Disconnecting the Unsocial Network

[Tofu]

Years ago I was reluctant to join Facebook.  But I have to admit, it did help me reconnect with a few people who I had lost touch with.  And, at times, it’s helped me connect with more people about my art and widen my circle a bit.  But in recent years, Facebook has become more and more about algorithms that essentially are designed to make you look at advertising rather than what your friends might have posted.  I don’t know how many times I have heard someone say, “Did you see…….on Facebook?”  Facebook becomes less user-friendly as time marches on and I find it less useful.

In the past week there has been a big push, or should we say putsch, to force drag queens and other performers to use their “real” names – the names that appear on their drivers’ licenses, etc.  While I mostly am known as Tofu, the DMV does not call me that.  Not that the name my parents gave me, Scott, is a big secret.  It’s just that more people know me as Tofu.  I figure it’s a matter of time before my account is suspended.  Well, I am on the docks, have boarded the ship and am leaving the dictatorship of Zuckerbergland. 

There are so many good reasons why people use different names socially, and in some cases there are serious issues where people need to protect their privacy.  For example, one of my friends is a psychologist who uses a pseudonym so his patients are unable to find him on sites like Facebook.  It’s not about being secretive or clandestine.  This is what people like mental health professionals, teachers and even law enforcement might choose to do in order to maintain the social boundaries they are accustomed to creating in their day-to-day worlds.

Many of my closest friends have always refused to join and many other of my friends on Facebook barely use it anyway.  I don’t need this anti-social network.  I always enjoy hearing from you.  Call me, write a letter, send me a postcard, or a regular old email.  I will continue to post my latest work and news about upcoming art shows on this blog.  Follow me here.  You can also always reach me via my website tofuart.com.

Now, back to making art, or meeting you for coffee…..