Personae Non Gratae

This book was enjoyable - the subject matter is, at times, “mature,” but in that way it remains consistent with the source material. There are a good number of moralized interjections consistent with the author’s sensibilities as a homosexual british atheist, which were personally disagreeable at times, but I need not agree with someone to enjoy or value their writing. All told, I think you would be hard pressed to find a more concise, compelling, coherent, and comical compilation of mythology, which seems to be one of the “keys” to understanding later great literary works, many of which lean heavily in either their use of archetypal structures from, or direct references to the same.  All told, it was an enjoyable read - informative and entertaining, but I most likely would not read it again. I have, however, started in on the sequel, which seems so far to be less gratuitous in descriptions of mature subject matter, and that is appreciated. 

On those mornings you struggle with getting up, keep this thought in mind—I am awakening to the work of a human being. Why then am I annoyed that I am going to do what I’m made for, the very things for which I was put into this world? Or was I made for this, to snuggle under the covers and keep warm? It’s so pleasurable. Were you then made for pleasure? In short, to be coddled or to exert yourself?” Marcus Aurelius,  Meditations

  Without you, what am I to myself but a guide to my own self-destruction? St. Augustine of Hippo

I grew up on social media. I created a facebook profile when I was 10 years old, and was a fairly early adopter of instagram at the age of 13. As a young teen, I spent dozens of hours playing minecraft while chatting in a skype group with others all around the world, learned of most major world events via live tweet, heckled at (and was heckled by) others in xbox live lobbies playing call of duty. As a member of Gen Z, I am part of a chronically online generation. According to UK-based research firm Ofcom, Gen Z spends an average of roughly 6 hours online a day, not counting work. At the same time, OnePoll (another research firm based in the UK) found that 60% of Gen Z self-identified as "lonely". How could this be, if they are spending 6 hours a day on social media? Surely, so much time spent being "social" is an antidote to loneliness? No. It amplifies loneliness. It doesn't want you to be part of a real, tangible community. It wants you to be part of ITs comm...