There is such a volume of information and so little actual discussion. A friend and I were talking earlier this week about how some online discussions feel like arguments with bots, even when you know that the person you’re talking to is a human. (Or was, at some point? Who knows, maybe they got a bot to manage their social media.)

Social media and “the discourse” have rendered us all bot-like with its forces that push us toward brevity, taking things out of context, ramping up emotionality to get engagement, and all the subtle ways our conversations are policed and uniqueness eroded. The medium shapes the message, and if the prevalence of thought-terminating cliches on all sides is indicative, this particular medium is as much a force against critical thinking and earnest conversation as it is an empowering place for community and sharing information. Both twins emerge from these foundations.

Perhaps today there is nothing to “do” about this so much as see if you can observe yourself engaging with information, conversation, and dialogue online or in-person. Notice what memes make you want to argue or react. Notice what happens to you when you do so. Notice what it’s like to refrain from your habits.

This feels like a reality we must contend with, and it’s worth paying attention. Awareness creates the possibility of different action.