A pessimistic article from someone very positive

Today I read a quote from a great friend, that said: “If I had known how painful it would be to look at my favorite songs in spaces that are not mine I would not have added any noise with those who deserved my silence”.

These words caught me in an unexpected way. When I realized, I was already writing.

It made me think about shared information, about personal tastes and privacy. Makes me think about friendship and support. Also about this human social network that we are by carrying a phone in hand or in the pocket. Always available, always present. Never satisfied.

I’m reflecting on connections. Allow me to make a connection, then.

I was wondering, if design has a lot to do about listening carefully to what others have to say, to observe their actions and deliver solutions to them. Why do I have the impression that we are creating more problems, instead of solving the ones that already exist?

Why do I have the impression that I heard your pain, but sorry, I don’t have much time to give you right now. I have to work. Projecting my views of the world into the design of things, whether consciously or not. Here I am. Maybe later I will be back, when I find time to talk to you, and ask, are you ok?

Why do I feel like I am just a beginner in this practice of listening to the other? Haven’t I been part of this for such a long time? It sounds so powerful to say that I work on human-centered solutions.

Maybe, and hopefully, I’m iterating and constantly improving without knowing how much I’ve been learning from the others. But still, I have this self-centered view that I’m sharing knowledge. When in fact, I’m just an eternal apprentice.

I’m so tendentious. I keep asking questions that I answer myself. Let’s continue with this vanity for a while.

Why do I have the impression that the more we share, the more frustrated, insecure and lonely we feel?

I thought that society has taught us to be successful, healthy, well-connected and ambitious. Not unhappy and afraid. Where is your trust in the other? And please, where is your confidence in yourself?

Don’t try to fool me using this mask who says I feel perfectly fine. It’s 2020 and you can not leave the house without any mask on your face, anyway.

Why are you so unhappy about sharing such beautiful things that it makes you want them back? Just for yourself? Really?

Of course, I can and I will respect that. I just want to know why you feel pain in doing that.

Don’t hide behind screens, I’m here for you. On the other side of another screen.

I mean, I’m here for you only if I find time to be here for you, ok?

Stay safe.