Social media is not your friend

Social media is not good for you.

Just this morning a gentlemen i follow on X went off on another gentlemen calling him a “stupid lying bastard!” Now both of these “gentlemen” are in their 60s, family men who are well-known in their industry, and manage millions of dollars of client funds. The have both authored books and make frequent appearances on podcasts. Presumably, they do this for marketing purposes to get more customers and help more people. This “disagreement” - believe it or not - was over whether one asset class is better than another and if the asset mangers of that class could be trusted.

Now, screaming personal insults at another professional in public is not a good look for anyone. The person spewing the vitriol is a person whose books I had bought, podcasts I had listened to and generally trusted. I had never heard that kind of anger from him anywhere previously. So I replied to his post that perhaps the insult was a little over the line. I was not the only one pointing this out. In response, the gentlemen I follow, whose work i (had) admired, immediately insulted and blocked me. Wow. He has no idea who i am and I had never engaged with him before. To say that I was shocked is an complete understatement.

Now, why would anyone do that? I don’t know for sure, but I think he just got caught up in the social media anger. Its everywhere. The natural tendency to react to a post you disagree with with anger and spite. The algorithm wants engagement and a reaction. And it will and keep feeding you more to encourage you to engage. Algorithmic social media simply brings out the worst in people, including “normal” people who don’t normally react with anger.

Reading equals more mental engagement, less emotional reaction

So i am going to start reading again. I have gone through stages over the years of reading a bunch, or not. But I think it is time to pick it up again. I need to step away from irrational emotional algorithmic engagement and be more deliberate and thoughtful about my life.

Life is short. Our time is limited. Time to make the best of it and stop being a rat in cage frantically pressing the food pellet lever hoping for more. We are all better than that, or at least should be. I will try to post about some of what I read if you care. Perhaps you will find it useful. I will for sure … because my brain will have been engaged and slowly processing ideas. Something we all should be doing in this hyperbolic and hyperactive world.