The tech for the new Pokemon app is really pretty cool. Their "augmented reality" feature where a Pokemon is actually "in" your living room, yard, etc is neat. No wonder kids and adults as well can be seen in parks, airports, and malls with their noses in their phones wandering like lost drones. It's obvious that that Pokemon character isn't real - but people choose to "take the leap" in order to be entertained, as the meld of the character with the tech of your phone app let you try to "Catch'Em All". Stories are breaking almost daily of people playing the game, and having accidents because they aren't paying attention to 'real' reality and thats kinda scary when ya think about it. They are willingly getting caught up in their "augmented reality" obsession.
Brings me to a point about social media and memes. Pictures with a few lines to make a point. There are memes about everything. Sports, Work, Politics, you name it. It's the political memes that I wanna focus on. Now I;ll admit, they can be pretty funny. Most of them are an unflattering picture with a couple funny lines about whoever is in the picture--you know what I'm talking about. What concerns me is how a meme has become someones' news source. The problem to me, are the memes that attempt to list accusations or list false facts. Someone finds a picture of their "target", and lists "facts" that either they heard - or in many cases mis-heard.
I'd seen a news story that claimed that "uneducated white men" were predominantly Trump supporters. What got my attention about this story is that that describes me! I am the furthest thing from a Trump supporter, so I had to get some answers as to this claim I kept hearing. I decided to do some "homemade' research.
For the 2 weeks of BOTH political conventions, I spent a lot of time trolling comment sections of news items regarding the Presidential election. Both sides, Republican and Democrat were posting their "facts" about their own candidate or the competition, Passing around memes in defense of their agenda. I started seeing a few that I KNEW to be false. I'd seen a news story that claimed that "uneducated white men" were predominantly Trump supporters. I got the idea to make my own memes and just "make crap up" to see if I'd get called out, I'd hoped at least ONE person would dispute my attempt to defend my agenda, but I never got questioned once on my "facts". They were however quick to copy/paste and share their own instead. I made 4 separate memes with blatant false info and instead of being called out, people simply accepted my "facts" as real. Like hunting Pokemon, people were happy to be in their own "augmented reality". They're too busy in their agenda to worry about 'real' reality. Thats scary too, but for a much different reason. As I read comments and clicked on profiles to get a clearer view of who was commenting, and which "side" they supported, I began to get the results the news was saying about Trump supporters. 10 to 1 Trump supporters (that I dealt with on Facebook) were, in fact, white non-college educated white guys according to the info they provided on their profiles. The Clinton backers seemed to be a 60-40 split White to NonWhite. The issue I had was that BOTH sides simply accepted my made up memes as factual. Not ONE time was I asked for a source, or even had my stuff called out. Both sides seemed to be content - as long as they were hearing what they wanted to hear. That's scary.
We have begun to cling to social media as our "obsession" to be social - but to also get our information. If a friend posts incorrect information, people tend to accept it as factual - as, well - their friend had the info - and they surely can trust their friend....right?
I find it odd that people can spend so much time with their noses on the social media site of their choice - reading comments to their posts, adding their own, passing recipes, catching up with Family, and yes - in far too many cases - getting their "news". People spend HOURS on social media reading....but spend hardly any - IF any, time reading a book. Thats gotta change. I dont have the blueprint for it, but I realize its heading down the wrong path.
Saturday, July 30, 2016
Monday, July 18, 2016
8864 days, but who's counting!
Today, I am a divorced man.
While many know I've been a "single parent" since the mid 90's, as of today - July 18th, 2016- I am officially, finally - divorced.
To some, this comes as a bit of a surprise as I haven't been "married"in their eyes for literally decades. I haven't even seen my ex in 20+ yrs! The majority of my friends have never even MET my ex, as my marriage was so long ago. For the record, it was 8,864 days ago today. That's 24 yrs, 3 mo. and 7 days. But who's counting? People do less time in prison for murder!
Back on April Fools day, I changed my status on Facebook to "Married" because I wanted to be able to officially announce my divorce when it happened. Because of the date - many assumed it was simply a joke, and just ignored it. Sorry. Kinda. Lol.
When my ex bailed on the kids and I back in 1994, both kids were in diapers - and I was a radio dude teaching HS, looking for the "next station". She filed for divorce, but her "demons" got in her way and began missing court dates. When it was obvious that the kids' mother wasn't going to be a part of their life, I decided right then, that my children were not gonna suffer any kind of "set back" just because the other parent wasn't gonna be there. Those kids were gonna have the same opportunities I had growing up. No excuses. That's how I grew up. One parent always working her ass off so her kids would not "need" anything. That's the commitment my Mom gave to her family. We grew up in Ohio as kind of "poor" - but as kids, we just didn't know it. I had a conversation with Mom about my fears, and in her calm "matter of fact" voice I'd come to trust, she simply said "Son, you will figure this out. Just always remember, it's not a childs' fault who their parents are". And with that, I pledged to my kids - and myself - that my own kids would be "raised" the same. They may "want", but they would need for nothing.
Now, from our time in New Orleans....San Luis Obispo......Albuquerque....and back here in Arizona - many times, both sides of the Family - hers and mine, had offered to front the money for my divorce. But, I always saw this as my own "cross to bear". Sure, I could've put together the money to do this much earlier. A divorce with minor children would have been an expensive, long, drawn out process. I could have taken that path - but I always remembered my promise. To me, money for a lawyer for divorce was money better used for the kids.....boy scout camp.....softball tournaments, etc.
There were times I tried dating, but it seemed wrong to me to parade different women in and out of the kids' lives. That's not the "lesson" I wanted my kids to learn about how women are to be treated. Just seemed wrong to me. Maybe I'm a prude. Lol...maybe not tho.
About the time both kids made it to adulthood and independence, Kent got sick and suddenly passed. Shortly after, Moms' health spiraled as well. Losing both in such a short span has made me take a hard look in the mirror. Taking care of someone with a terminal disease opens your own eyes to a number of things. No one is getting any younger. With divorce, my retirement, life insurance, etc. are no longer in jeopardy of not going to my children when I pass. That gives me comfort.
Now, I have no idea what is in store for me the Next 8,864 days. Whatever it may be, I just hope in Mom's opinion.....that I've earned it.
For now - SHOTS!! (ok...maybe "SHOT"!)
While many know I've been a "single parent" since the mid 90's, as of today - July 18th, 2016- I am officially, finally - divorced.
To some, this comes as a bit of a surprise as I haven't been "married"in their eyes for literally decades. I haven't even seen my ex in 20+ yrs! The majority of my friends have never even MET my ex, as my marriage was so long ago. For the record, it was 8,864 days ago today. That's 24 yrs, 3 mo. and 7 days. But who's counting? People do less time in prison for murder!
Back on April Fools day, I changed my status on Facebook to "Married" because I wanted to be able to officially announce my divorce when it happened. Because of the date - many assumed it was simply a joke, and just ignored it. Sorry. Kinda. Lol.
When my ex bailed on the kids and I back in 1994, both kids were in diapers - and I was a radio dude teaching HS, looking for the "next station". She filed for divorce, but her "demons" got in her way and began missing court dates. When it was obvious that the kids' mother wasn't going to be a part of their life, I decided right then, that my children were not gonna suffer any kind of "set back" just because the other parent wasn't gonna be there. Those kids were gonna have the same opportunities I had growing up. No excuses. That's how I grew up. One parent always working her ass off so her kids would not "need" anything. That's the commitment my Mom gave to her family. We grew up in Ohio as kind of "poor" - but as kids, we just didn't know it. I had a conversation with Mom about my fears, and in her calm "matter of fact" voice I'd come to trust, she simply said "Son, you will figure this out. Just always remember, it's not a childs' fault who their parents are". And with that, I pledged to my kids - and myself - that my own kids would be "raised" the same. They may "want", but they would need for nothing.
Now, from our time in New Orleans....San Luis Obispo......Albuquerque....and back here in Arizona - many times, both sides of the Family - hers and mine, had offered to front the money for my divorce. But, I always saw this as my own "cross to bear". Sure, I could've put together the money to do this much earlier. A divorce with minor children would have been an expensive, long, drawn out process. I could have taken that path - but I always remembered my promise. To me, money for a lawyer for divorce was money better used for the kids.....boy scout camp.....softball tournaments, etc.
There were times I tried dating, but it seemed wrong to me to parade different women in and out of the kids' lives. That's not the "lesson" I wanted my kids to learn about how women are to be treated. Just seemed wrong to me. Maybe I'm a prude. Lol...maybe not tho.
About the time both kids made it to adulthood and independence, Kent got sick and suddenly passed. Shortly after, Moms' health spiraled as well. Losing both in such a short span has made me take a hard look in the mirror. Taking care of someone with a terminal disease opens your own eyes to a number of things. No one is getting any younger. With divorce, my retirement, life insurance, etc. are no longer in jeopardy of not going to my children when I pass. That gives me comfort.
Now, I have no idea what is in store for me the Next 8,864 days. Whatever it may be, I just hope in Mom's opinion.....that I've earned it.
For now - SHOTS!! (ok...maybe "SHOT"!)
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