THE WILL TO RESPOND

An Attempted Transvaluation of Digital Literacy Vol 1

piece by
Margaux Olverd

Instead of: “Can’t talk right now—in a meeting.”

I might try: My inability to focus on the task at hand is compounded by society’s lack of boundaries and growing expectations for human efficiencies.

Instead of: “Just seeing this text now!”

I might try: I felt nothing when I read this.

Instead of: “Sorry for the delay in getting back to you.”

I might try: E-mail has become a daily menace in my life.

Instead of: “I’m totally swamped today!”

I might try: I feel a loss of self as I try relentlessly to keep up with the matters and affairs of others and the world at large.

Instead of: “How about next week?”

I might try: I don’t know why I continue to commit to social engagements with people I’m not sure I like. I have personal goals.

Instead of: “Sorry I missed your text”

I might try: Frankly, you depress me.

Instead of: “Taking a break from social for a while…”

I might try: All the beauty in the world was never meant to fit inside a rectangle much less a ten second video.

Instead of: “Still catching up on email…”

I might try: Your priorities are meaningless to me.

Instead of: “Let’s sync on that.”

I might try: My entire life is punctuated by meetings preventing me and everyone around me from reaching our full potential

Instead of: “I’m going to be offline for a few days”

I might try: I am in no way obligated to any communication of any kind (real or imagined) until the end of time.