What We Owe to Each Other
Are we all just curating a highlight reel of "friendship"? Beneath our digital facades, maybe we owe each other more than just a 'like' or a retweet.
Jules and Nate texting | euphoria 1x03 scene, Euphoria. Courtesy of HBO
Every other day, I see the same recycled tweet saying “I don’t owe you anything.” We live in a world where people are all about personal freedom and individualism, and the idea of owing anything to strangers seems almost laughable. It’s every man for themselves. However, I challenge this view and argue that we owe each other more than just a smile in passing (which in itself is a very rare occurrence in London). We owe each other community and companionship. This isn't just some sentimental ideal; it’s something I came to grips with after diving into What We Owe to Each Other, a book that was brought into my life thanks to The Good Place. Yes, the TV show (arguably one of the best sitcoms). If you’ve seen it, you know it’s a mix of philosophical musings and offbeat humor that explores what it really means to live a good life. The show flips the script on the classic moral dilemma, asking viewers to think deeply about their actions and their impact on others. And while The Good Place wraps its philosophical debates in quirky comedy, it drives home a crucial point: we are inherently connected, and our interactions with each other matter.
The book echoes this sentiment, emphasizing that we’re not just solitary beings drifting through life. Our actions shape the web of human connections around us. Sure, we can't single-handedly solve everyone's problems, but that doesn’t mean we should ignore the people around us. Sometimes, it’s the small acts of kindness and the willingness to engage that make all the difference. Our shared humanity binds us together in mutual respect and support. We live in an interconnected world where our actions, whether simple gestures or larger systemic efforts, create ripple effects. Ignoring these connections can lead to a fragmented society, where isolation and alienation become the norm. While we may not be required to tackle all the world’s issues, we do have a responsibility to nurture a sense of belonging and solidarity within our communities. It’s through these connections that we find not only support in times of need but also a shared sense of purpose and identity.
In today’s digital age, social media can either help us stay connected or create superficial interactions. While these platforms offer convenience, they often fall short in providing the deep, meaningful connections we truly need. Social media has indeed transformed the way we connect, but it has also introduced a paradox: a false sense of community. Instead of nurturing deep, personal connections, we often find ourselves curating an image of connection through posts, likes, and comments. This shift begs the question: are we truly making connections, or are we merely curating a digital façade of friendship?
It’s important to balance our online presence with real-life interactions that cultivate genuine relationships. One of the weirdest effects of Instagram and similar platforms is that they’ve created a genre of friendships where we keep in touch not by engaging in real conversations but by entertaining each other. Instead of exchanging ideas or supporting each other through meaningful interactions, we often just share things to laugh at together. The images we post and like become the primary mode of communication, leading to a scenario where we’re not truly connecting but merely exchanging apparitions of ourselves. This phenomenon creates a semblance of community, but it’s often superficial. We might feel connected because we’re constantly updated on each other’s lives, but the interactions are often limited to likes, comments, and emojis. The depth of these online relationships frequently pales in comparison to face-to-face interactions. Balancing our online presence with real-life engagements is crucial. Genuine relationships are built through the emotional labor of shared experiences, heartfelt conversations, and mutual support; elements that are hard to fully capture through a double tap on a screen. While social media can help us stay in touch, it shouldn’t replace the deeper, more meaningful connections that come from real-life interactions.
Overall, saying “I don’t owe you anything” might sound liberating in theory, but it’s a bit of a cop-out in practice. Sure, social media has revolutionized how we stay in touch, but it often ends up creating a bunch of shallow interactions rather than genuine connections. What We Owe to Each Other and The Good Place remind us that our actions weave the fabric of our shared humanity. We’re not just drifting through life solo; we’re part of a bigger picture that thrives on real, meaningful exchanges. So maybe it is time to unfollow the girl you followed when you were drunk in a bar three years ago; she probably doesn't remember who you are, and, honestly, it’s probably for the best.
