Ed,

Without being overly dramatic, I find that whole world you have referenced to be very depressing. The media pretty much sickens me on every level. Still some good journalism out there, but so much of what we are exposed to is an overload of mockery, lies, fighting, chaos, propaganda, half-truths, slants, insults, self-aggrandizement, bragging and so forth. I used to look at people like that Simon guy and think "Boy would I ever like to meet you in a dark parking lot one night"...but now I just see a whole universe of stuff that is pretty pathetic. I take no "sadomasochistic" pleasure. I can't take it. It makes me physically ill. But hey, it's not just me. Psychiatrists are beginning to warn that watching the news causes anxiety disorder.

There is absolutely no doubt that the frequent use of You Tube, Facebook and the like has destroyed attention spans, made it difficult for people to read and comprehend longer works, like novels, or complex books, and that people are basically becoming stupid with self-imposed attention deficit disorder issues as a result of the crack-like adrenaline rush that social media soundbites give.

Preachers are beginning to advise that people cancel their newspapers and say "Just don't read or watch that stuff" from the pulpit.

I have a very few close peeps I hang with who are very amazing artists in different fields and they all tell me the same thing:

If you want to really be who you are as an artist you have to unplug. No social media. No t.v. No arguments, no conversations, no listening to you tube videos, no news feeds, nothing.

Just unplug, disconnect, close the door of your house for three years and write.

I think I am about at the point. I cannot concentrate on craft and pay attention to the "clamor" at the same time anymore.

Maybe that is my version of "Tano."

No need to stay tuned to current screaming matches or opinions to have material anyway. I always fall back on this:

“Anybody who has survived his childhood has enough information about life to last him the rest of his days.”

--Flannery O'Connor


David Snyder
Songwriter/Renaissance Man
Studio + Fingers

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