Feb 26Liked by Salomé Sibonex, Joseph (Jake) Klein
I love this essay and your perspective, Salomé. I'm so glad to hear that you're continuing to ramp up The Black Sheep publication, as I've really enjoyed the articles and your perspective on things is always refreshing to read.
I love this line from the essay in particular "The freedom to follow your whims—like sharing poetry instead of politics or going silent online for weeks—is a subtle proxy for the freedom to direct your life." As I've expanded my interests far outside of politics, I've seen how the algorithm and audiences punish multi-dimensionality. It's important to never become wedded to the algorithm and pursue what makes life meaningful.
Thank you so much Maggie!! Really appreciate your support. And I'm happy that line stuck out to you, as it's the crux of this essay. I've become increasingly sensitive to that incentive to remain a predictable, one-dimensional persona online and I wonder how many people are more influenced by it than they realize.
You're so right about the need to pursue meaning over short-term attention (which seems obvious!). The funny thing, in the long-term, it's the people who go after what truly calls to them despite it not yielding instant public success that usually end up ahead of their culture and build a truly unique, lasting career!
Great stuff, Salome. It turns out that there are many black sheep out there. It's a tough way of being -- especially when you're challenged with being true to yourself despite criticism from friends, family, and the wider society at large. Your article reminds of the line from Mean Girls (of all places): "Is it better to be in the plastics and hating life, or not be in it at all?"
Hahaha the perennial wisdom of Mean Girls! Thanks Devin, appreciate the support and happy you understand the struggle.
You're right, there are so many more black sheep than I once realized. Sometimes people don't even realize they're a black sheep, they just feel like weirdos who don't belong. But that's one of the best outcomes of the internet: we can all feel out of place, together!
There really is a type of wisdom to Mean Girls, especially what it has to say about female-typical relational aggression. Ostracism -- being kicked out of the clique -- is said to be one such form of female-typical aggression. In a way, it's like being thrust into the role of "black sheep".
Black Sheep meet-up! I've thought about that too, especially having gotten to meet a few of the cool people I've connected with online. Getting to be in-person with similar-minded people is really special.
one idea that I've learned out relatively recently: "audience capture", where a public figure changes their POV to match that of their audience and that audience's POV. a feedback loop, in effect.
Appreciate it. And yes! That's very much the same dynamic. I'm super wary of that. I've definitely felt it myself.
It's interesting to consider because sometimes people are holding you to the standard of an older you and the change is you've gone through could be necessary! Other times it's the reverse, where certain topics get out-sized traction and people are conditioned to lean into those. Interesting stuff.
I love this essay and your perspective, Salomé. I'm so glad to hear that you're continuing to ramp up The Black Sheep publication, as I've really enjoyed the articles and your perspective on things is always refreshing to read.
I love this line from the essay in particular "The freedom to follow your whims—like sharing poetry instead of politics or going silent online for weeks—is a subtle proxy for the freedom to direct your life." As I've expanded my interests far outside of politics, I've seen how the algorithm and audiences punish multi-dimensionality. It's important to never become wedded to the algorithm and pursue what makes life meaningful.
Thank you so much Maggie!! Really appreciate your support. And I'm happy that line stuck out to you, as it's the crux of this essay. I've become increasingly sensitive to that incentive to remain a predictable, one-dimensional persona online and I wonder how many people are more influenced by it than they realize.
You're so right about the need to pursue meaning over short-term attention (which seems obvious!). The funny thing, in the long-term, it's the people who go after what truly calls to them despite it not yielding instant public success that usually end up ahead of their culture and build a truly unique, lasting career!
Great stuff, Salome. It turns out that there are many black sheep out there. It's a tough way of being -- especially when you're challenged with being true to yourself despite criticism from friends, family, and the wider society at large. Your article reminds of the line from Mean Girls (of all places): "Is it better to be in the plastics and hating life, or not be in it at all?"
Hahaha the perennial wisdom of Mean Girls! Thanks Devin, appreciate the support and happy you understand the struggle.
You're right, there are so many more black sheep than I once realized. Sometimes people don't even realize they're a black sheep, they just feel like weirdos who don't belong. But that's one of the best outcomes of the internet: we can all feel out of place, together!
There really is a type of wisdom to Mean Girls, especially what it has to say about female-typical relational aggression. Ostracism -- being kicked out of the clique -- is said to be one such form of female-typical aggression. In a way, it's like being thrust into the role of "black sheep".
Absolutely. I might need to revisit Mean Girls to write a Black Sheep take on it!
This covid shit has brought so many amazing people to my attention.
I dream, some day when the nightmare is over to be in a big party with all of you.
Like seeing my uninown brothers and sisters for the first time.
Black Sheep meet-up! I've thought about that too, especially having gotten to meet a few of the cool people I've connected with online. Getting to be in-person with similar-minded people is really special.
commiserations on losing your job.
one idea that I've learned out relatively recently: "audience capture", where a public figure changes their POV to match that of their audience and that audience's POV. a feedback loop, in effect.
Appreciate it. And yes! That's very much the same dynamic. I'm super wary of that. I've definitely felt it myself.
It's interesting to consider because sometimes people are holding you to the standard of an older you and the change is you've gone through could be necessary! Other times it's the reverse, where certain topics get out-sized traction and people are conditioned to lean into those. Interesting stuff.