The Online Persona

A friend of mine mentioned Charlie Brooker, a journalist/writer/comedian.. I don’t know how you’d describe him other than he’s a bit twisted and completely genius. In 2013 he made a one off documentary called ‘How Videogames Changed the World.’  I am a big fan of that show. This blog isn’t really about any new idea I had, (although if you’ve been reading my other blogs then you’re probably not expecting originality) but more how I still agree with that shows big finale. Running through the history of games and covering everything from Doom to Wii Fit, the number one choice ended up being….

Twitter.

Yes, twitter is a game. Facebook is too. This blog I write also fits the pattern.  Brookers reasoning was that in Twitter you play a character, a version of yourself that’s not fully you but rather a carefully constructed version that’s playing the game in order to get rewards. Retweets, followers, Facebook likes and shares.. These are your points and just like when you’re playing Candy Crush you’re aiming for a high score. Kind of, sometimes you just do it because you’ve a low attention span and you’re not really worried about the results. It’s not an argument without holes.. Especially as you get older and realise that no witty comment you write will ever be as popular as your wife’s selfies.

The first blog I wrote had over 200 views, since then I’ve plateaued around the 70 mark. I’m glad that 70 of you seem to keep reading, cheers and all that! Otherwise I’s just be talking to myself, which is probably what reading this gibberish sounds like. Do I sound like this in real life? Hmm.. I’d say that I do, but then when friends tell you that your blogs are great and yet in real life they usually want you to shut up.. Hmmm *scratches beard* 

The last blog had some glowing praise. Well, the wife liked it. I wrote about two films I saw. People had said to me “when are you going to write about films?” so I had to deliver. Truthfully, it was my least favourite blog, not that I think any of them are literary masterpieces but I suppose it’s the one I enjoyed writing the least. I do listen to feedback and ponder which things people like reading, which blogs were good and why they were liked. Ultimately though I want to enjoy doing them and I’m really just thinking out loud here, do I chase the likes and points or just mess around a bit?

You’re going to tell me to write what I enjoy etc, and well yeah I am but… I want you to enjoy them too. Not for attention, just that it’s nice. When you tell a joke you want people to laugh, when you tell a story you want people to listen. Technically we’re all playing for points and I might be stretching the analogy here but life is one big videogame. And.. geez that sentence sounded horribly cheesy/contrived. I could change it but I’m not a fan of do-overs, I’d rather just keep digging whatever hole I’ve got myself into it.

On Facebook, twitter, WhatsApp etc etc you probably do sound a bit different than you do in reality. You’re going to be funnier, you’re going to smarter or you’re going to be a complete annoyance. You need to think about what you say and how it will be read, because talking to people in the real world (it’s what they did in the olden days) allows for you to convey the right tone and to add the right dumb facial expression that lets them know you’re not being a total bell end. Nice people can be opinionated a-holes who think they can save the world, shy and quiet people can be the wittiest of internet legends. Your strengths and weakness get exaggerated in some big random mess and the more you stare at your phone the less you probably know some people. Apart from me, i really am this interesting every single day...

In short, erm I don’t know? I’m failing at this game... Go watch that Charlie Brooker show if you can find it. Or go outside, get a coffee/pint, meet those people who live in your social network. They’re actually way better in real life, they just don’t know they’re winning