followering

Social networks come and social networks go.

When change happens, people look for ways to build or rebuild connection with others. In 2023, that seems to mean creating an account on a new platform and seeking followers.

Some people are clever at this, and say a couple controversial, dramatic or interesting things that get them noticed and suddenly they have many followers who hope they will routinely say controversial, dramatic or interesting things, and thus become performers for them.

Other people say normal, human things and have conversations, one on one, inch by inch, real words by real words, and find new people to connect with and follow back in return, thus becoming a kind of friend for which our languages haven’t quite invented a better word for than “follower.”

I sometimes say controversial, dramatic or interesting things, but for the most part I have found myself in the camp of posting normal, human things and having conversations.

And that is okay, because social networks come and social networks go, and followers are largely and inevitably temporary connections with the universe.