Chaos is Lurking

Our online world is getting big. That’s something to be happy about. But it’s something to worry about, too.

I don’t mind telling you I’m damned worried. I’m worried that we are all going to (or probably we already are) fall into the trap of inescapable consumerism.

We are following others instead of making our own path. We are drowning in shallowness instead of being inspired by solid values. We are preoccupied with consuming to portray an image of greatness instead of being busy creating something great.

I’m worried that we are more focused on appearing cool, knowledgeable, and persistent than actually having those qualities.

There are a lot of online websites that promise to make you somehow better. Unfortunately, they do it in the most delusive way. They know how people tend to behave. They know all of our flaws. Thus, they utilize our cognitive biases to capture our attention and never let go.

They offer quick feedback loops that are typically effortless to use, short to consume, and built around the concept of satisfying our desire for immediate gratification.

These sites, stores, and apps have now become the backbone of the internet. But there’s one little rub. They don’t want you to stop consuming.

Think about it…

Sure, YouTube offers a gateway to masterfully created videos on various topics, but does YouTube want me to exit their platform, so I can apply what I’ve learned? Not really.

The same argument applies to all “must-use” social media apps today.

Websites were originally created to make the person somehow better – well-informed and equipped with the needed knowledge to handle the daily challenges. Online websites nowadays, however, are created and optimized to lead to more engagement and, thus, more consumerism.

The creative spark that led to our technological advancement and our evolution as a species is somehow fading away. Somehow treated to be lost.

I don’t want to glue myself to the couch to endlessly watch how others are doing inspiring things. No, I want to use my time doing inspiring things myself.

I don’t want to be locked in a zombie-like scrolling motion, where the only functioning property of my body is my thumb that flicks upwards. No, I want my whole body to move and explore the world.

And most recently… I don’t want an AI tool to write books or summarize them for me. No, I prefer texts written by real humans.

Online, you will see plenty of sites, people, and videos about doing the right things. About living the ideal life.

Yet, only when you stop consuming this so-called perfect content, you can make attempts towards fixing your imperfect life.

All of this is not to say that the online world is of no use. With the right ambition and a focused mind, access to the internet can make a good man better. But the danger is preoccupation with endless consumerism and no set boundaries.

The inability to resist the temptation offered by the endless rivers of the online world will lead to our inevitable downfall.

What can we do?

If we have the ambition to advance, we must emerge above what’s created and being created all the time. We must focus on how we can use the information circling around to make our lives better, not tirelessly look for more information to consume.

We must develop our own philosophy and not have the mass-produced philosophy of others imposed on us.

Let’s create some space. Create space to not only passionately consume content, but also to passionately act based on the content we consume.

A Curated Library

Did the above strike a chord? If so, welcome.

My goal with this site is to create a curated library of meaningful ideas for people exhausted from the current superficial culture.

A place that nurtures long-term fulfillment over temporary pleasures.

Want to read more about me? Check my about page, here.