“I like
good strong words that mean something…” ~ Louisa May Alcott
Doomscrolling turns fashionably
destructive, in the time of COVID.
I can’t face-
book like I used to,
pre-COVID.
Covidiots aren’t
prejudiced—they’ll kill loved ones and strangers alike.
I
do support
their unalienable right
to be uncaringly stupid
(alone).
Virtue-signalling makes my soul feel fake, so cancel culture it is.
-
for Poets and Storytellers United (Weekly Scribblings #48: “Words of an Unprecedented Year”). The sequence was inspired by 5 questions (which I will
not share) and 4 words (listed below) borrowed from the Oxford Languages 2020 report.
Doomscrolling: n. the action of compulsively scrolling through social
media or news feeds which relate bad news.
Covidiot: n. a person who disobeys guidelines designed to prevent
the spread of Covid-19.
Virtue-signalling: n. the public expression of opinions or sentiments
intended to demonstrate one’s good character or the moral correctness of one’s
position on a particular issue.
Cancel culture: n. a culture in which there is a widespread practice of publicly rejecting or withdrawing support from people or things regarded as promoting socially unacceptable views.
(But where's the joke? Oh – perhaps it's on us.)
ReplyDeleteI like the pithiness of these.
I think that when it comes to this situation most of us have been looking for the joke...
Delete...and not really finding it. 😕
DeleteI too am fearful of the 'Don't carers' who think that they will avoid transmission. Facebook is a two edged sword useful at times but still invasive!
ReplyDeleteThey are intriguing and infuriating people, indeed.
DeleteI
ReplyDeletedo support
their unalienable right
to be uncaringly stupid
(alone).
Preferably on another planet
never to return
Goodness...What's that bleep? I think someone is trying to cancel my culture !
I believe you have a point, lol!
DeleteSo pretty, and so true!
ReplyDeleteSo thankful. Hehehe.
DeleteYour title made me chuckle, Magaly, and I enjoyed them all! I was tempted to go with doomscrolling, which has a hint of Tolkien or even Rowling in her guise as Robert Galbraith – Cormoran Strike drinks Doombar. I am a doomscroller these days, so fed up with Covid and other bad news. I love your interpretation of Covidiots too.
ReplyDeleteI think the nature of today's news makes doomscrollers of all of us. It is really hard to read, watch, or listen to the news without finding out more horror. Maybe 2021 will be better. 🤞🏽
DeleteThank you, Magaly, for being so very Clever. I love all of the "wanabe Words" on your list.
ReplyDeleteYou did great in using three of them here.
Thanks again,
..
Thank you for reading, Jim.
DeleteWhat a marvelous collection, MG. You connect these terms masterfully. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteWell, thank you, Ron..
Delete2020 has its fair share of creative words alright . . . "doomscrolling" is new to me but is very descriptive too!
ReplyDeleteAfter I read this one, I also learned "sad-fishing". A very sad term, if you ask me.
DeleteOH my, this is perfect for the times we live in. I have snoozed, blocked, un-followed .. you name it .. folks I consider friends, good people, a few family .. (they are. still friends.)
ReplyDeleteI have done the same. There are still people I still care about, even if I don't necessarily care for some of the things they believe. Maybe we'll get lucky and meet each other halfway.
Delete(Not re-linking my "Covidiots" rap here because it's linked in the previous widget.) I think what really bothers people is that it's not only COVID that's trivial for most of us but can be fatal for some. What they were taught was virtuous behavior, in a culture of faked/forced extroversion, is now recognized as harmful. And more people age into the "vulnerable" category every year. Social distance needs to become our way of life...some of us are feeling vindicated, and others are kicking and screaming.
ReplyDeleteAs a member of the slightly useless immune system community, I will say that your assessment is quite correct. More than once, someone who doesn't really know me will say things like, "You are too young to worry this much about this." I stop trying to explain. After a while, it's just exhausting.
DeleteI love the "alone" in this one!
ReplyDeleteI
do support
their unalienable right
to be uncaringly stupid
(alone).
What a marvelous post, Magaly. Superblty clever and absolute truth.
ReplyDeleteParanoid is the kindest adjective I can come up with for Covidiots. The staggering selfishness that presents itself when you let a few of them keep talking though... whew! I wish that could be easily cancelled.
ReplyDeleteI find myself wishing the same thing.
DeleteBravo!!!
ReplyDeleteMuch💜love
Thank you, Gillena.
DeleteCertainly reflects 2020!
ReplyDeleteLet's hope 2021 is nothing like it.
DeleteGood one, with excellent sentences, Magaly.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of doomscrolling??? Some new things I have learned today! Big Hugs!
ReplyDeleteIt seems 2020 is teaching us all sorts of interesting things.
Delete