Liking Is For Cowards Analysis

Liking is for cowards, go for what Hurts -

Jonathan Franzen’s work ‘Liking is for Cowards. Go for What Hurts’ is structured around the idea that humans live in a world where increasingly the most important relationships in our lives, are the superficial and short lived ones we have with our tech devices. I agree with Jonathan’s point that that amongst a world of techno-consumerism we hide our real selves, and that we portray the version of ourselves that we think is going to be the most likeable. Although I do not agree with the romantic lens in which he writes about this contemporary issue through, framing his argument around the issue of love, and the love we have for our narcissistic selves. The reason that people ‘dedicate their existence …show more content…
A true narcissist is someone who so invested in themselves that they are oblivious to the opinions of other people. I would argue the opposite of that Jonathan has stated, that in fact social media and technology awakens our dormant insecure self. The instagram pages we follow and the facebook personalities that youth idolise are all immensely popular. Driving the feeling that if we cannot crack a certain amount of likes, or views on our social media material, that we are not up to society's standards. This exists to the point that regardless if you like the photo or not you will pull it down, to avoid the embarrassment of being socially irrelevant. Franzen’s idea that people being liked for fake social media persona leads to depression for the lack of appreciation for one's true self, is thought provoking but not the reality, especially millennials, a generation that has grown up with social media. Obviously I can’t speak on the behalf of every individual, but what I have found in my own experience is that social media acceptance is a distraction, an escape from the person we actually look at in the mirror. It has become a way of feeling a false sense of achievement, every like makes us feel appreciated and valued. The feeling is addictive, which explains why to a certain degree why so many people refresh their facebook feed …show more content…
Although I realise this sounds extremely cliche, it couldn’t be any closer from the truth. Franzen’s ideal that technology has a dialectical relationship with the demise of real love is only somewhat true for those who lack the ability of ever putting their phone down. For the rest of us, the majority. The role that technology will play in our day to day lives will only grow more influential, but we will adapt and learn how to use technology in moderation. Because after all we are only alive for a while, and before long we will die, so let's embrace technology, stay connected, be more efficient, and use our devices in moderation, to really make the most of the time that we