I was never a real doomscroller. When I was younger, I was the analog equivalent of a doomscoller, keeping up with every war in the world, the horrible gap between rich and poor. But it was all done through newspapers and magazines and books and public radio. It wasn’t limitless, it only took up part of my day.
I was, and still am, a leftist. I was more of an activist when I was younger, though. Now my main way of bringing about a better world is voting, treating people with kindness, and not taking the bait. Learning about the people who are doing good in the world. I’ve learned the many ways rhetoric and gaslighting have of getting me involved in fights and making me miserable. I’ve learned how to de-escalate a situation, or just walk away. I also limit my time on social media. (And I try to confuse their algorithms by searching for things I’d never use.)
I read the NPR headlines, the Daily Memphian headlines, and sometimes I do a deep dive. I discuss problems with my friends. I figure most things I need to know about and can do anything about will get filtered down to me through my more stoic friends who can handle the barrage of negativity that “news” brings us.
Sometimes, after a national disaster or a new war, I spend more time researching and reading. I find myself immersed in the worst of the world — and it can be very, very horrible. But then I go for a stroll. People are kind or rude. There are plants growing, flowers blooming, birds singing. Since I don’t drive, I can observe the small changes nature brings to my neighborhood, the way certain trees bud and flowers bloom. In winter, I see how the birds and squirrels scavenge among the leaf mulch for food. Only a few days ago, I saw the first sprigs of daffodils popping out of those decaying leaves.
People are walking their dogs, enjoying their relationship with their pets, even though they have to deal with picking up the poop.
I meet a lot of unhoused people who are mostly kind to me. If they are mentally well enough, we talk and laugh. A few are obnoxious and scary. Most are just homeless.
My real world, as opposed to the life presented online, is quite different. There is tangible goodness here. I prefer strolling to scrolling.
Strolling is not without its difficulties, too. I live in a city that’s hard to navigate in a wheelchair. Sometimes I get stuck in cracks in the sidewalk or street. Someone always helps me. This is not a pedestrian city and doesn’t have good public transportation. Almost every time I go out, at some point, crossing the street, someone almost hits me with their car. They are often on their phone — talking, texting, or maybe doomscrolling.
When I get home unscathed, I’m always grateful and feel immortal. (Although I do gripe about drivers and transportation than I brag about my immortality.)
I’ve been following the Youtube channel of Campbell Walker, aka Struthless, an author of a very helpful and delightful book Your Head is a Houseboat, A Chaotic Guide to Mental Clarity. Walker is based in New Zealand now, but started his career in Australia. He’s an illustrator, animator, and boundlessly creative person. His Youtube channel is “A Creative Guide to Life.” He posts a lot about how to stay motivated and get your life’s work done, but he’s not a productivity guru, he’s young, funny, and irreverent. But also quite wise and kind. And pretty damn savvy about how the internet works and all the downsides to social media. Of course, the internet is not something any of us are going to quit using, but his videos are great for helping you turn the internet into a tool, and not let it turn you into a tool.
So he posted this brilliant video on Doomscrolling that may help you “un-panic yourself from online hell.” Watch it to the very end and you’ll be rewarded by getting some of your own humanity back. What a great gift:
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