Go On, Google Yourself

Do you believe you have an ego problem if you google yourself just to see what pops up? I mean, we all believe we are the center of the universe right? I mean the world DOES revolve around us. On social media we are exciting, beautiful, fun loving people. Not an ugly one amonst us.

But my children once caught me googling myself and scolded me. They said, "What type of person sits around googling themselves?" I mean the internet is there! Why not give my name the good old spin and see what happens. Well, they google shamed me and I stopped doing it way back in 2011.

But, tell the truth. HAVE YOU GOOGLED YOURSELF? Did you like what you saw? Was there a gorgeous picture of you there for the world to see or the horror of knowing your address is available for ever crazy person out there to see?

Even before the INTERNET we humans have left a footprint wherever we went. We leave impressions dailiy on family, friends, and even strangers. We are not an island of solitude nor does the world revolve around us. But special and unique we remain.

If you have googled your name, do you look good on paper? One RIGHT or one WRONG comment can be life changing living in our era of cancel culture and trolls. A heavy presence on social media can make you or break you.

Google Blac Chyna and get an eye full. She is in the process of transforming herself but the OLD her will remain for all to see when her name Blac Chyna is searched. Being clever (not) she is now going to use her birth name, Angela Renee White, which will be forever linked and pulled up with the name Blac Chyna. She recently earned a doctorate degree from a Bible college. Okay. That's a 180 for the lady.

I said all of ther above to say this: So funny. While trying to set up a gardening page on Facebook (4) Black People Garden Too in Mississippi | Facebook I had to Google the link to my blog page. I had forgotten the exact name of my blog because I had recently changed it and THIS popped up.

ME being quoted for an upcoming movie release in 2012. “The Voice of John: a nurse speaks out on a baby born alive after an abortion.” By Kristi Burton Brown September 27, 2012 , 01:18pm.

I’ve been quoted before in articles, but not a film promo. My friend just recommended my book to someone in which this quote was taken from: “When Will Eve Be Forgiven?” Thanks friend.

What was the reaction from one of my children when I told them about my google search, "Wow! That's crazy!."

Do you realize I couldn't have beamed with pride for at least a week from my name and book being mentioned in connection with a movie release!!!! The window is GONE now! No peacock strut for me! 2012 is a decade gone by. DAMN!

So, even if the world does not reolve around you and you're not the center of the universe, go on do it. Google yourself. Let the people talk.

 

Cancel Culture

    

 

 THE BIRTH OF CANCEL CULTURE  

    After meeting a nice young lady at a newly established club, I wanted to make sure I established some kind of friendly contact with her as I had with other members on a one-on-one basis. At the third meeting I made it a point to go up to her after the meeting was over and ask, "When is your baby due?" She quickly informed me she was not pregnant. Her baby just turned 5 months old the other day and she has been struggling to lose her pregnancy weight. My only recovery was to tell her, she was rushing her body to spring back into shape too quickly. Give it a little more time. "Are you breast feeding? There's your problem. Women who breast feed drop pregnancy weight faster. Don't use those mothers as models." She smiled and felt better, but I felt like crap and made my retreat of embarrassment. 

    Relaying the episode to one of my daughters, she began to cringe at the "Are you pregnant?" part knowing the rest of the story before I finished. I told her "Hey! Not fair! You act like I do this type of thing all of the time. This was my first time." Not really true. But in the 56 years I have been on earth, I believe it is only my fourth time, or so. Pretty good record in my eyes. 

Everyone is familiar with the joke: Open mouth - insert foot. It is almost unavoidable if you walk, talk, and breathe on this earth; sooner or later you will put your foot in your mouth. The only good thing about these moments is they are seen or overheard on a small scale and would pass and be forgotten in time. Now enter the computer age. The advancement of Facebook, Twitter, and other online fast-paced media gives us an opportunity to make mistake after mistake on a global scale for all of eternity to read and witness. With just one finger and the push of one button we open our mouths and insert the universe.

     Before we have a chance to realize we have stepped in it, cancel culture is feverishly boycotting or calling for a person to be eliminated socially. Whoopie Goldberg just faced a 'cancel' moment with her comments about the Holocaust. Joe Rogan didn't have a misstep but had ongoing racist jokes and nonsense. IS THIS AN OPEN MOUTH INSERT FOOT MOMENT? No. It goes beyond just the embarrassing misstep or wrong assumption, but they did open their mouths and inserted their own body part to fill a gaping hole. 

     I have a Facebook account and I think about my posts. I wonder do I want what I am about to type to have a life well after I am dead, because cyberspace makes that possible. I try not to speak on things I do not know or make comments off of the cuff when one of my emotions is sparked. But just with the pregnancy fiasco, my time will come. The internet makes us feel larger than life, able to dance with scholars, artists, professionals, the devil, and the everyday man in words of wit, academia, and common sense. When we get it right it is good. People all over the world agree with us and tell us how smart we are. On the other hand, when we get it wrong, thousands descend to tell us we should not be allowed out in a free society with our opinions and comments. 

    So, today and every day, there will be someone with foot in mouth disease that I have cleverly penned "Phalanges Cybercitis" (feel free to make it hashtag trend). The population, I guess, should be on the lookout for the pandemic: "Phalanges Cybercitis." One finger, one button, and we join the ailing masses in which a successful vaccine has not yet been found for our syndrome of having to add our two cents worth on things we just should not be involved in. There is a Pulitzer Prize waiting for the person who can cure Phalanges Cybercitis.

    The upside of this affliction is sometimes we become 15 minutes famous and that is all we need to launch us into stardom. The business savvy person will capitalize on what was meant to destroy them and turn it into success. Some people try to use the model of being 'bad' only to turn out 'good'. We see this daily from the right side of the aisle of politics. Each person trying to be the most outrageous and offensive, to hell with reputation and dignity. Instead of viewing their foot in mouth as a bad thing they see it as a foot in the door.

     I don't know if my constitution can withstand a cancel culture moment. I hope I don't have to find out on a large scale because I barely survive embarrassment on a small scale in my small pond. but we never know what we are made of until we are tested. As a writer and author, I take a chance a chance putting my thoughts out in the public arena. some days I have 500 followers then after a post I have 490. Ouch! Someone didn't swoon over my wonderful writing. Did I step in it or on someone? Possibly. but that is a chance creative people have to take and comes with the job.

    I would love to hear your story of the time you inserted your foot into your mouth. Share this post with others and not live in our shame alone. Dear Brian had his moment yesterday with his post saying no one wants to see a woman posting her half naked pictures on social media. Yeah, they tore him a new one. but he had his 15 minutes and yes, I was jealous he trended. So let's see if we can get my humble post of humiliation and accidental spewing of words going today. SHARE RETWEET COMMENT TREND.