Category: Uncategorized

Dead Fish

When you hear the words “dead fish”, you are likely thinking about that goldfish you need to flush down the toilet. Maybe you were thinking of the latest toxic spill off the coast of Alaska.

I bet you weren’t thinking of the world-renowned sport of dead fish fighting? I used to be an active player in this game. Were you?

Let me tell you about it. Years ago in camp, we would go on Delaware canoe trips. I loved them. About halfway into the trip, our leader, Rodney (not his real name, but his alter ego) would start attacking us with dead fish. You see, from the start of the trip, he’d be loading his vessel with dead fish.

Just at the right time, he would unleash his arsenal. He would start attacking his fellow canoeists. Rodney would paddle up to his victim and when their eyes would go astray, he’d smack them over the head with several dead fish. Then he’d paddle away.

One trip Bergy and I were doing really well. We were paddling hard and making great time. The next thing I remember was getting smacked in the head with multiple dead fish. Bergy was also attacked. We tried to clean ourselves up. But alas, we could not. Our only choice was to jump out of our canoe and take a swim in the Delaware.

Once we got back into our canoe, Rodney attacked again. These days, I think about dead fish fights way too often. I’m so up for one. Are you?

Last spring, I had numerous lunches and dinners with a wonderful family, whose male children were planning to go to summer camp. I gave explained the glory of a dead fish fight. I mean you should forget about color wars, hurdles, softball and cookouts. Real men have dead fish fights. They promised they would engage in one.

I anxiously awaited their return from camp. I finally saw them. They told me about all the fun they had in camp. They reported during their rafting trip, all they did was paddle and go for a swim. They left the dead fish in the water.

Oh well.

Do we live for likes?

I reluctantly joined Facebook in 2008. I resisted for quite a while.  Then I got an invite email saying two of your friends are on Facebook.  The two were paired together. One was a very pretty ex-coworker, who looked like she was ready for the beach-bleached blonde hair, low cut shirt and shorts. The other was a Chasidic rabbi, dressed in the traditional wear-black hat, white shirt, long black coat and beard. Seeing the two of them together prompted me to join.

I remember my early days. I got annoyed when people would write, “I just sipped a diet Coke” or “I’m doing laundry.” Who cares?  I wrote about my dismay. Within minutes, dozens of friends wrote on my wall that they were doing laundry or having a Coke.

 

Posts from friends include political rants, photos of their dogs, children, deceased relatives, vacations, cars and more. Much more.

I have friends who’ve posted throwbacks from way before Facebook burst onto the scene and way before people were regularly online.  Some complained they were devastated because no one commented or liked their photos or statements.

I post plenty of photos. I want to get exposure for them. Some have been taken at events of groups I belong to. Most were shot in parks and on the street.  I get some likes, reactions and comments.  Do I care? Not really.

Some of my friends who received no likes or were not satisfied with the comments picked up the phone to tell me about their disappointment. I tried to console them. But it was to no avail.  They said they were either going to pull their photos. Or never post pictures again. My response was no one would care.  They didn’t get it.

I know certain posts will get over 100 likes within seconds. Days, even weeks later, these folks will still be reeling in the likes.  The “hot properties” are often reluctant to have their photos taken. They know they will wind up on someone’s wall and the post will be shared.  At times, I’ve posted photos featuring two or three of the most liked people in one shot.

But most of my photos get zero likes or comments.  I post because I like the work I produced.  Someone told me to take pride in my work.  I try.

I’ve never been upset or counted likes. I will admit at some events, I may take more photos of the top likable folks. That is done to promote the event and inspire more people to show their own work.

Well, if you like my thoughts great. No worries if you don’t.