BE THE CHANGE
I am a man that has his hands in a few things. I podcast. I write (look at this article you’re reading). I create music. I create content. I’ve had my fair share of opinions on things in entertainment over the past decade. I’m not one to be shy when it comes to giving things criticism.
When it comes to the music industry I have complained about how albums aren’t the same and the majority of music in the industry is made for playlists instead of being made as a complete and cohesive body of work.
When it comes to the film industry I have shared my distaste for continuous reboots. I’ve stated how I am tired of original screenplays and original stories not getting chances to be made in the film industry.
As of a couple months ago and the Nintendo Switch 2 announcement I’ve shared my disgust in Nintendo for charging $80 for video games and not allowing customers to actually own the game. They’ve given us a piece of plastic with a code on it to play the game.
I have so many more examples I could say. As time goes on and everything continues to go to shit I can truly say I have finally told myself to shut the fuck up about it.
I’m tired of complaining. I’m tired of repeating myself. I’m tired of trying to get people to see the importance of creative integrity and how worshipping capitalism is ruining everything. I’m tired of explaining why choosing money over the art is fucking us over. I’m tired of trying to convince people why being a bad person is lame. It’s time for me to shut the fuck up and be the change I want to see. I’m not saying I’m a nigga that’s about to save the world. I’m just saying I’m a nigga will put his energy towards the opposite of all that bullshit I’ve complained about even though it is totally valid for me to complain about it.
Once I noticed that I was posting myself complaining about the bullshit more than posting my own work I knew I had fallen for the trap. It was like I was Batman on top of a fucking building looking down and ready to pounce on the first sign of some dumb shit and try to over explain why it’s ridiculous for them to participate or support foolishness.
It’s like an endless loop. You’re talking to people who have their mind already made up on what they want to believe, follow, condone or support. You get caught in that loop and continue to waste your time. What makes it even more fucking stupid on my part is that it’s strangers on the internet i’m talking to. I don’t know these fucking people. I truly don’t care about what they have going on or what they think. Their business is none of mine.
This is the part that truly makes social media dangerous. We are not supposed to see this many opinions at this high of a rate.
It doesn’t matter if you agree with every opinion you see. The human mind is not supposed to see that many opinions in one day. You can scroll for 20 minutes and see hundreds of opinions and 80% of them are likely mindless statements. No rational thought behind them. People who just talk to talk. They fill the air with words for no reason. Trolls and if you interact with them you give them fuel. Congratulations, you’re an idiot if you do this day in and day out. I was once that idiot. Where I felt it was my duty to respond to every topic, every moronic statement.
I know Jay-Z didn’t invent this quote but I always remember it every time I listen to his album “The Blueprint.”
“A wise man told me don’t argue with fools, cause he from a distance can’t tell who is who.”
It doesn’t matter if I’m correct. It doesn’t matter if I’m logical. It doesn’t matter if I have morals and principles. I will look like a fool communicating with these lames.
So many people in the world are doing amazing things. People who are doing community work and helping the less fortunate. Kids who are achieving incredible academic feats. People who are fighting for other people’s rights. There’s artist who are making things of substance, film makers and novelists delivering stories that test the imagination. Why should I subject myself to arguing with faceless assholes online who I will never meet? Why would I try to change the mind of someone who has their mind made up to hate?
People who build worlds do not have the time to debate over nonsense. If you call yourself a creative, an artist, a producer, a director, photographer I want you to look at your social media. When was the last time you shared your gift? When was the last time you shared your art or your craft? It’s been a while huh? You’re part of the problem. You’re actually worse than the trolls because you have a gift that can save lives and you’ve chosen to play in the mud under the bridge with the trolls where those gifts are not shared.
Why am I seeing yall argue with randoms more than your own work? Why is something always in the works but nothing is ever completed? Why is everything in a file, a notebook, a hard drive for only you to see? Where’s that same fire you have for arguing with strangers on the internet? Why don’t you have that fire for your craft?
A revolution can’t come through pointless debates online. It comes with action. Stop performing for social media and start participating in showing up for yourself and showing your work. Show up for the change you claim is needed to right the direction of the world. Creativity is how we choose to participate in reality, not online. Be the change. Not the complainer.
Love, Benny
