The information age has sold us the easiest form of leisure activity. In current-age, each iota of information is labeled as a mere measure of content, all being just mere bytes of data on a given somewhere, with no distinction of content value over another; all just a gamble of time spent in exchange for extra fried dopamine glob.
What has made this worse, and frankly a more prominent characteristic of the information age, is the exponential increase of information density as technological progress ensues. What used to be, in convention, an oral passage or an ink-on-something; has now become a Tiktok/Reel, AI Summary, Canva Slideshow, Twitter Thread, etc. Enormous information being desired whilst a short timespan has become the Present Norm.
While the discussions regarding the Medium as an inherent determinant of a content's substance is entirely fascinating, that's not what I would want to cover here entirely. While I am going to skiddadle over the medium of short-form (sometimes "high"-density content), I am merely going to focus on the necessity and importance of output as an entirety.
what is inherent value
If you have looked at my previous entries on this mostly empty website, I have mentioned again and again the struggle of putting a mark on the internet. This is formostcase most of what I have worked on is not worth anyone's exchange of time being put out. And that goes for any internet medium, whether be independent website or standardized social media platform.
Now, it is difficult to prove the necessity of content and said inherent value whilst not being an example myself, but many have those promised of oasis while paving the trail.
⦿ passion vs correctness
As I'm writing this, I'm currently studying at university. One of my biggest lessons in the previous term was that correctness is what counts. It is a given that for anything math-centric that there is only one answer that is correct. Regardless of any preliminary understanding, what will only count is what is written down in the paper.
Well, here's the thing, I'm very passionate in what I am learning. But all that inner feeling would never tether the final output in any direction but the correctness of what I do. Simply put, correctness is what solely matters. Or, relating to this post: The quality of the output is what determines of itself, not the desire of quality that is behind it.
so what if the thing i wanted to do is useless anyway?
I don't know. It is difficult to narrow down to just "post what's valuable", since it is evident that THAT is not what most of the internet is doing. But why is the aspect of 'inherent value' important? I think that it is an added (subjective) measure to be put on which 'waste-of-time' can give the 'best-use-of-time-lost' as much as possible. It is a way to ponder on content, from a consumer standpoint.
But here's the thing: "Useless" Content can help sometimes. We are human, and watching 5 different videos of the same 'Insert-Educational-Thing' will never be of great help either when no useful application appears. If you know how to peel an apple, would it matter to waste an hour determining the most efficient way for something as menial...unless you just think you are that exceptional?
With that being said, there's a lot more than can be said from a Producer standpoint.
output as a measure of quantity and not quality
It is of great difficulty to act-teacher when I barely have any output myself, and I loathe a birthing of another content creator circling-back-to-past-content as some sort of infinite supply glitch. But I think it is important to aim for constant output as an avenue for improvement, like a chuck would sharpen his axe. There is a lot of established people today who have outputs in their backburner (and while it is standard and good measure for me to show examples, that is just something I can't do, not only for my convenience but I think pulling ones out of my mind would be difficult). I think it is important to build a vault of your own output to help you progress.
With that being said, choose what to show. Don't show everything.
To Be Continued.