52 Weeks — #44
Images begat words; words begat images
I voted a couple of weeks ago. The process was extremely simple and the line was lunchtime manageable despite high turnout at the polls.
Over the past dozen years, I’ve typically taken a photo of the “I Voted” sticker and posted it to social media as a reminder to anyone and everyone that they should do their civic duty.
This year, I stuck the sticker in my pocket and simply walked home.
Why? Part of it is my desire to avoid social media during such a heightened, contentious time. Like many, I vented my spleen all over Facebook and related mediums following the 2016 presidential election, naively thinking social media was a place to connect.
What I discovered is how easy it is to wade into arguments with acquaintances, bots, and trolls with whom you have only limited (if any) connection. For anything except basic life events — birthdays, marriages, congratulations and condolences — social media is a place where the disconnects in our country became amplified, the dial turned up to 11.
For generations, we’ve bemoaned the loss of civic engagement. With record turnout expected next week, some would say it’s at an all-time high. But this type of engagement is bereft of civil discourse, only amplifying the discord so many are experiencing.
I know how and why I vote the way I do, but I refuse to buy into or fan the flames of hate just because others feel that need. And why shout into the void if no one is listening?
After voting, I had some errands to run. At some point, I pulled the sticker out of my pocket and left it in the car. For some reason, I didn’t throw it away even though I couldn’t manage to snap a quick photo, write a post, and pat myself on the back for doing something everyone who is eligible should do.
On Thursday, I saw the sticker in the car, curling up at the edges. With five days to go, I thought, “It’s now or never.” I pulled out my phone, snapped a picture and wrote a Facebook post that ended simply with: “Vote. It’s your right. Be kind. It’s your responsibility.”
Fingers crossed in the days ahead.
A Note to Subscribers
“Our Reality Show” has paid subscriptions — monthly, annually, and founding member. If you can upgrade your subscription, that would be a wonderful show of support for my work. But if you can’t, that’s OK too. New and current subscribers can still access all content here for free.
I hope you will continue to read, enjoy, and comment because your engagement in my work means the world to me. If you opt for a paid subscription, I promise to “pay it forward” by donating 25% of all revenue to worthy causes. I also will report those donations back to you.
Thank you for your support of “Our Reality Show.”
The colors this week are gorgeous, Glenn! Bursting with color and life, I find these images, for some reason I can't put my finger on, optimistic. Lovely, thanks.
I can appreciate the comments about social media. I've seldom had anything resembling a meaningful discussion on FB, IG, or anyplace else. Perhaps the demand for an immediate emotional response discourages sober, thoughtful conversations. That said, Threads has been a healthy interesting place so far, a supportive photography community and a minimum number of bots and trolls. Gives me hope 😊