Enjoyed this read along with my morning coffee today. It really resonated with me. I used to struggle so much in the winters until I got into trail running. There is something empowering about being out in harsh elements and doing something “hard” or uncomfortable. It gives you the feeling of being wild and free.
It’s so key to have something to do outside in the winter up here. So much gray! This year the xc skiing has been rough, and I usually try to run a little less to give my legs a break from the rest of the year, but the creek... keeps me sane!
For sure, usually once the snow falls I run less and ski more… but the trails stayed bare this year. I used to take cold showers, but got out of the practice after I got pregnant last year… maybe time for a comeback. The Bitterroot is just a skip and hop away, might have to take a dip.
I may have worded that wrong. The algorithm is built on the idea that specifically fear and anger are promoted, as they are some of the strongest drivers of reaction, ie, liking, sharing. And I think I need to work through my thoughts on it more in the sense that there seems to a connection to people being rewarded in social media when they present personal drama and weakness, but I don't really have this concept developed enough. It's a good thought I probably should have thought more on before writing, and will dive into more. But that's partly what this platform is for me... put my half baked ideas out there and start a dialog with others and myself. So here we are! The book Stolen Focus is one of the primers of this thought for me. A very pertinent and interesting read. I'll try to dive into this more later. Thanks for reading!
Thank you for the reply! I will check out the book you mentioned. I was curious about your thoughts on this because I've noticed this too in social media. And noticed the shift towards people portraying weakness and drama vs life's highlights. I'm not saying any approach or content is right or wrong, just that I've noticed the shift. Social media seemed like it used to be where people posted the best parts, the highlights of life. And that wasn't healthy for those who spend too much time comparing their personal lives to these 'highlight reels'. Then a few people started to be more 'vulnerable' and post about how everything wasn't always perfect and I think that was an important shift. But...it almost feels like posting the vulnerabilities and weaknesses, fears, drama, etc has become a trend. Something done unauthentically with the main purpose being to gather likes and followers. And that doesn't really sit right with me either but maybe it helps some people feel seen and less alone. But now more private people who aren't comfortable airing their private problems and feelings are often overlooked by the algorithm even if their art is good. Anyhow, I don't really have any deep thoughts on this, just some things I've noticed over time. I guess most things on social media are chosen and curated to garner likes and attention from the algorithm and some are willing to share whatever necessary to gain likes while others are not. Just depends on personal preference I suppose. An interesting topic for sure!
Enjoyed this read along with my morning coffee today. It really resonated with me. I used to struggle so much in the winters until I got into trail running. There is something empowering about being out in harsh elements and doing something “hard” or uncomfortable. It gives you the feeling of being wild and free.
It’s so key to have something to do outside in the winter up here. So much gray! This year the xc skiing has been rough, and I usually try to run a little less to give my legs a break from the rest of the year, but the creek... keeps me sane!
For sure, usually once the snow falls I run less and ski more… but the trails stayed bare this year. I used to take cold showers, but got out of the practice after I got pregnant last year… maybe time for a comeback. The Bitterroot is just a skip and hop away, might have to take a dip.
Excellent writing and great read! I'd love to hear more about how social media algorithms support weakness.
I may have worded that wrong. The algorithm is built on the idea that specifically fear and anger are promoted, as they are some of the strongest drivers of reaction, ie, liking, sharing. And I think I need to work through my thoughts on it more in the sense that there seems to a connection to people being rewarded in social media when they present personal drama and weakness, but I don't really have this concept developed enough. It's a good thought I probably should have thought more on before writing, and will dive into more. But that's partly what this platform is for me... put my half baked ideas out there and start a dialog with others and myself. So here we are! The book Stolen Focus is one of the primers of this thought for me. A very pertinent and interesting read. I'll try to dive into this more later. Thanks for reading!
Thank you for the reply! I will check out the book you mentioned. I was curious about your thoughts on this because I've noticed this too in social media. And noticed the shift towards people portraying weakness and drama vs life's highlights. I'm not saying any approach or content is right or wrong, just that I've noticed the shift. Social media seemed like it used to be where people posted the best parts, the highlights of life. And that wasn't healthy for those who spend too much time comparing their personal lives to these 'highlight reels'. Then a few people started to be more 'vulnerable' and post about how everything wasn't always perfect and I think that was an important shift. But...it almost feels like posting the vulnerabilities and weaknesses, fears, drama, etc has become a trend. Something done unauthentically with the main purpose being to gather likes and followers. And that doesn't really sit right with me either but maybe it helps some people feel seen and less alone. But now more private people who aren't comfortable airing their private problems and feelings are often overlooked by the algorithm even if their art is good. Anyhow, I don't really have any deep thoughts on this, just some things I've noticed over time. I guess most things on social media are chosen and curated to garner likes and attention from the algorithm and some are willing to share whatever necessary to gain likes while others are not. Just depends on personal preference I suppose. An interesting topic for sure!