I’ve been seeing (and thinking) a lot about the performative nature of social media these days and I agree entirely, it’s gross, there’s so many negative consequences of it in terms of what we choose to consume and display. But I’m also interested in why that’s a thing? I don’t think it’s even simply a matter of wanting to look cool (though it’s obv a part of it) since cool is subjective and especially on someplace like Tumbles cool on here doesn’t translate in the greater world. But! Even despite this website/outlet, a lot of us would still be interested in the stuff we are outwardly interested in on here, but most of us have probably had terrible experience trying to integrate those interests in real life (speaking from personal experience). Like, despite some of my more lunatic #problematic interests I’ve picked up in the last few years I have the same interests as when I was in high school, if expanded. But every time I tried to include others into that, or bring any of those private interests into the public sphere so I could share them with anyone I’ve had cold receptions or even blatant reprimands. And I think we end up channeling all of the efforts to display or share what we often can’t in real life, where we already know or fear we won’t get a good reaction based on experience, into our online image because that seems a sounder investment. You’re more likely to get an intellectual return on “weird” shit if you have a closely cultivated web of people already interested in the same themes you are. And it does turn performative, but I don’t think that’s entirely a negative to the extent that it’s borne out of something negative. I think it’s borne out of a real desire to connect with others, and whether conscious or not, the performativity of your interests online, to people already more receptive than most you will meet in person, becomes a way to feel less isolated, even if it quickly becomes an isolating experience itself. And of course it’s important to continue trying to engage people in physical life rather than retreating into a bubble, but it’s hard and not always possible, especially when you’re hit with repeated setbacks and subtle rejections.
(via michaelhanekemom)
What do straight people expect when they say that lgbtq+ pda makes them uncomfortable or that they don’t “mind” lgbtq+ people or that they don’t understand why lgbtq+ people make such a “big deal” out of their identities? Do they expect that their words don’t do actual harm? That somehow this doesn’t make them bigots just bc they aren’t religious extremists?
The framework around the Orlando shooting is so disturbing to me. I don’t care how far you can shift responsibility onto a lone wolf, a “lunatic,” a “religious fanatic,” because in my head you’re all responsible for this. Everyone who’s ever participated into the othering of lgbtq+ people, all of them are actively responsible for creating a world where it’s dangerous to be lgbtq+ and alive.
E-xactly
(via plutoh)
discreet420mseeking69mforvaping:
even with insurance, it is more affordable for me to take uber to the emergency room than it is to take an ambulance
