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For me, the last time I was reasonably optimistic was when COVID-19 broke out.
I acknowledge this likely comes off as very insensitive, but let me try and explain—my optimism is not divorced from my feelings of fear, grief, morbidity, insecurity, and anxiety. 1/n https://twitter.com/markhxr/status/1276582734572457984
I acknowledge this likely comes off as very insensitive, but let me try and explain—my optimism is not divorced from my feelings of fear, grief, morbidity, insecurity, and anxiety. 1/n https://twitter.com/markhxr/status/1276582734572457984
My optimism perhaps stemmed as a coping mechanism for how unsettled and afraid I was feeling. Perhaps I’m over-rationalising it right now. But the optimism was real.
Of a ‘New Normal.’ 2/n
Of a ‘New Normal.’ 2/n
Mind you, the ‘New Normal’ I had optimism for is not the ‘New Normal’ we keep trying to get ourselves to accept and subsequently conform to. If it had resembled the optimistic vision, the optimism would not have waned.
Now it seems wiser to find hope in the absence of itself. 3/n
Now it seems wiser to find hope in the absence of itself. 3/n
Why are we like this? As a species? As individuals and as collectives both—what drives us to be this way?
To fetishise ‘progress’ on signposts and metrics that we have to achieve against blueprints provided by those who benefit from our following them. 4/n
To fetishise ‘progress’ on signposts and metrics that we have to achieve against blueprints provided by those who benefit from our following them. 4/n
Our discomfort in slowing down and pausing is only matched by our anxiety to rush ahead. This, again, is true both at the individual level and at the collective.
Perhaps stopping isn’t the wisest option—we’ve ‘got to keep on keeping up’ (Oasis, I’m Outta Time).
But pausing? 5/n
Perhaps stopping isn’t the wisest option—we’ve ‘got to keep on keeping up’ (Oasis, I’m Outta Time).
But pausing? 5/n
Some part of me believes that this was an omen for change. Another part of me wants to silence the first part because it’s insensitive to the people adversely impacted by it (we are all part of it; but definitely not to the same degrees).
But in context, about the first part: 6/n
But in context, about the first part: 6/n
It felt like a moment for us to be compassionate. To be empathetic. To be kind. To see our insignificance and deflate our egos.
To be human.
But, somehow, that was too great a challenge. 7/n
To be human.
But, somehow, that was too great a challenge. 7/n
That’s not to say there haven’t been cases of humanity. There have been. And there must be millions more in silence that we don’t know about.
But we... how do I put this...
We failed to come together. As a whole. As one. 8/n
But we... how do I put this...
We failed to come together. As a whole. As one. 8/n
Granted, we all have our own opinions and preferences. But unity is not about conformity.
Unity is about respect and tolerance and empathy and, often, a common uniting factor.
A goal. A purpose. A target. A belief. A vision. 9/n
Unity is about respect and tolerance and empathy and, often, a common uniting factor.
A goal. A purpose. A target. A belief. A vision. 9/n
And so we couldn’t come together enough to agree on the need to eradicate this pandemic together?
Two points I want to address.
1. How simplistic this sounds
2. How it’s not necessarily our fault
10/n
Two points I want to address.
1. How simplistic this sounds
2. How it’s not necessarily our fault
10/n
1. There are always nuances to everything. But this is simplistic only because it’s the crux.
Deconstructing something down to this implies this is the more rudimentary thought. Building it up from this would make it foundational.
Currently: aspirational. 11/n
Deconstructing something down to this implies this is the more rudimentary thought. Building it up from this would make it foundational.
Currently: aspirational. 11/n
2. We never felt it the same way.
When they said everyone was at equal risk, it was misleading and only true medically (later also untrue).
Some of us have been/are less vulnerable than others through this time which likely means lesser empathy. 12/n
When they said everyone was at equal risk, it was misleading and only true medically (later also untrue).
Some of us have been/are less vulnerable than others through this time which likely means lesser empathy. 12/n
This lowered vulnerability could be for a number of reasons. Social capital. Financial. Insulation. Fallbacks. Authority. And so forth.
Regardless, this leads to a stark contrast in the understanding/experience of the pandemic. 13/n
Regardless, this leads to a stark contrast in the understanding/experience of the pandemic. 13/n
So yeah. We didn’t come together.
But this thread was about optimism not unity. So.
I suppose I’m still hopeful. Not entirely sure of what to be honest. But I think gratitude helps with it.
One. Day. At. A. Time.
14/14
But this thread was about optimism not unity. So.
I suppose I’m still hopeful. Not entirely sure of what to be honest. But I think gratitude helps with it.
One. Day. At. A. Time.
14/14
