If I were to use one word to describe the current world I live in I would use the word chaotic. I think this word captures modern society very well. We seem to be in a constant state of chaos. Our authority figures are not respected or trusted. We have become a law and a frame of reference for everything unto ourselves.
While all of us welcomed the new freedoms and power that this new world and its technology first ushered in, the resulting confusion has been difficult to navigate. And we are all working harder than ever to keep up with the current pace of our society.
There was a time when gatekeepers were respected because their expertise had been hard-earned. That was the time when things were orderly. You were not an expert in most things but you could find someone who was and she would help you with your problem.*
In the course of your lifetime, you were not expected to do everything yourself. You might become an expert in a couple of areas, but you could then turn to gatekeepers to help you out with other issues.
Fast forward to the world in 2022 and things have really changed.
In place of gatekeepers are the Youtube channel and social media where opinions and ideas are shared at lightning speed. Literally anything we want to know -need to know- is on the internet for us to find. And there is a hidden pressure to become all things unto all people.
To be honest, I miss the time when our roles were clear and we all moved at a slower pace.
It’s wonderful that you can watch a couple videos and learn how to do something so as to not rely on a trained professional who wants to be paid for his expertise. But as a model for how to live, the current trend of doing it all yourself is just exhausting.
In the old days, you prepared a specific skill set to a high standard in order to earn a living. Your expertise became a valuable resource in your community. There was more time for leisure because you would rely on others to help you with the things you could not do yourself.
I submit that it was a wiser way to live. The different skill sets that individuals possessed would be celebrated, too. Each of us could contribute something unique to society.
*The old marketing model: buy our current product because it will help you do the task you want to do to a higher standard. You will be close to the professionals!
The new marketing: buy our product or watch our videos and instantly be as good at anything as those who have trained for years! My thought? This is absolute nonsense! And to live this way is exhausting!