A Tax on Wit

While in a meeting with fellow musicians, the topic of social media came up. I found myself rambling, saying "Artists are what make social media interesting, we are the ones that make it valuable--our music, our ideas, our art" and at the time, it was merely a way of blowing our collective trumpet about how interesting we all were. 

What if all the artists pulled out of social media? It would be a vapid place. Mark Zuckerburg's pocketbook would go down. This intrigues me.

Isn't what Zuckerburg has done, unintentionally, is put a small "wit" tax on us all? Facebook convinces us we are witty, sharing our opinions, pictures and quips. And who is making a proverbial penny off every post? Big Brother, I mean, the owners of the platform. 

I would relay that I started thinking, but that would be an overstatement, as I had a reaction. The same reaction as the guy in the Caravaggio painting when he touches a snake, yes, with that look ok it's face, my inner Proletariat reeled. It even started proclamations in Old English. I shall not be taxed. Zuckerburg isn't going to make a dime off of my wit and creativity. 

To that end, I am off Facebook and being more productive than I have ever been, as far as painting. I am also more focused on my goals in music and not concerning myself with my next scheduled post. 

Social media has at times helped me kill time, stay sane, share news, and stay up to date. It even has benefits for artists, allowing them to share their music and art and get fans and customers, or maybe just a little ego boost.

Yet ponder for a moment the sheer amount of time you have spent on social media in the last day, week, month, year, or decade.

When will you and I be free at last?

I am enjoying my experiment of making Zuckerburg 2 pennies less rich by withholding my participation in the centrifuge. I might even keep the penny for my thoughts.