The other day I received a tremendous honor on social media – Facebook, to be more precise.  I want to share this with everyone because it brings to light some important points we should consider.  Come with me aboard the way back machine so that I can tell you about one of my high school friends and wrestling teammates – Chris Loss.  As early as I remember, Chris had a photo of himself standing in the ring at a WWF Wresting bout (Now WWE).  He was wearing a suit, looking like Michael Buffer introducing wrestlers at a match – in Buffalo or the Niagara Falls Civic Center (not sure).  He was a teenager – who knew his destiny would include, but not be limited to, the power of his voice and that microphone.

Chris was a year older than me, a weight class or two higher, and had better grades too.  We’d spend our time imitating one of our science teachers, lifting weights, and throwing punches and kicks at one another all night at the Karate Studio.  Chris graduated and went off to college, and later I did too.  Now, I am here in Massachusetts, and he is across the country in Scottsdale, AZ, where he is the Vice President of a streaming music group – no surprise there.  Other than seeing one another on social media, it has been nearly three decades since we’ve been together.   

Ever notice how things from thirty years ago are still there – they won’t go away – they can’t. 

Not long ago, I changed the content of this blog – away from the celebratory experiences of my workplace and more toward my idealistic thoughts, ideas, and experiences.  The number of readers is growing – which is good – because I have some interesting stories to tell. 

In the aftermath of one of my recent posts about child abuse and its impact on our kids, I learned that Chris posted this on his own Facebook Page:

Thank you, Chris, from the bottom of my heart.  This meant and means so much to me for two very important reasons. 

Social Media

Many of my friends know that I used to hate it and with good reason.  For me – it has been a bastion of negativity.  Because of my work, I have been the subject of some pretty unscrupulous stuff.  It is amazing to me – astounding actually – how a few people can use a powerful tool of connection only to complain, discredit, defame, blatantly lie, call people names, and set out to harm intentionally. 

In this age of micro-communication, a person writes something untrue, and then people come out of the woodwork to agree.  Then, without evidence to support what is written, an opinion of one is an unimpeachable truth for all. 

Chris is right.  We all can use social media to spread knowledge, encourage empathy, call for and expect détente, and breathe life into our fellow people.  I want to do that.  I do.  So, the social media I saw as a place for everyone else is now a place for me too.  I close my eyes and think about the experiences that I will choose to share when I want to escape.  It’s like a mediation that has brought me such peace. 

AI

I started messing around with Chat GPT.  It is RIDICULOUS.  I can’t believe what I can do.  Do you remember the commercial for the Memorex cassette tapes?  Is it live, or is it Memorex?  Now we must ask ourselves about everything we read, is it live, or is it Chat GPT?  The second point that Chris raises.  Sharing from the heart.  Chat GPT hasn’t seen what I’ve seen, fought the battles I’ve fought, and won’t be able to connect those taught drivers to the important actions taken. Only we can tell those stories.  So, as AI takes over – to ensure that our readers know it is from us – we just must be more alive and say things like AI cannot. 

Things here will be written with emotion, humor, humanity, and courage.

To my friend Robin who bought me the book “The Velveteen Principles,” just like the rabbit in the children’s story – this will be as real as it gets.