what would you tell your 2014 self abt 2020?

June 04, 2020

Feednet is a quarterly-ish news roundup on technology, community organizing. Read old versions here.

Notes on Feednet: 2020 Me to 2014 Me

Hi,  This is a letter I wrote a few months ago to my 2014 self. My 2014 self was 23, working with an LGBTQ organizing group doing work in solidarity with queer + trans people part of Black Lives Matter. I was also… struggling.

Sharing part of it today (instead of ranting about digital organizing or TV as religion)

in case it’s helpful to anyone feeling angry, confused, helpless, guilty, grief, or some intense combination of all of these and more.

--

Dear H in 2014,

You don’t have to like this letter.

In fact, if I remember your general attitude at this time correctly, I feel like your reaction would be “whatever, coward” to most of this.

But I remember all of the intense uncertainty, anxiety spiraling on Twitter, deeply held beliefs, white person paralysis, and feelings of failure that you’re feeling right now. So here are some things I wish I had known when I was you.    1. You don’t have to work with people you don’t trust.

None of this work is a competition or a scene. If it feels like it is, then you have to find a new space to do work OR address your feelings of distrust head on, no matter how uncomfortable that might be.    2. Other people’s emotions are not an ideology.

Feeling your emotions is the hot new trend of 2020. Your emotions are distinct from the emotions of other people, the collective, the energy online, and the emotions that go viral. If you feel an emotion, you have an obligation to figure what it means and take action.    3. There is no one right platform, movement, or project.

Wherever you have relationships, passion, and capacity is the right project, place, or group. This is a long game. If you feel helpless, you’re probably not valuing yourself enough to do the work you need to do.

There is so much to do to dismantle white supremacy, capitalism, and build a better world. There are things towards that goal that only you can do. You have an obligation to yourself, to the people around you, and yes okay fine, to “the movement” to figure out what those things are, and what you need to do them successfully.

Hint: no matter what it is, it probably requires sleeping more + being a better friend.

4. Things are changing, even when they’re not.

Things are still bad. Things might even be worse. But things (and people!) are still changing. Talk to more seniors. Talk to more Zoomers. They think, feel, and believe different things than you do in a way that is hopeful. It means that change is not only possible, but indisputable. So keep going.

Sincerely,

H from 2020

Reply

or to participate.