Tuesday, December 1, 2020

3 American Sentences, a Senryū, and an Elfchen Walk into a Bar...

“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.

 

35 comments:

  1. (But where's the joke? Oh – perhaps it's on us.)

    I like the pithiness of these.

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    Replies
    1. I think that when it comes to this situation most of us have been looking for the joke...

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    2. ...and not really finding it. 😕

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  2. I 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!

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    Replies
    1. They are intriguing and infuriating people, indeed.

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  3. I
    do 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 !

    ReplyDelete
  4. Your 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.

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    Replies
    1. I 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. 🤞🏽

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  5. Thank you, Magaly, for being so very Clever. I love all of the "wanabe Words" on your list.
    You did great in using three of them here.
    Thanks again,
    ..

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a marvelous collection, MG. You connect these terms masterfully. Thanks!

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  7. 2020 has its fair share of creative words alright . . . "doomscrolling" is new to me but is very descriptive too!

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    Replies
    1. After I read this one, I also learned "sad-fishing". A very sad term, if you ask me.

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  8. OH 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.)

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    Replies
    1. I 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.

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  9. (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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As 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.

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  10. I love the "alone" in this one!

    I
    do support
    their unalienable right
    to be uncaringly stupid
    (alone).

    ReplyDelete
  11. What a marvelous post, Magaly. Superblty clever and absolute truth.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Paranoid 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.

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  13. Good one, with excellent sentences, Magaly.

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  14. I have never heard of doomscrolling??? Some new things I have learned today! Big Hugs!

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    Replies
    1. It seems 2020 is teaching us all sorts of interesting things.

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