Surfance Tension

For when you find yourself surprisingly not out of f*cks

On Zoom meetings, when folks need to pause their cameras, I ask them to type in the chat if they’re still listening, so that we are aware of their continued presence or absence to attend to a wayward cat or infant or doorbell or sneeze.

“I’m still here!” I often see along side faces and boxes holding space for those who are having a private moment.

This week I’ve seen an unsettling number of my very intelligent friends establish themselves squarely on one side or the other of a very round issue.

Global, you might call it.

I’ve seen others post “please do not perceive my silence as lack of care or attention. I simply have no words for what I’m observing.”

It reminds me of the zoom etiquette.

“I’m not complicit! I’m stunned!”

“I’m still here.”