The Lonely Art of Being Forgotten
I am on government watch lists. No really…Several people have told me.
However, I am a low priority. Even lower than my partner who is on the same list.
Why?
Because I am impossible to find on social media.
I have made an art out of being forgotten. I could blame any number of things.
- My folks
- Myself
- My upbringing
- My culture
- My mental illness
- Myself
However…In the end, I blame myself.
I have been working hard for years to be forgotten. This is what I’ve learned. Take them if you want them. I really don’t want them.
Communication:
Grow up during the digital age. Have the same phone number your entire life.
Spend years relying on Facebook to message people. Delete your Facebook.
Don’t collect anyone’s phone numbers during that time. Change your number anyway.
Nobody uses email. Use email exclusively. Check it regularly to make sure no one has messaged you. Despair.
Write letters with return addresses. Move. Move three times.
And leave no forwarding address. That part is very important.
Relationships:
Create very intense friendships. Almost exclusively date them.
Make sure it goes badly so no one talks to you.
Have intense feelings for people. Cut them out.
Continually make plans to see people. Blame yourself when they don’t pan out.
Be as charming as possible in the company of new people. Panic when they try to contact you. Never speak to them again.
Work & Education:
Pursue increasingly isolating mediums: writing, drawing, etc. Find ways to make them more isolating: do them at home.
Apply for exciting opportunities. Make it impossible for them to employ you.
Make yourself totally available for crippling jobs. Ignore your inner artist.
