What Comes Next?
Updates and future directions
Well, it's been another interesting week.
After some internal debate, I've rejoined X in order to see if there's anyone still over there who might be interested in prepping and survival:
Meanwhile, large swaths of the country remain relatively frozen, with more snow and freezing temperatures on the way. As things begin to thaw out, I'm moving into the second phase of the guide. That means expanding and polishing up the first 100-150 pages and then preparing to do some deeper research.
On a broader note...
The level of discourse between allies really seems to be breaking down as the last several years take their toll on everyone. I've experienced some of this firsthand as people lash out at me for absolutely no reason, but now I'm seeing people do it to each other, on a new scale. I'm seeing people who should be on the same side trade insults back and forth, focusing on ever more petty feuds.
I'm not sure "community" is the perfect answer here.
Instead, I'm reminding myself that life doesn't begin and end on social media. The internet existed before social media, and it can exist without it. Slower forms of communication are making a comeback. I'm getting the sense that people are just sick of it all, especially now that all the platforms are owned by billionaires.
I've found that if I'm about to lash out at someone, it's time to do something else. It's time to read. It's time to play with my kid. It's time to do some work. It's time to take a nap. The glory days of ripping someone a new one online are over. It accomplishes nothing. Social media has become a place where a lot of people go specifically because they want to start a fight, or they want to discharge all of their unfiltered emotions. Conversely, the people who dwell in toxic positivity and hopium are doubling down on that, and you can tell. It's more volatile than ever out there.
So, why am I heading back into X again?
Well, I find myself missing the old social media, the one where people could speak freely, vent their emotions for pure reasons, and simply exchange vital information. That kind of social media was still doing okay through about 2024. I'm hoping some of it still exists out there, and I'm trying to find it.
I'm obviously still here, still connected, but I'm also reminding myself that it's okay to unplug. It's okay to rest. It's okay to not offer a hot take on the latest news. It's okay to listen without saying anything. It's okay to take some time to think before engaging, even if it means you "miss" the attention cycle.
It's still important to speak uncomfortable truths, but there's value in taking time to make sure you're saying what you really want people to hear, and not simply something that sounds good to algorithms. There's a difference.
It's not just okay, it's essential.
If we don't rest, if we don't slow down, then we can't function. For all we know, these could still be the good times, at least for some of us. Every day is going to bring new outrages, new assaults, new challenges, new problems, new emergencies, and we have to deal with them, until we can't. We have to find ways of existing that don't leave us screaming into our screens.
That's all for now. I'll have more on the guide soon. Specifically, I'm probably going to go work on the plant profiles some more and look for practical ways to fill out some of the design gaps and white space. If you've got ideas for something you still want to see in the guide, let me know. Meanwhile, stay warm and safe.
--Jessica
