Should we #Influence As The World Burns?
Two weeks ago I published: HYPOTHESIS: Design Thinking will help me become an “Influencer” in 365 days. It’s the first stage in a process that I hope will both save me from creative apathy, and eventually serve to help others who need to get “unstuck” in this bizarre social internet age.
However, the day after I hit “publish,” I got in a my car and drove from Chicago to Los Angeles. Those days alone with the sleet along I-80 gave me plenty of time to clarify the goals of this project. But the goals promptly faded in the fog of central Nebraska. Something wasn’t right.
It wasn’t until my stopover in Denver to go skiing (yes, I’m literally the worst) when a tweet surfaced that perfectly summarized how I’m feeling about this project (and life in general):
And fuck, I’ve thought about that tweet every day since. What is still relevant? How much resistance is “enough?” What if we wake up and fascism is our reality?
#Influencers cross the pop culture spectrum are attempting to cope with this, some more successfully than others. Quick plug for a new podcast “North Mollywood,” hosted by two of my favorite past Grantland contributors—who recently went deep conspiracy mode, while also struggling to answer the question: “UM… WHAT SHOULD WE BE DOING (WITHOUT GOING INSANE)?”
So — with that, I’m putting this project on indefinite “pause” until I find some real answers to these questions. Preferably: Can we test questions of democratic preservation through this project? In the meantime, I’ve donated to the ACLU and called my Senators.
How about you: have you found your personal goals and creative endeavors superfluous (and even more self-indulgent than usual) in this political climate? Would love to hear from you.
But for now, back to binge-watching Parks & Rec.
