The Native Americans believed cameras captured souls. I believe there is a truth to it – a powerful foresight. Maybe then, it would have seemed irrational. How could a chunk of metal and glass be capable of such an act? However, in this day and age, cameras are undeniably in control. Eyes cover the skies, and social media holds no exception. It bends our minds to fit a mold we weren’t made for. Catching souls and locking them in a meta vault –insert conspiracy theories.

I don’t hate social media, I just despise it. Maybe I’m on the “wrong side”, or maybe a “right side” just doesn’t exists. I’m sick of seeing it all. Every carefully rehearsed joke, every meme, every prank, every deep thought someone has on their lunch break. In this fleeting moment, I’m sick of every soul sucking piece of digital content I consume. Except fish. It’s hard not to appreciate a great catch.

Real fish. Not catfish. Although, they have their place.

Watching people search for validation, like beggars stealing crumbs from the feet of our viral leaders effects me in a terrible way. I saw a man cry today. I felt sick for him and sick of him at the same time, and then I felt guilty for feeling anything at all. How could a connection so disconnected, stir up such an unguarded emotional response? I think I’ll hide away for awhile. I’ll turn off my phone, shut down my computer and dip off into the woods with pen and paper. It’s about time to reset. A time to get away from the parasocial vacuum that devours my intrigue.

Here is a poem to sum up the ridiculous revelation of my digital affliction.

Digital Reprieve

strip away my layers
remind me of skin and bone
reset the mind
to find I’m all alone
heart in my chest
no longer on a wall
free from the one-way
screenplay of it all
where fate cannot decide
algorithms do
numb the mind, test the zoo
animals, all of us
monkey see, monkey who?
do I still exist
if I disconnect
do you?
do I have a chance
to leave my screen
locked in favor
of a digital reprieve?
where feet touch stone
eyes touch sky
where tears shed
without pain
in favor of envy
Is eternity
the stolen soul
revealed
no glory?