The Ratings are In

Resting between fishing trips yesterday and tomorrow, I decided to look at what social media I pared myself down to after attempts at "most of it"-my website. And truth be told, my website was only because of strong encouragement from a handful of others. (Less than 20.) Heck, a lot of my blogs weren't my idea. I have an entire page not my idea. Yes, most influencers ask for ideas and then act on them. Therein lies another difference-I never asked for ideas. Just did them and it took more than one request. I found two blogs started in October and November. Never published. They are now. But they end rather abruptly.

While wrapping those blogs of old news up for publishing, I was today years old when it occurred to me to increase the font size and make it bold-my eyes always burn from working on my blogs. Well duh...there are readers with far worse eyesight than mine. Maybe I could have done this for THEM...months ago?

This may be more a blog about the 360 I've made concerning successful media influencers, and the work, time, and expense that it takes. When I'm out fishing, I'm zoned in and sometimes with almost true, visual tunnel vision on catching that fish. The diversion the fishing influencers have managing camera shots, drones with cameras, self appearance, and the overall content is...impressive.

I have a lot of stuff in my head about the outdoors that's high level thinking and survival, but I can't seem to get it out whether by word, conversation, and definitely not social media platforms. I see myself on playback and I criticize my posture. Not sure why-my Mom always said I had great posture. And I seldom to never smile. Well how could I? I was trying to do social media!

I guess the tip off to not even trying it was the "social", in social media. I'm not a social person. Something that hundreds of people would disagree. Once I got my tech certifications I tried to "go to a basement and run networks incognito". But was told, "Oh, you're too good with people-you're going to be (usually something along the line of "sales engineer"). Seems that everytime I try to avoid "social situations" I'm told, "Oh, you're too good...". Well I'll assure you that if you genuinely feel that I'm happy to have you in my presence, I really am. But the notion some get that I feel the same about just being around people-well that projection by myself is just an act. Oh! Something else I'm good at but never get the credit! I'm a good actor! So when the same that encouraged me to "go social media" encouraged me to do weekly podcasts if I didn't want to go to the trouble of making regular videos, again I thought, "Why do I want to add being around people via a computer when I don't even like being around people real time?!"

Maybe it's what social media has become. When I was about 10 years old, I got a "Cherry Mash" coupon black and white camera. Though no one would have known the phrase "social media" then, suffice it to say I was the neighborhood social media bomb. I still remember pictures of the American flag blowing in the wind from the school flagpole; pictures of the school from a distance, pictures of my dog, and a picture of a classmate that I happened to run into one Saturday morning while on a photography mission. All in black and white. She was just a classmate. In the right place at the right time to become part of my pile of Kodak pictures. Just a shy smile. Hands clasped on dropped arms in front of her, nervously. Unlike "picture and video" girls that age today, who may move their neck like they're trying to shake a muscle spasm, move their arms and fingers like they're playing air piano, and throw in wiggling their butt like they're trying to shake sand from their butt crack.

So, if you weren't already in agreement with my social media self rating I'm about to issue, this should surely bring you in line. As I was finishing blogs started months ago, the rating "unsatisfactory"..."D-" danced in my head with persistence. Then, I realized of the two blogs I was finishing no one asked for; no one encouraged me for that specific information...but one other blog in progress has been asked for more than any I've done. "How do (I) stay outside four seasons of the year in rain, heat, snow, extreme cold?" I take no offense at the few that add, "...at your age...". "Four Seasons of Clothing" is a bit longer, likely wouldn't have been thought of without repeated requests for it. Remember, my circle is small. Whether social or social media. One hundred requests may mean 10 people asked for it 10 times each...so I finally relented. When did I start the blog? End of December-first part of January. The idea was the cold and snow of this winter would be a timely publication of said blog. Luckily, since it's about staying comfortable four seasons, it's timely whether I publish it in February, or July. But the social media pro would know...it should have been finished and published, by now. It's the type of information that I could layout some pictures that commercial entities would be envious toward. I know how I'd do the photo layouts. They would be awesome, informative and...a lot of work. Individual pieces of seasonal clothing laid out like clothing on the pages of old days JC Penny or Sears catalogs. So with the revelation that approach is a lot of work, you'll get a consolidated photo or few photos not requiring me to "pose" anything. You'll see the subject matter in its natural state as it sits almost daily. Hanging in the closet. I'll take extra care to be sure the photos don't portray my closets as "messy". They aren't-but I suppose anyone may take issue based on their own organizing skills.

With this final revelation, I rate my social media prowess as "unsatisfactory"..."F". But I'll keep posting "stuff". Without drone shots, without production professional quality videos, soothing voice overs, and without underage butts shaking sand from their crack.