As.Eye.Go.01

An introduction

Hello to whoever accidentally stumbles on this page. So, earlier this summer I deleted my Instagram. Not only that but I deleted my twitter and all things google… including youtube. Then I self declared it was going to be an #analogsummer. For once, I didn’t just make the claim. I took some action. The first step was exchanging physical addresses with a discord group I’m in so as to not lose contact with friends I’ve made over the last few years in the digital world. Then I put my Fuji xPro on a shelf. I proceeded to go all summer only shooting film and exchanging letters and postcards with the previously mentioned discord members. It was a nice summer away from social media. And not just social media. I tried to stay as far away from screens as much as possible. I was far from perfect at this part. Reddit continued to pull my attention from time to time but I was able to successfully stay away from any news site which also has a cable TV channel. Just the elimination of “breaking news” in my life made the exercise worth it.

Completely off topic side note.

On a side note, lets talk about the best part of going as analog as possible. For me it was getting and sending letters. I don’t think I’ve mailed a letter since the mid 90’s. But it was really nice to find that the members of this discord, members that range from 10 to 20 to even 30 years younger then me embraced the whole letter writing thing. Not only did they just start corresponding with me via the mail, but also with each other. I loved the longer form correspondence. Not just the mindless banter one gets when jumping in and out of an online platform. The thing I like about the letters is the whole “intentionality” of it all. For me social media is what I do while I’m doing something else. Consuming some other form of media at the same time. Or just killing time before something else happens. With letters, when they show up in the mailbox, I go inside, maybe grab a cocktail, sit down and read it… giving the physical letter 100% of my attention. Same goes for the reply. When writing a letter it gets my full attention and I think reader can feel that. I think I feel it reading the letters to me.

#AnalogSummer is over.

Now its fall in Atlanta. Maybe not technically. I have a few more days according to the calendar, but at least it feels that way. The windows in my office are open and the air conditioner isn’t running for the first time in months. It’s time to take that xPro off the shelf. It’s also time to decide what and if any of the tech I gave up, I should bring back. Here is what I’m not bringing back:

• Instagram

• Twitter

• Youtube

• Any news site that uses the words “breaking”

I’m keeping Facebook. It’s just family and close friends anyway. I’ve long since blocked anyone in my feed who over shares political opinions. Even those I agree with.

For my news, I prefer sites or podcasts which offer nuanced, and IMO, well thought out takes. I think I get all the information I can handle or need.

I’m also going to keep up with the letter writing and postcards. I’d like to ramp it up even more but haven’t figured out a good way of acquiring more penpals.

But why am I posting this on substack?

I want to try to use Sub-stack as an Instagram alternative. I do miss the engagement I had at times on Instagram. I was only a 800ish follower guy on insta but I would get a decent amount of thoughtful comments on a lot of my images. And I miss these discussions. But I don’t miss them enough to go back on insta. I have no expectations here but I think its worth trying.