Vocal's Place in Ourstory

The Internet is, without doubt, a Historical Invention.

Generations from now, when many of our currently-popular inventions, clevernesses, obsessions have been washed from the fabric of Ourstory... The Internet will remain.

No doubt, it will have iterated. But it will remain.

History is a funny thing.

You're standing in it right now.

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Think about that for a moment. You are literally living the unfolding of Ourstory.

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Not all moments make the History books, but those un-booked moments are still part of History/Herstory/Ourstory.

How?

Because they make up the context of History. The backdrop upon which we lay our scene.

history could not be History without the Context.

Think about it:

Would the Emancipation Proclamation have been the Historical Supernova it was/is... in the context of a society which was already free and equal?

Would the Holocaust have been the Historical Cataclysm it was/is... in the context of a culture which was already accepting and healthily-humble?

On the invention side of things:

Would Tools have been the Historical Fountainhead they were/are... in the context of a species which was already established and thriving?

Would the Automobile have been the Historical Gamechanger it was/is... in the context of a world which was already explored and known?

The Internet is the Historical Evolution it is... in the context of a species which is seeking-to-become informed and knowledgeable.

So it is that our seeking... our individual thirst for knowledge and information... drives the Historical Consequence of the Internet.

Our individual zest for learning... fuels the very fire which makes the Internet's legacy a Historical one.

Each of us - whether we make the Ourstory books or not - each of us plays a vital role in this unfolding.

{Pause a moment, if you can, to really absorb that. Let that significance hit you.}

Vocal is a microcosm of the macrocosm which is The Internet.

On the Internet, one can find all manner of information. Some of it fact, some of it fiction, some of it mere opinion.

Some humorous. Some vile. Some dark. Some light.

The same is true of Vocal and the content contained therein.

What strikes me about the powerful position in which Vocal finds itself is how aptly suited it is for the essential role which the Internet is playing in humanity's evolution:

"...in the context of a species which is seeking-to-become informed and knowledgeable." (from above)

In other words: The primary Historical-Evolutionary function which the Internet is playing in humanity's unfoldment... Vocal is also playing.

Vocal is a space in which information can be shared by parties who know-a-thing (or two... thousand) about a thing.

Vocal is a space in which knowledge can be gained by parties who wish-to-know-a-thing (or two... thousand) about a thing (or two... million).

Anyone else hearing Uncle Ben speaking to Peter Parker in the car right now?

"With great power... comes great responsibility."

As a conclusion, I would like to offer a paradigm which - I hope - is inspiring to consider:

Does that 'responsibility' fall on Vocal's shoulders? Absolutely.

However.

Does that 'responsibility' also fall on our shoulders as individual contributors and content creators?

(A certain Heisenbergian moment springs to mind...)

Absolutely.

What does that 'responsibility' look like for us, as creators?

This list is by no means exhaustive. In fact, it would delight this writer to no end if you would offer your inspired perspective in the comments. I'll be happy to Quick Edit this article and add a link to your profile as the contributor, in the event we land on a novel angle to this question.

1. Speak the truth. Keep the fiction in the Fiction section. Speculative articles are great - but indicate that this is just "your opinion (man)."

2. Speak your truth. Be brave. In a world as vapid and inauthentic as ours has become, the bravest person you can be is Yourself. We need You.

"Creative work is not a selfish act or a bid for attention on the part of the actor. It's a gift to the world and every being in it. Don't cheat us of your contribution. Give us what you've got."

-Stephen Pressfield, The War of Art

3. Understand your role in Ourstory. Own it. Understand that you have power. With every piece of content you create, you are creating the Context of Ourstory. Whether you make the History books or are part of the Context, your role is a vital one. Conscious awareness of this truth may look as simple as asking yourself: "Does what I am about to write offer constructive benefit to myself and to our world? If someone takes the time to read this, does it make their day better? Will it be time well-spent for them?"

What else?

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Thank you for taking the time to read my story. If you enjoyed it, please leave a heart, and I'm always grateful for any feedback in the comments.