Just rewatched Inside and thinking about how much WORSE everything has gotten

[u/Sea_Impact9746]

Climate change worsening rapidly (I was in Paris when it was 43 C with humidity this summer, forest fires, just shit getting way more shit, the mid west in the US apparently is still having humid and hot days into mid October?). The internet and social media have trained people into being their worst selves and revealing absolutely everything or otherwise performing themselves to death… I don’t use social media anymore, but without it I’m also just a homebody as so many events/etc feels like even somewhat “underground” things are still on Instagram. Like people can’t imagine creating some sort of collective group or event that’s offline, I don’t know. I hate the internet at this point, especially since it’s basically all dominated by companies owned by horrific right wing men and bolstering the racists, misogynists, etc amongst us.

I also know how much fame sucks now on a personal level! For that, I relate even more to this special. I was micro famous online from something that went viral to the point that I started getting recognized in my home city and beyond, even asked to take photos with others and sign things. Guess what? I received a lot of support for what I made, enthusiasm, had fans for the work. I also had my body and looks heavily scrutinized and discussed, all aspects of me and my personality, really. People say things about you that ring completely untrue to who you are, but they seem so convinced that must really be you. As a woman I also got rape and death threats, doxxed, stalked, and a bunch of far right men on a website the police can do nothing about still talking about me, and making AI photos/videos/porn of me, though I’ve been anon online for many months now and tried to wipe as much as I could. It’s gotten worse for anyone doing any creative thing, and also feels like the snark subreddits I randomly get recommended are out of control too. Like, you want to essentially harass and talk shit about a regular human being who happens to post online or share something, including more vulnerable art?

Everything is turned into a joke, everything is wrecked, this world is rapidly going downhill and our culture too in so many ways. I think many of us feel it - why else did Inside reach us all, the way it did in 2021? It moved me so much the first time, and maybe even more this time. What with AI, how much more the online social landscape has devolved, how isolated many of us have gotten and how difficult it is to form community when you’re too busy making money for dumb companies and might even be working two jobs to make ends meet (not Bo’s problem, but the reality of many). It’s all too fucked. I’m tired.

On top of it I have health issues I didn’t used to when I was 30, and I’m 36 now, the same age as Bo. Anyone else rewatching and feeling this way? What are you doing? Yes I try to touch grass when I can, but also living with pain and illness doesn’t let me do so to the degree healthy people can. I’m stuck at home more often and yet I try to do other things like read or watch films, not to go online constantly, in spite of having to still work online. I have to be very performative in my work too and sell sell sell, and show a face entirely opposite to how I feel inside daily.

It’s all too much. Also fuck Trump and even more so, fuck what made Trump and everyone on the right possible and remotely palatable for a majority, including such similar shifts around the world. Fuck how people are so manipulated by all the content they are fed, fuck AI and the way it’s degrading us further. All my dad does is talk to chat gpt, he has no friends and doesn’t realize his subscription has lead to something that essentially keeps him trapped in a narcissistic loop wherein it agrees with everything he says. Don’t even let me get to the story of him going to the ER for very normal minor symptoms because chat gpt told him to. He’s impossible to speak with, not that we have a relationship anyways. I feel it’s hitting everyone hard and not just the boomers, I have various friends who have been laid off and everything is being done in the name of “efficiency”. My mother told me at her government-related job, in an incredibly important department for us to have the resources we need to essentially live on, they are now relying largely on AI and have had mass layoffs. They also have set up ai agents to take care of the agents that might “go rogue” as if this is any type of solution.

We are all living the absolute worst timeline. What are we all doing? Ok, I’m done ranting. Sorry, I still have Reddit since it’s anon for me and… I mostly just sit with my thoughts feeling paralyzed and crying or dissociating when I think too much about it all 🙃 doesn’t help that some of my stupid friends had stupid children either which has… actually been much worse for most them than expected (especially the ones who aren’t wealthy nor with grandparents who are able to help), and while beautiful I think the lack of real support and community for many, having to still struggle just to survive as a human being and the grim looking future does impact them, along with the rest of us.

[u/tentativeteas]

It’s almost over; it’s just begun

[u/Sea_Impact9746 → u/tentativeteas]

We’re going to go where everybody knows…

[u/ich_lebe]

I would say in a genuinely respectful way get off the internet

[u/Sea_Impact9746 → u/ich_lebe]

Literally work online and wiped all person socials like I said, doubt you bothered to read my post? Most people can no longer work offline and make ends meet, especially if they don’t live with a partner. My rent eats up most of my paycheck, and I’ve had various careers throughout my life. At this point, I actually need a work from home gig due to health reasons, because also late capitalism and a lack of real sustainable support otherwise.

It’s not really a choice to be offline - I was totally offline for many months besides work after I erased everything, and then made this anon Reddit account I don’t even use daily. I use it for little hobby groups mostly, not so bad. I still get exposed to and sometimes enter the darker parts, which are.. basically everywhere.

Thanks so much for your ultra helpful content though! 😊 don’t worry, it’s not possible for some to be remotely safe online and it ruined my mental health to get somewhat famous from a very meaningful and creative project I worked on for a long time, only to deal with criminal harassment and the police telling me the best thing I could do was just erase myself and hope it all goes away.

Also, some of us millennials remember a time when the internet was much different. I loved the blogs back then! I loved neopets. I loved all the weird little chat rooms (maybe a little unsafe in hind site, ok). I didn’t get a smart phone until I was 21 or so, and early on Instagram seemed cute and mostly to share food pics or whatever with your friends. The internet was actually FUN to be on. It was much friendlier, and less foreboding without everything being monetized, and then. And then… welcome to the internet! I think all of us should get off, but much of our social and economic lives are glued to it. Easily said, not easily done.

[u/JackieChanRS]

It'll all be okay and there is nothing you can do about it