Creators, Commentators, and Consumers

The Balance Matters

No voiceover today. Springsteen last night, Hampton Court Flower Show today. It's an age thing :-)

Photo by Kristine Cinate on Unsplash

Looking at communities of interest, from organisations to social media, it strikes me that there are three modes of engagement; as creators, as commentators, or as consumers.

Creators are the real risk takers, putting ideas and offerings in front of people. Most they do not know, and they open themselves up to all manner of feedback. Creators have to be robust, resilient and committed, because there will always be more critics than fans. Defence of the state quo by those benefitting from it make it so. It's also the easiest mode of response. Observation suggest creators are by far the smallest group.

The commentator group is bigger. Observation suggests it is most often about signalling and being seen without having to take the risk or responsibility of co-creation, from algorithm feeding “likes” to bland comments such as “good point” which do little to feed anything other than the ego of creator, and the personal desire to be seen.

We are all consumers, often I think of far too much, as we take in digital junk food. Diet matters.

I think Artisans are creators, and co-creating commentators. They are “and” more than “but” people, picking up an offering, and improvising, for little more reason than generosity, connection, and the satisfaction it brings.

Oliver Burkeman reminds us we have around four thousand weeks here. We can spend them creating, commentating or consuming.

“The Economy” prefers us to consume.

I suggest we can, and should, do rather more than that.

Have a great weekend.