Falling Up
By Pink/Dea
This is an ode to a place long gone. To some it was HOME, to others, merely a game to pass the time. Life will never be the same without it, no matter what we thought of it. It affected us. Some more than others.
I used to imagine I was an animal when I was a kid, such wonderful things I could do. The many place I went and adventures I had. But one once in all my imaginative play did I ever pretend I was a salmon. In my teenage years I preferred to stand alone rather than run with the crowd, just because others did.
That's not to say I was always alone. Oddly I had a following, one I never knew about till later in life. I missed the clues in my youth. That’s another story, for another day.
Individually we are smart creatures, in groups we become MOBS. Our brain cells decrease. We are like trees, no problem separately, but when a brush fire of negativity or gossip ran amuck, down we burn us and those caught around us.
For the past few months I have felt like a child of two worlds, a child who saw the wonders of both places she lived in. To her they were not much different. Like twins, so much alike yet so different in all that was said and done. It wasn't so bad at first. Till sibling rivalry broke out. Big brother won, and we all lost. Like casualties in a civil war, only there was nothing civil with how it was fought.
Sadly to me the most vicious of them all were the ones called to present the truth, the factoids for us all. The ones who were supposed to be a beacon of clarity and possible hope. I could see the truth they found, for it was mostly truth. Sadly the view of the presenters were slightly jaded. Could have been from the shock of it all, possibly the sudden impact our place we called home had when legality hit, and we were helpless to prevent it. So instead, we attacked, lashing out under the flag called 'Truth'.
As time drug on, our minds raced, tossed to and fro. “False hope” they cried! Lies and deception they screamed! We were told of a new home we could go to by little brother, whilst big brother promised a land of milk and honey. Only later to be charged for the gifts offered. Tossed and torn many of lil brother’s followers stormed the beaches of big brothers token. Shamefully many went on purpose to raise hell and cause havoc. I, who stood alone could only watch in horror as people I once respected an admired charged in with pitch forks and torches. I hung my head and let the tears fall.
We became like a family at a funeral. Everyone bickering over who was getting what and who caused Papa Eros to die. None of that would bring him back.
The words “TRUTH”, “FACTS” JOURNALISM” were tosses about like confetti, only to be viciously trampled underfoot. A fact will never waver, a factoid will crumble like a cookie. Know the difference.
These sites have been more than a mere 'game' to me. I have changed so much during my six years in RLC, five in the old EI. Parts of me died and were reborn like the phoenix. Stronger and better for it all.
I was once a reporter in high school, I enjoyed it. But if reporting means shredding people unnecessarily to get the ‘truth’ no thanks. I love truth, I love to have the facts told to one an all. But one does not need to shred, slam or attack personally to have the truth be told. Facts are unwavering when they are kept as facts. The minute you put your personal opinion in it becomes hearsay or a story. Facts are not about how YOU feel, facts are not always going to be liked. But as long as they are “FACTS” they will stand. Yes people love juicy gossip and hearsay, AND truth. Truth, no matter the shade is always more welcomed when it’s been 'dug up’ and shoveled into their trough, they will gobble it up like the little piggys they are being treated like.
I personally felt ALL of them messed up, one way or another. I feel I let people down by stepping back and letting the chaos run everyone else over. I almost left both sites (and all those in them) and a job I love, writing for this great magazine. I felt I stood alone in my views. I possibly still do. But now I realize, I can’t be truthful to the masses if I can’t be true to myself. “To thine own self be true.” I will never forget that again, EVER. Nobody should, the cost is too great.