Just do your thing

"Just do your thing“ – so far, so good. But most comments that start like this, or something similar, then continue in various forms with "but not in public" or "but please do it at home." "Public" here includes social media, meaning: please not only do it at home, but also, of course, don't post at all.

"We" always have to put ourselves in the spotlight, broadcast "our" lives. As is so often the case, generalizations are used here. I'm accused of posting about my life even though nobody cares.

I'll start with the issue of publicity.

Yes, I am in public, because I am a part of it—albeit a tiny one. I have the right to move about in it, just like everyone else. Just like those I personally wouldn't want to see there but accept that they exist. This applies on the street as well as on the internet. However, the internet has the advantage of allowing you to simply scroll past or block. Unfortunately, this option isn't available to me outside the digital world either. It's a real shame that some people lack social media literacy. They seem to be unfamiliar with the blocking and scrolling functions. The question "Why am I seeing this?" always baffles me. Do these people ask themselves the same thing about other topics suggested to them by the algorithm? I'm certain I don't post my content directly to just anyone's Facebook timeline.

Regarding "putting myself in the spotlight": Do I present myself on my social media channels? Yes, I do. Why not? A huge number of people do it, because it's part of social media. I can't and don't want to compare myself to any Z-list celebrities (and I certainly don't want to go on reality TV 😂), but why shouldn't I be allowed to post about my life? Why should I only post privately? There's no valid reason. It would certainly make my online life easier. I'd have to read less garbage, block fewer people, and delete fewer comments.

... But!

I would no longer reach people who don't yet know me and who write to me saying they draw courage from me or that I give them strength. I wouldn't reach people who write to me saying they'd never even thought about it before, and with whom I still write privately. I wouldn't receive very positive comments from people saying that they only understood what my posts were about after reading the other comments.

Social media has helped me become the person I am today. Maybe I post too much, maybe too little, but one thing I will definitely never do again is hide because others want me to.

Thank you to everyone who stands by me and supports me with their comments and in other ways.

See you soon,

Nicole

In the public - In the Bank