For all the times I’ve caught myself on facebook when I should be doing homework, I now know the reason.
For all the times I’ve aimlessly clicked through picture after picture of someone I don’t even know, I also now know the reason.
Why, it’s all to keep up with my “ambient awareness” of course.
Clive Thompson really knew what he was talking about in, “Brave New World of Digital Intimacy.” And it makes sense.
Because will I really care about how you can take a picture of yourself in the complicated over-the-head-bathroom-mirror shot angle? Or will I care more if you happen to accidentally jam your foot in the toilet bowl and then manage to snap a picture of that moment? Pursed lips and all.
No lie. It’s a story like that I would want to know. This is like a hunger. Got to keep up on my awareness. I have to know the latest mishap, the biggest news, the most fascinating stories of spontaneous whit that friends have performed without me. If you fall into the toilet, that better be something coming up on my newsfeed.
My ambient awareness needs it.
Knowing these things keeps a person feeling satisfied. It’s a little bit of knowledge that goes a long way. Able to go about a bad day with the knowledge that someone else’s life is always sucking worse than yours is always the best medicine.
Because at least my foot isn’t dripping toilet water.
-Ryan
