I'm writing this because I am thoroughly tired of seeing tweets that read, "The Odyssey is so annoying," or "I'm sick of seeing Odyssey articles on my timeline." I want to say that first of all, you are not obligated to read the articles, just like I am not obligated to read into all of your daily complaints or watch your countless shares of viral videos -- you can fill in the blank.
We live in a world that thrives off of social media. We are constantly plugged in to our phones or we are streaming the latest posts on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or another online sharing platform. It just so happens that Odyssey allows writers to post amongst each of these networking programs. And this marketing decision is a smart one. It allows for writers to reach a larger audience, as they work hard to create meaningful pieces of writing. I can speak for myself that I write for Odyssey as a form of personal expression and from my own observations -- but it's to speak to the world, the greater public and my peers. I write to touch others lives, to make them see things in a different light, to make them smile, to send them on a trip to the past or to help them put thoughts they may have too into a collection of carefully articulated words.
I can understand how viewers may find some of the content of Odyssey as repetitive or just ridiculous. But you have to look a little closer. Our writers are comprised of thousands of individuals. Do you really think you are going to agree or 'like' (no pun intended) every single article that is posted through such a large website? No, of course you aren't. When you see another, "An Open Letter to whomever..." or a listicle with the title, "19 Reasons You Should..." I want you to remember this. Most of the time, (but not always) these types of articles are written by writers who are just starting out, or when they have met a road block and cannot think of a completely new or never used topic for a given deadline. These pieces may seem overused, but I encourage you to read between the lines. Each writer has their own story --their own plethora of connections with the beautiful people they are surrounded by-- and they have an angle that is all their own.
As a writer, I felt as though it was my duty to defend Odyssey. If you fall under the category of someone who spits on the idea of this website, I hope you took into consideration what I have said. Because I for one believe that our writers' voices not only matter, but they can instigate change, give power to an unpopular stance and shine light on topics that need to be addressed in this day and age.
Can your viral cat video do the same?
