Mastodon, Revisited
As with all of the insignificant ramblings that I hurl at this space, the sentiment conveyed here is subject to change and represents only a present accounting of what passes for my thought processes about things that really aren’t that important but nonetheless provide a useful diversion (in theory) from the toil of The Work and a means to look at said Work with fresh eyes once the writing here is complete and the thought exorcised.
The search for that elusive middle ground between Informality and Newsletter, a Goldilocksing of my digitally social / ambient self continues apace: while I still enjoy posting to Instagram (in spite of the invasive Zuckerbooking of the platform that will, I’m certain, only get worse), it doesn’t fulfill my need for a home for tossed-off thought exorcisms (nor does the Zuckerbooking help). And, while I want to be comfortable with Twitter again, I find myself falling – with quickening pace – into the same traps of anxiety and expectation that I let seep in and suppurate during my initial dive a decade ago with each failed attempt at a return – that said, I cannot and will not deny the many life-changing opportunities – like my first book – and lifelong friendships that have been birthed from acquaintances started and fostered in the 140/280-ambient but, as Mr Dylan reminds us, in one’s evolution, inexorably, “the winds of changes shift” – (Side thought / psychological breakthrough: perhaps the preceeding caveat / apology which I always add to any discussion of Twitter is why I keep trying to make Twitter work for me anew. Attachment, attachment… )
Thus, I’ve found myself drawn back to Mastodon, mucking about in the federated ambient and sharing quotes by David Bowie and dog pictures. What I’ve found, so far, is not so much a fresh start or a tabula rasa, but a possible glimmer of that middle ground, a comfortable, intriguing chair with a leg that wobbles just a bit, situated in that hallowed valley between Informality and Newsletter (so far) devoid of that particularly self-inflicted boulder of perceived obligation in the name of justifying my chosen career path to myself. Put simply, Mastodon represents – to me, for now – another means of expression, like the Informalities and the Newsletter, though one devoid of the corrupting influence of a decade worth of self-inflicted and self-perpetuated gaining ideas and Frankensteined career paths; less a tossing out of the personal baggage/attachment I’ve carried for far too long but rather an attempt to try out another, different – not better, just different – carousel.
At least that’s what it is for now. As I said at the outset, all personal sentiments expressed here are subject to change; until then, you can find me fumbling about in the federated dark at @tylerweaver@mastodon.social.
(P.S. Amaroq is my preferred iOS Mastodon client.)
