Podcast Summary
Exploring the transformative power of technology for businesses and individuals: Mercury streamlines financial workflows, Wise simplifies international transactions, and Patricia Lockwood's book captures the emotional side of being online, demonstrating the profound impact and challenges of technology in our lives
The ability to simplify complex processes and connect with the world through technology is transformative for businesses and individuals alike. Mercury, a financial services company, powers financial workflows with precision and control, enabling ambitious companies to perform at their best. Simultaneously, Wise offers a solution for managing money in different currencies, removing the hassle of international transactions and currency conversions. Meanwhile, Patricia Lockwood's book "No One is Talking About This" encapsulates the experience of being extremely online, showcasing the raw, real, and moving aspects of digital life. As a generation that grew up without the Internet and witnessed its integration into our lives, we can appreciate its impact while being critical of its challenges.
Early days of the internet: A time of wonder and connection: The early internet was a time of exploration and discovery, with fewer regulations and more opportunities for meaningful connections through email and online communities
The early days of the internet were a time of exploration and discovery, with fewer regulations and more opportunities for connection. People could engage in online communities and even interact with notable figures through email. The internet was a novelty, and every interaction felt special. However, as technology advanced and became more accessible, the internet lost some of its magic. Now, we have constant connectivity through smartphones, and the novelty has worn off. Email, once a thrilling experience, is now a constant distraction. The speaker shared personal stories of their early internet experiences, including emailing Bill Gates and using Bulletin Board Systems (BBSs). These experiences illustrate the excitement and wonder of the early internet era.
Growing up with a mix of influences: Born in the late 80s, our speaker's writing style reflects a blend of Gen X and millennial experiences, shaped by a diverse range of influences from classic literature to popular media.
Our speaker, born in 1981, identifies with elements of both Gen X and millennials, having grown up with a mix of experiences and influences that shaped their writing style. They learned to read and write at a young age, with influences ranging from classic literature to popular media like Babysitter's Club and Oprah book club selections. While the Internet and social media have not significantly altered their writing voice or subject matter, they acknowledge the impact of online platforms like Diary Land and LiveJournal on the development of critical voices and wild west humor writing. Overall, the speaker's unique perspective and experiences highlight the complexities and overlaps between generations, particularly in the context of media consumption and creative expression.
The Internet's struggle with complex emotions: Despite uniting people during cultural moments, the Internet struggles to process complex emotions like prolonged grief and can lead to hysteria or powerful, unifying experiences.
The Internet excels at bringing people together in celebration and unity, particularly during moments of cultural significance. However, it struggles to process complex emotions like prolonged grief. The speaker shares personal experiences of online interactions, including ill-fated pen pal relationships and the Internet's response to significant events like the Bernie Sanders meme and the 2020 election. During times of uncertainty and fear, online interactions can lead to hysteria and an unhinged feeling. Conversely, the Internet's ability to facilitate mass communication and collaboration can result in powerful and unifying experiences, such as the collective creation of memes and the celebration of shared experiences. Ultimately, the Internet serves as a reflection of human nature, with its capacity for both connection and disconnection.
Processing feelings during crises: During crises, it's important to find a balance between productivity and self-care, and to recognize the value of taking breaks and allowing ourselves to feel and process difficult emotions.
During times of crisis and unprecedented events, there's a strong American and capitalist impulse to keep working and be productive, despite the body and mind saying otherwise. This can lead to burnout, exploitation, and feelings of guilt when taking breaks. However, finding ways to process these feelings, such as writing or creating, can provide a sense of accomplishment and alertness to the world around us. At the same time, the internet can be both soothing and incompatible with certain life experiences, particularly prolonged grief, which can feel like a glitch in the system. Ultimately, it's important to find a balance between productivity and self-care, and to recognize the value of taking breaks and allowing ourselves to feel and process difficult emotions.
Reflecting on the limitations of digital tools for processing grief and caregiving: While technology offers convenience for managing finances and international transactions, it may not fully address the emotional and physical experiences of caregiving and grief.
While technology like Mint Mobile's unlimited data plan and the Wise app offer convenience and ease in managing finances and international transactions respectively, prolonged grief and sadness may be more challenging to process online. The Internet can provide a platform for sharing and connecting during difficult times, but the physical and emotional experience of caregiving and grief may be harder to express and receive in a digital context. The author's personal experience in the NICU and her encounter with COVID-19 led her to reflect on the role of writing as a means of processing and healing.
Exploring personal experiences and their impact on perspective: Sharing personal stories can provide comfort and visibility, reveal alternative lives based on choices, and shape one's perspective
Writing about personal experiences, even during challenging times, can provide comfort and visibility for others. The speaker shares her experience of writing about her long COVID symptoms despite initial fears of being perceived as complaining or lying. She also reflects on the importance of documenting experiences and the alternative lives that could have existed based on different choices. Another reflection comes from the exploration of the issue of late-term abortions in her book, which brings up the consideration of how her past beliefs and upbringing could have led her to view certain situations differently. These reflections highlight the power of sharing personal stories and the impact of past experiences on shaping one's perspective.
Sibling's political shift challenges speaker's beliefs: People's religious and political beliefs can change unexpectedly, even among those from similar backgrounds. Embracing diverse perspectives can lead to new understandings.
People's religious beliefs and political affiliations can evolve in unexpected ways, even among those who grew up sharing similar faith backgrounds. The speaker's older sister, who was once an extremely devoted Catholic like herself, has since become a supporter of Donald Trump, despite what seems like a stark contrast in values. The speaker reflects on this divide and wonders if she too might have taken a different path if she had been exposed to different influences. At a March for Life event after Trump's election, she noticed a range of beliefs among attendees, from hardline anti-abortion stances to more nuanced perspectives. She was drawn to the Jesuit viewpoint, which emphasized the importance of being pro-life in all areas, including immigration and the death penalty. Looking back, she recognizes signs that some of her youth group friends would follow similar paths, but others have taken surprising turns, including leaving the Catholic Church altogether. Despite a high proportion of her youth group still being with the church, she acknowledges the complexity and diversity of religious and political beliefs within her community.
Impact of youth experiences on faith and globalization: Speaker's youth experiences in a charismatic Catholic group and a Christian rock festival led her to question her faith and observe the global spread of brands like Subway.
The speaker's experience in a charismatic Catholic youth group during her youth had a profound impact on her, leading her to question her faith and eventually leaving the church or finding progressive corners of it. She compared it to John Jeremiah Sullivan's essay "Rock of Ages," where he describes his experience at a Christian rock festival. The speaker also noted an unexpected observation from the book, which is the globalization of the Subway sandwich smell, representing the capitalist spread of the brand around the world. Despite the seemingly unrelated topics, the speaker found both experiences to be intriguing and thought-provoking. The fragmented nature of the conversation, reminiscent of the Internet, allowed for the exploration of various topics without a clear sense of direction or interlude.
The Internet: A Double-Edged Sword: The Internet offers endless information and entertainment but can also be a distraction and source of unhappiness. Strive for balance and use it as a tool, not a crutch.
The Internet, while offering endless information and entertainment, can also be a distraction and a source of unhappiness. The speaker reminisces about the encyclopedias of his childhood, which offered a discrete and complete body of knowledge. He compares this to the passive consumption of the Internet, which can lead to mindless scrolling and a lack of boredom, a fertile ground for creativity. However, the Internet can also be a source of regret and dissatisfaction, much like an entire wad of cotton candy. The speaker muses that perhaps humans serve as an antidote to the Internet, but also that the Internet may be necessary for human connection. Ultimately, the speaker suggests that we should strive for balance, using the Internet as a tool rather than a crutch, and making time for the quiet, contemplative moments that can lead to creativity and personal growth.
The Urgent Desire to Share Experiences Online: The Internet, as a modern form of the sublime, can lead to a deep desire to share personal moments online. While this is not inherently bad, it requires reflection and mindful use.
Key takeaway from the discussion about Patricia Lockwood's work is the idea of the urgent desire to share experiences, particularly personal moments, online. This desire is not necessarily a bad thing, but rather something that requires deeper reflection. The Internet, with its ability to disseminate information and images to a wide audience, can be seen as a modern form of the sublime. When Patricia Lockwood hears the word "sublime," she does not think of English poetry, but rather of the classic reggae band Sublime, which speaks to her generation's connection to the Internet. The solution, then, is not to flee the Internet, but to consider the motivations behind our desire to share online and to use technology in a mindful way. Additionally, the discussion touched on the concept of burnout and shutdowns, which are experiences that can occur both offline and online.
The Evolution of Music and Fandom with Technology: Technology deepens our connection to music and artists, leading to intense fan communities and unexpected prescience in art.
Our relationship with music and artists has evolved with technology, leading to deeper identifications and online communities. The speaker shares their personal connection to an album and artist, comparing it to the experiences of younger generations. They also discuss the intensity of fan communities and the potential for unintended prescience in their writing. The speaker reflects on the impact of Maya Angelou's work on the conversation around sexual assault and the evolution of this conversation through social media. They also express their personal discomfort with using hashtags sincerely and the crossing of different media streams. Overall, the conversation highlights the profound impact of music, art, and technology on our cultural experiences and the complexities of fan communities.
The internet's blurred line between public and private: The internet, particularly social media, can bring up uncomfortable memories and experiences for individuals, but also offers opportunities for important conversations and engagement.
The internet, particularly social media platforms like Twitter, can facilitate the spread of sensitive content and traumatic experiences, leading to a blurred line between public and private. This was exemplified in the discussion about a poem that went viral on the internet, which brought up memories of sexual assault for some people. The poem's author, Roxane Gay, acknowledges the discomfort and uncertainty that arises when such experiences are processed online, and how incomplete the processing can be if it remains solely in the digital realm. Despite this, she also sees value in the uneasy space created by the internet, where people are forced to confront uncomfortable truths and engage in difficult conversations. Additionally, Gay shares her preference for reading physical books over digital ones, as she believes there is a tangible, sensory experience to reading a book that contributes to memory and the overall reading experience.
The Engaging Experience of Reading a Physical Book: Reading a physical book can offer a deeper sense of presence and immersion compared to digital versions, providing a valuable balance in our tech-heavy lives.
The experience of reading a physical book can be more engaging and immersive than reading a digital one. Anne Helen Petersen shared her personal preference for reading books in hardcover format, emphasizing the importance of feeling connected to the material. She mentioned how reading No One is Talking About This in print helped her disconnect from the internet and fully immerse herself in the content. While digital versions offer convenience, the tactile experience of a physical book can provide a deeper sense of presence and balance in one's life. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with friends, rate and review, and join us next week for another insightful conversation. Don't forget to let us know your thoughts, suggestions, and ideas for future topics or guests by visiting voxconversations@vox.com. This week's episode was produced by Eric Janikis, edited by Amy Drastoska, mixed and mastered by Daniel Turek, and executive produced and editorially directed by Liz Kelly Nelson. Thanks for listening!
