Chapter 1: The Digital Divide

What does the future hold for our increasingly polarized and digital landscape? With a hint of sarcasm, I find myself feeling like a cynical elder at thirty-five. Hand me a rocking chair, please, as I have some thoughts to share.

“It emerged from the depths of the ocean.”

We currently inhabit a culture where political correctness, self-identification, and personal narratives overshadow traditional values like truth and freedom. Soon, the principle of free speech may become so diluted by conditions that it risks fading into obscurity.

The internet resembles a chaotic buffet of unverified information, often making grand claims about contentious topics. It also cultivates narcissism and promotes schemes for quick wealth, all while offering a seemingly limitless assortment of explicit content available to anyone with basic digital skills. Platforms like X are at the forefront, facilitating a mix of everything from adult content to incendiary cultural debates.

It's crucial to clean up this relatively new public square. Elon Musk’s efforts to eliminate biased censorship are a positive move, yet accountability is still lacking, allowing individuals to hide behind avatars and unleash vitriol like never before. While increasing transparency might help mitigate some toxicity, it could also silence many valuable voices, especially in regions plagued by human rights abuses and the threats of Cancel Culture.

Ultimately, we need to explore solutions beyond the digital masterminds. Instead, let’s look inward and revive the timeless values of humanity — specifically truth and accountability. Only by doing so can we hope to cultivate a discourse based on curiosity and empathy.

The essential ingredients for sustaining progress seem straightforward (though they come with an unfortunate hyphen): fostering good-faith discussions that prioritize truth-seeking over tribalism and ego-stroking.

As for the contradictory progressives who advocate for censorship, we must consistently choose a mix of diverse opinions over the confinement of thought.

Is it really that challenging? After all, free thought remains a cornerstone of Western society, despite efforts to undermine its foundation — or even to excise it entirely in the name of political correctness.

Chapter 2: The Quest for Authenticity

“And it was breathtaking.”

The trend of reducing one's identity to mere experiences, from oppression to gender fluidity, detracts from the creation of content that deserves admiration and respect — and diminishes personal self-worth. This isn't to say we should dismiss these narratives outright. However, the prevalence of such stories among the younger generation and the attention they garner on social media raises some eyebrows.

Likewise, the art of long-form creativity is often eclipsed by self-centered “influencers” — a term that anyone with a social media profile can claim — who share unoriginal, superficial thoughts alongside their posed selfies.

Social media has become the instant noodle of gratification: easy to access, low-cost, unapologetically synthetic, and most importantly — instant.

While previous generations, including early millennials like myself, valued the creative process, today's digital creators seem more fixated on immediate outcomes — particularly views. Creative expression and integrity are currently riding shotgun but may soon be relegated to the trunk. This shift is hardly surprising in a digital ecosystem where likes, comments, and followers dictate self-worth and social standing.

This video, "The Best Easy Way to Capture Analog Video (it's a little weird)," explores the process of capturing life's moments in a way that transcends the superficiality of the digital realm. It emphasizes the importance of authenticity in creativity.

In this murky sea of existential dread, a stunning rainbow materializes from the ocean into the sky, an experience made possible by my wife. Despite knowing a photo wouldn’t do it justice, she felt compelled to capture it and share her wonder with me.

A tip for young romantics: if your partner brings you a rainbow, take it as a colorful sign that they are indeed a keeper.

Chapter 3: Embracing Hope

What comes before a rainbow? Rain, obviously — the clue is in the name — and sometimes a thunderstorm.

“Okay, so what?” Hold on a moment and listen, young ones.

The key point is that adverse weather conditions, which often symbolize despair, can lead to beautiful moments. In other words, after every challenge, glimmers of hope can emerge if we choose to look in the right direction.

This is why a rainbow — specifically, a real, analog rainbow, not a political symbol — serves as a perfect reminder. We must remain inspired, lest our lives become dull and gray. People don’t typically thrive in a colorless existence; it leads to bitterness and nihilism — sentiments that are prevalent online. And it’s no wonder, given that Big Tech’s unyielding algorithms serve us a continuous stream of gloom.

Maintaining hope for humanity is tough when friends, partners, and even aging spouses are preoccupied with their screens, scrolling through despair.

I’m not suggesting that catching a glimpse of a rainbow will solve your creative or existential dilemmas. However, rediscovering the ability to notice and appreciate a rainbow’s inspirational presence, despite the alluring distractions of social media, may add some vibrancy to your life. It can rescue you, if only momentarily, from the chaotic online mobs or self-important influencers.

So yes, young digital natives, rainbows do exist. I’m not referring to digital images but to those vast, colorful arcs adorning the sky. We all know this to be true, yet we rarely pause to appreciate them, let alone share them online (search “rainbow” on Instagram, and you’ll find few actual rainbows). Perhaps this is due to their low algorithmic value? No ideal posting time can enhance the relevance of something perceived as outdated. Additionally, such a post wouldn’t center around the poster themselves. Imagine sharing a picture that doesn’t feature your face. What a waste of time, right?

Certainly, not all content on social media is malevolent, nor are all users malicious. Yet, it's evident that granting the masses unprecedented reach and anonymity with minimal repercussions creates a toxic combination that often highlights our worst traits. Therefore, we could all benefit from occasionally looking beyond our screens and rediscovering the analog world’s forgotten wonders. Hopefully, this will remind us that life encompasses much more than what algorithms dictate.

It’s an intimidating prospect, I know.

Let’s start a hashtag to encourage people to consciously step away from their devices and reconnect with these lost treasures. And, as a fortunate side effect, rediscover the decaying Western values of individualism and freedom of thought and expression that have shaped the very foundations of our beloved Internet.

#rainbowsoversocials

The second video, "The BEST NEW Console Champion Settings & What To Use - RAINBOW SIX SIEGE," shares insights into optimizing gameplay, encouraging players to seek authenticity in their digital experiences.