated getting a landline phone again so when at home I can lock my phone away and tell my friends if I don’t answer my mobile call the home phone.
Whilst there are parts of social media I really enjoy (Instagram is a walking talking magazine and in the pre social media days I was a magazine freak!) I think we will all benefit from turning off the phone and turning to each other.
This! I’ve also thought about getting a landline!
I feel exactly the same! I've been trying for years to reduce my Instagram time but I'm very serious about starting January witha digital detox. Cal Newport wrote a really good book called Digital Minimalism which I'm due to re-read. I've already changed my morning routine to involve no phone until at least 90 mins after waking up (Candice Brathwaite's recent book Manifesto has a really good loads of ideas for the 'Soft Stir' wake up).
I can feel social media numbing me into a stupor, I've got a 10 year old daughter who knows she's not getting a smartphone anytime soon so i really need to put my money where my mouth is and set a good example.
Looking forward to reading the substacks and being part of the Clemunity :)
Oh I love the idea of digital detox.
I love the thought of being part of the "Clemmunity" ❤️
I really like this thinking. These ideas resonate a lot. Thank you so much Clementine.
I love this and I too have felt the invisible hand of the algorithm manipulating me, keeping on for just one more click….
I live in northern rivers NSW & would love to be part of a Clem covern here.
I’m always very jelly of the lucky Melbourne peeps with your opportunities for local meet ups.
I did meet you in the foyer of Brunswick Picture House (northern NSW)after your amazing show but was a little star struck 🥰
Anyway it can be a bit isolating living in the country - some country folk have some pretty wild views. It would be great to connect with others to build a positive irl community.
Big love to you Clem🌺
My plan really is to do things that can be participated in from all over! Watch this space.
I'm in the same boat as you, Robyn. Living in a rural area (Victoria) amongst racists and conservative thinkers can be extremely isolating.
That’s were I feel such comfort & gratitude for groups like this🌺
It's really draining and hurtful. AND, living around people like that makes you feel ashamed if you speak up against them because the attacks from them are so hurtful. I do love where I live very much because there are many fellow creatives around me and we do support each other, but I do fear for the LGBTIQ people living in our community, it must be a real blow when they hear some of the things people say.
That's the hard part for me because I actually love where I live too. I've lived here my whole life. And when I'm just with my family and my animals I'm in my peaceful place. But as soon as I decide to socialise outside of my family I realise how hateful our community is to minorities.
I think this resignates with a lot of people now. Something has to change as we've just being sucked dry. The grief I've been feeling lately looking back on how much life and growth I've missed out on, how much we've all lost out on! And, the wasted opportunities. The amazing things we could be using technology for. But, capitalism just has its claws in far far too deep. I don't see how we can get out of it without a massive reckoning and that uncertainty is scary - especially as we know who will suffer the most. The communities we desperately need to build seem more and more of an unlikely dream as we become so polerised and as systems are continuously built to oppress any form of resistence.
Calling it out and having these conversations is definitely progress, though. So, I'm very thankful for that :)
Can't believe I spelt both resonates and polarised (and maybe others) incorrectly...
This resonated so very deeply.
Remember when Insta was a place to share photos? I loved it. Now it’s where I get my news from all the awesome people who write and report from the ground up. I don’t know where else to go for honest reporting…certainly not your everyday corporate news. I dumped fb a long time back, and never twittered (tho I’m sure there were good journalists there…but I believe it’s gone down hill fast and the grave is marked with X). And dear Clem, I so enjoy you…but your sentences can be long and my attention wanders to the next item! With love and respect go well in your endeavours! 🕊️♥️
I'm wanting out of social media too 😩
I am feeling the same. The past twelve months have been difficult for both my mental and physical health. I don't watch the news anymore, have shifted my radio listening away from ABC Melbourne to ABC Radio National and ABC Classic. I have found peace especially with classical music. I have returned to my records, CD's and cassettes and my books. My soul is tired, I am a creative yet I went three months without picking up one of my cameras, a brush or a pencil. I restore furniture and I've got three unfinished projects. This deep tiredness in my soul I feel stems from social media. I believe that it has increased selfishness and me, me ,me. The desire to constantly consume new things and throw them away. Thank goodness for the other creatives who live in the rural area that I live in, we share and we try to support each other. My social media use is being reduced to simply now supporting my fellow creatives. It's time to slow down and have real human interactions and connections once more.