OVERFED
Digital omnivores and an emotional analogue to Locked In Syndrome
I just shouldn’t look,
I know it’s all shit
But my midbrain is cooked
From these dopamine hits
Overstimulated!
Willingly inundated
By streams I should ignore
But instead? I scarf down more
Like a thirsty, data-starved ‘vore
How my need is hyper inflated
Attention span stunted, my hunger for stims will never be sated
My eyes swallow flashing lights
My ears follow quick sound bites
And I can no longer make a true meal
Of those forgotten things that used to be real
I just tried touching grass, what a fucking bore!
This phone is an endless buffet of so much more
Of grasses, of asses, of memes, news, and whores
Of clips and of quips, of joys, blues, and wars
Yes the feed is full
Of bytes with such pull
I just can’t look away
Cuz the unfiltered stuff’s gone so gray
I feel the digital hooks in my skull
And the real world is now dull
I’m locked in a car and it’s rolling downhill
My ADD is dragging me far from whatever I’d will
Right past the drop in the glowing blue road
So now down, down, down is the only way to go
As the wheels gather speed,
My eyes are burned raw by all that I see
And what can I do besides stare
As images flash through my window’s cold glare:
I’m alternately comforted and mortified
By the images pulsing by on each side
A bright-pixeled parade of dream girls on the left side and doom scrolls on the right
What a way to waste my sight every night
They say we are what we eat
But what will we be
When we scroll and drone through an infinite feed?
I think one day soon, psychologists will find
There’s a whole new kind of broken-down mind
The dsm six is gonna have to discuss
This tech-driven depression that turns full lives to dust
Cause psych pros are great at “discovering” obvious things
And in this case the public is glued to blue screens
Placated,
Addicted
And numb
Our overfed brains are getting bloated and dumb
For nobody believes human brains were ever up to the task
Of swimming through this flood, that’s an awfully big ask
And for now it seems the chaos will only grow
So let’s hear the researchers say what we already know:
It really never was, nor could it have ever been healthy
To scroll through warcrimes and then lulz and then some rando’s hot selfie
***
Authors note:
When it comes to social media and screens I really think we’re gonna see the same kind of hindsight realizations that we finally had about cigarettes and lead paint.
People are gonna have novel mental illnesses, cognitive decline, and emotional paralysis and social disconnect. And later we’re gonna blame the drug everybody carries in their pockets: unlimited data.
About the Creator
Sam Spinelli
Trying to make human art the best I can, never Ai!
Help me write better! Critical feedback is welcome :)
reddit.com/u/tasteofhemlock
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Comments (21)
Gripping slam! You are onto something indeed. My young adult is addicted to the computer. Their entire social life is there. It's frightening. When they were a lonely teen I, 'better to know where they are than wondering and worrying about their safety on a Saturday night's - the www is the ultimate unsafe place for vulnerable persons. Excellent piece.
Wow! Nice dose of reality. As Tiffa (A writer on this platform) would say, you flame broiled this piece! And this line was a standout for me and gave me pause. -They say we are what we eat But what will we be When we scroll and drone through an infinite feed?- Just yesterday, I was about to pass a guy who almost swerved in my lane, and when I did pass him, he was still looking at his phone like an idiot and not at the road. Geezus!!! Let it rest before it kills you, literally.
Powerful poem, you captured the digital struggle so well. Congrats on your Top Story!
I cannot agree more. I stay away form most forms of Social media because it is mostly lies or distorted truths and the innnocent are getting hurt. Well said , congratulaions on TS
Perfect title for this and amazing poem! Congrats on the Top Story! The data consumption problem/scrolling has crept up so slowly that it makes me think about a frog in boiling water. Anyway, loved this!
Wow. I relate to this a ton, and agree completely on your author's note. Also, congrats on top story!
This photo is of very high quality.
Overfed. That's such a great and fitting title for this piece. I've been stuck in this maze, hurt by the people whose eyes are always drawn to the screen. Their behaviour change, and I know it's because of what they've been fed. So I've become numb as a result. You spoke of the dopamine hit, and how you feel overstimulated. And How you're constantly bombarded by memes, news and whores. We've got so many options, yet nothing that lasts. Yes I am feeling very petty today. My attention span was crap before now. I've started reading a whole bunch of books, forcing my eyes onto the pages, to get my attention span back. 'And I can no longer make a true meal, of those forgotten things that used to be real' now I see why you value when I publish something related to nature, especially when I include images. Damn this life is sad. '...of grasses of asses...' I love how this bit turned into a list, a list into word stresses. The effect was a sped up version of speech, mimicking and linking the mind to the constant flash of video options. Outstanding! 'what a way to waste my sight every night' I think this line means you're half way in control. I am a believer that no man complains if he intends to be forever trapped. I believe you will find a way to keep a good balance between the screen and the things you wish to do. I do agree with the dsm possibly adding tech driven depression sometime in the future. A late realisation just like the cigarettes you've mentioned. Once again outstanding work Sam, congratulations on your Top Story 🎉 🎉 🎉 🤗♥️
Wow, Congratulations on your top story
Excellent poem and point. Congratulations on your Top Story - it's much deserved.
Concentrated truth levels off the charts! Many didn't see THIS as the zombie apocalypse. Slow consistent erosion of minds and people can't think, can't function anymore. Regularly running away (figuratively and literally) works wonders. Kudos on your top story!
Back to say congratulations on your Top Story! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
This is an incisive diagnosis of a mounting crisis in carefully crafted verse; very well done indeed!
Great
oh this is a masterpiece!! I’m in AWE!🙇🏾♀️🙇🏾♀️
Digital omnivores - I love this expression! I am doing my best to be on a digital diet at the moment. Congrats on the Top Story! Well deserved.
Rolling back round to congratulate you on a fine Top Story, sir!
I agree about the danger of over information- you have written a powerful message capturing the chaos
Yes the brain rot is so real. And this is just the beginning. It sure seems scary to think about. Loved your poem!
It’s absolutely wild how we go from live streaming genocide to funny cat videos to the exploitation of the Congo to cauliflower steak recipes
So fucking relatable, Sam! And so very true. The thing is a largest scale that is going to happened that happened when High Speed Internet increased the prolification of free and easy access pornography and the various addictions and disorders and dysfunctions that resulted from that. Well wrought, sir!