Alex Wagner

That what you do is you go out into the world of social media seeking recognition and getting back attention, which just kind of gives you like a little bit of a taste but doesn't ever make you full. Because the thing that can make you full are mutual relationships. This is the other key thing about social attention.

That what you do is you go out into the world of social media seeking recognition and getting back attention, which just kind of gives you like a little bit of a taste but doesn't ever make you full. Because the thing that can make you full are mutual relationships. This is the other key thing about social attention.

That what you do is you go out into the world of social media seeking recognition and getting back attention, which just kind of gives you like a little bit of a taste but doesn't ever make you full. Because the thing that can make you full are mutual relationships. This is the other key thing about social attention.

Other things that we want socially in life are fundamentally like bilateral, right? They're like a romantic relationship or a relationship of parenting. Like you have a relationship with the person and they have a relationship with you. That's how it works. Social attention is separated. You could put social attention on Brad Pitt. You don't have a relationship with him, right?

Other things that we want socially in life are fundamentally like bilateral, right? They're like a romantic relationship or a relationship of parenting. Like you have a relationship with the person and they have a relationship with you. That's how it works. Social attention is separated. You could put social attention on Brad Pitt. You don't have a relationship with him, right?

Other things that we want socially in life are fundamentally like bilateral, right? They're like a romantic relationship or a relationship of parenting. Like you have a relationship with the person and they have a relationship with you. That's how it works. Social attention is separated. You could put social attention on Brad Pitt. You don't have a relationship with him, right?

People could put social attention on you on the internet. They don't have a relationship with you. And when you break apart that kind of covalent bond, you sort of end up spinning off into some very weird world where it's very easy to get a kind of lost, a kind of vertigo sensation.

People could put social attention on you on the internet. They don't have a relationship with you. And when you break apart that kind of covalent bond, you sort of end up spinning off into some very weird world where it's very easy to get a kind of lost, a kind of vertigo sensation.

People could put social attention on you on the internet. They don't have a relationship with you. And when you break apart that kind of covalent bond, you sort of end up spinning off into some very weird world where it's very easy to get a kind of lost, a kind of vertigo sensation.

I think another part of it too, is just that I learned this lesson a little early on. I would say when I first started writing, like remember I first write a piece for the Chicago reader and, which was the weekly alternative paper in Chicago. And I remember going to get it. It would come out on Thursday afternoon. It would be in these piles in bar vestibules.

I think another part of it too, is just that I learned this lesson a little early on. I would say when I first started writing, like remember I first write a piece for the Chicago reader and, which was the weekly alternative paper in Chicago. And I remember going to get it. It would come out on Thursday afternoon. It would be in these piles in bar vestibules.

I think another part of it too, is just that I learned this lesson a little early on. I would say when I first started writing, like remember I first write a piece for the Chicago reader and, which was the weekly alternative paper in Chicago. And I remember going to get it. It would come out on Thursday afternoon. It would be in these piles in bar vestibules.

And going and seeing my name there and feeling that, whatever that little thing about my personality, I felt good about that. And then it was like, that was kind of it. This was sort of pre-internet. It just was out there in the world. And one of the things that I realized was that like,

And going and seeing my name there and feeling that, whatever that little thing about my personality, I felt good about that. And then it was like, that was kind of it. This was sort of pre-internet. It just was out there in the world. And one of the things that I realized was that like,

And going and seeing my name there and feeling that, whatever that little thing about my personality, I felt good about that. And then it was like, that was kind of it. This was sort of pre-internet. It just was out there in the world. And one of the things that I realized was that like,

if I didn't actually like doing the work itself, that whatever little dopamine hit from that micro instant of seeing my name was not going to be enough.

if I didn't actually like doing the work itself, that whatever little dopamine hit from that micro instant of seeing my name was not going to be enough.

if I didn't actually like doing the work itself, that whatever little dopamine hit from that micro instant of seeing my name was not going to be enough.

That's the other thing is that you have to just be satisfied with like the actual making of the thing you're making as a thing that you want to do and feel proud of and feels worthwhile and is satisfying to you because of the value of it is what stranger social attention gets put on it. It's never, ever, ever going to feel good enough.

That's the other thing is that you have to just be satisfied with like the actual making of the thing you're making as a thing that you want to do and feel proud of and feels worthwhile and is satisfying to you because of the value of it is what stranger social attention gets put on it. It's never, ever, ever going to feel good enough.