The Matrix

by Jon Sullivan - 2025-12-21 - Jonism

I don't remember where I heard it, but this stuck with me - "Social media is a weapon we point at ourselves."

As I head into 2026 at least one thing is settled. The years of dwelling on philosophy and trying to find my "best life" have led me to a place where I'm very confident in the efficacy of my belief system. The foundation of which are the virtues of kindness, community and gratitude. I lead with those, I think about them throughout the day, I judge myself by them. I've spent a couple years trying them out and they work. If I follow them my best life comes naturally. And times when I stray from them are days I wish I could get a do-over.

Beyond me, beyond my over-thought life, I feel these are virtues which would make anyone happier and healthier. Jesus said as much, and he's famous for his life advice, so I'm in good company. I think we would all be happier and the world a better place if kindness was our default. Not just among you wonderful people, but with everyone. Yes, even Trump voters. And when our kindness meets anger and derision that will not end, we should turn the other cheek as many great people have throughout history. Martin Luther King, Jr., Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, John Lewis, Diane Nash, Cesar Chavez, Lech Walesa.

I think it's sad we as a species seem to have lost the viewpoint that "turning the other cheek" is noble. It always seems to be framed as weak woke nonsense spread by liberals. For me it is this - Responding to insults or aggression not in kind, but with calm, dignified defiance. Refusing to escalate or be insulted, and showing a superior moral strength that exposes the aggressor's injustice. It has nothing to do with being a passive doormat. It's about disarming the bully by not playing their game, showing quiet strength, and ending the cycle of anger with love and nonresistance.

So.... Social media.... Since I am retired, and tie dye and video games don't completely fill my waking hours, I often venture out on the Web, and inevitably to social media. Where I find mostly anger and intolerance and threats. From all sides. I don't find much of my virtues there. I don't find calm, dignified defiance, refusing to escalate or be insulted. I find pigs wallowing in shit. We, as a species and individually, can easily be better.

And for what??? Our righteous anger, justified or not, only pads the pockets of the billionaires who own all of it. Our anger traps us into engagement, which turns us into a product sold to advertisers. Every detail of our lives has been compiled into a social graph that marketers can use to sell us stuff we used to buy locally even as they try to make sure local is no longer an option. The machines lured us in and now suck us dry. Willingly. It's a weapon we point at ourselves.

I'm not here advocating for the "good old days". I'm talking about losing our humanity. I'm talking about what we as a species are supposed to be. I'm talking about the difference between going down to the store and interacting face to face, rather than having it shipped to me from the other side of the planet.

And that's what social media is about. Making us so numb with brain rot that we won't walk a few blocks and support local businesses. Making us so blind with anger that we don't care about our money going to billionaires.

I don't have an answer. I just have my virtues. I'm not angry. I'm just disappointed.