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I've been reflecting on the aggressive change in the tone of a lot of online publishing and social media. It seems to me that, while online trolls are nothing new, their volume and voracity have increased profoundly since Donald Trump became the so-called leader of the free world.
In short, in just over a year, Trump seems to have normalised fake news, hatred and bullying on the internet. I'd go further to say that he has popularised it.
People have been telling me for 20 years I should be in politics. For 20 years I've recoiled in horror, saying I wouldn't be seen dead in politics — in fact, I remember saying at a comedy gig once to shoot me if I did.
I was just joking.
I recently received a request from a graduate student at Purdue University in the U.S.A. They are currently researching inclusion and diversity and wanted to interview me. Here are my responses...
Because I wanted to deepen awareness of diversity in creative, fun, non-threatening ways. My passion is leading change that embraces curiosity and inquiry into diversity, complexity and uncertainty. My vision is a society where all people freely share and celebrate identity and self-expression.
Long time no blog. My wrist is slowly healing, however, typing is still arduous. I was recently asked to contribute to an article on casual racism for an Australian publisher, so I thought I'd make the most of it and paste my responses. Hopefully I'll be back to blogging regularly in a few weeks.
Do you think casual racism still exists in many Kiwi workplaces?
Although my vlog got a fair bit of engagement (57 views — not exactly viral), I actually miss writing. So I'm using my mouse with an on-screen keyboard to write this. It's a bit slower than typing with my right hand, but a little more accurate I think. So all in all, it probably averages out around the same.
Today marks the beginning of the sixth week without the proper/usual use of my right hand. I've had a diagnosis of radial nerve dysfunction and a prognosis of 6-12 weeks for it to heal (although some bastard on Facebook said he had it for 5 years — thanks for sharing, it made my day).
As I still can't type properly I'm experimenting with vlogging. Apologies Deaf followers, I'll add subtitles asap.
Why is Jacinda dissing her Greens sis?
I woke up on Saturday morning to find I couldn't lift my hand up with my when my palm was facing downwards. No pain, no numbness, just intermittent pins and needles or tingling and no power in the upper side of my wrist.
I can move my fingers and grip, though not as powerfully as usual. If I put my palm facing upwards I can lift my hand up. My coordination is not as good as normal, which isn't saying much.
I recently read three very different takes on the world as it is now and how it compares to the past. One was this article in the Guardian, "The age of anger", another Margaret Wheatley's new book, "Who Do We Choose To Be?: Facing Reality, Claiming Leadership, Restoring Sanity" and the third, a book by Magenta Pixie, "Masters of the Matrix: Becoming the Architect of Your Reality and Activating the Original Human Template".
All used very different lenses — political, historical, leadership, spiritual and more — but all had a similar theme. The world, at this time, is in a state of flux.
Last week I started taking anti-anxiety medication. After six years, starting with the neighbours in 2011-2012 and culminating in the car saga earlier this year, I decided I needed help. I was sick of feeling like shit most of time.
So I went to my GP last week and asked for help. He assessed me on the Kessler (K10) scale for depression and anxiety — I scored 30 out of 50, qualifying me for treatment with SRRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) and psychological therapy.
