There is a long list in this world that gets on my nerves, sets my rocker rolling, grinds my gears to a stop, brings a growl to my bowl, makes my kettle come to a whistle. Such things on this list include my slow computer, internet that cuts out, my phone that will only go for an hour and a half before dying of low battery, and that feeling behind your eye that just prognosticates of a headache coming along. Added to the list is the concert videos.
I don’t mean the videos that professionals take. I mean the snapchat videos, where you didn’t realize that you had your volume turned up to the loudest when the poor quality sound comes blasting out, the transference from one smartphone to another. You don’t even see the person taking the video, the stage is just a blur of blue lights and you can feel the vibration of noise against your pant leg. These videos aren’t even just the ten seconds that snapchat lets you take. No, it was video after video and you can’t even tell what song it is or what band. Snapchat lets you take up to 60 seconds of continuous video. A full minute of blurry visual as you shake and bob along to the song. A full minute of screeching audio as I scramble to turn down the volume, wincing as it reverberates against the porcelain toilet. Why oh why, I catechize you, do you need to record the whole concert on snapchat of all places? It’s unexpected and I didn’t go out of my way (if I wanted to go to the concert, I would have bought a ticket), I just wanted to clear the stories, maybe see something funny a friend posted. You have the full hour concert inscripted in stone. I don’t need to see this band in concert now, I don’t even need to look up their songs, it’s all here.
As the holiday of Saturnalia (or as the new agers like to call it “Christmas” so it can fit into their religion) passes, I feel I have cause to announce to the world that I am a hypocrite. That’s nothing new to you, dear reader. You’ve always known from when you first met me, in writing or in text or in person, I am a hypocrite down to the soles of my arched feet. Why this time? Well I did what I loathe most and put almost four minutes of concert time on my snapchat.
Scandalous!
Outrageous!
Down right preposterous!
How could I?
The outrage!
The horror!
But it was after the deed, when I had to post the apology photo to all who follow me on snapchat, that I realized that these people who post about the concert don’t post it so they can rewatch their story and relive the concert (though that may be a reason as well). They post these stories because they feel apart of something and they want to spread that feeling as well. Social media has grown where we all can be joined with something, no matter what state, country, planet that we wind up on. We have an opportunity to be connected to everyone, to make our village as wide and deep as long as there’s an internet connection. There was something we experienced, something amazing. A concert is right in that sweet spot of amazing. Live music, performed right in front of you? To think of the talent and prep that goes into a musical piece is insane. And here is this group, wanting to share their talent for nothing but your enjoyment (and the money you spent on the tickets).
My aunt always asks me, “Did you see XYZ I posted on Facebook?” and I tell her no, I haven’t gone on Facebook recently. She’s trying to pull me into a thing that she has experienced, something that meant something to her. We find something enjoyable, we’ll post about it on social media. We want our friends and family to enjoy this thing as well, and that is something magical.
So when you’re out burning the Christmas tree and putting away the decorations, feel free to share that experience on your preferred social media, and remember to think about it as bringing together friends, family, those people you don’t really know but went to school with, for a joined experience. By the lights of those burning Christmas trees, let’s bring in a Happy New Year.
