cmd c + cmd v

Because the rewards are now so great, creation has lost its grander purpose, which is to be a form of individual expression.

I find it surprising how often I catch myself responding to questions with answers straight from things I've read. Fragments of previously consumed content become conversational crutches that I've grown to rely on. My most authentic answers seem to be in response to questions that I've never thought of before. While it takes longer to come up with a conclusion, I find my answer to be a rational interpretation of my core beliefs.

For this reason, I've begun to try and spend an extra couple of seconds before reacting to questions. The reason I use the word react, is because that's what it is. Unconscious mental reflexes that spit back a reasonable but plagiarized response that isn't completely indicative of what I truly believe. This strategy worked for school assignments because a reasonable argument was enough to get a good grade. However, it backfires when truth is defined by reality rather than the imprecise judgement of humans. If the goal is truth, I do a massive disservice by regurgitating the conclusions of others.

It’s really difficult to avoid this. We are molded by the language and ideas that we consume. In addition to pausing, I've found that writing is a great way to form truly original opinions. When you write or create, abstract ideas collide with reality, and it becomes much easier to spot what isn't yours.

In fact, I’d argue that creation is our only fighting chance at originality. Consumption plays a role in opening up new possibilities but exist as materials and tools. Like a garage, collecting too much results in clutter.

The internet has conveniently made information accessible within milliseconds. Materials and tools are plentiful but the balance between creation and consumption has been disturbed. In the past, a creator had limited reach and people felt inclined to create out of necessity. If you wanted to listen to music, someone in your village better be able to play an instrument, or you better hope the chirping of birds quenches your musical appetite. Now, millions of people listen to the same Taylor Swift song within minutes of its release.

This imbalance is not necessarily bad. With increased competition, the audience benefits tremendously. However, it has caused creation to become misunderstood. Because the rewards are now so great, creation has lost its grander purpose, which is to be a form of individual expression — a way of pulling together all the influences and pieces that shape an individual, and redistributing it back into the world.

But now, many look at making music as futile if they don't become a famous musician. It's unfortunate, but what's more dangerous is the equivalent for individual opinions. If people determine that forming their own opinions is futile because they aren't as "logically sound" as their favorite news anchor, we run the risk of becoming homogenous in thought.

Gladly, the remedy is simple, just create.