And then all the other Sesame Street character accounts joined in:

And now I’m thinking maybe we’re gonna be okay… 💗

"So, boss... I may have messed up."

"What did you do, Ray?"

"Well, I made a post for Elmo saying 'Hi, how's everybody doing?'"

"I mean, that's kind of what we pay you for."

"Yeah, but.... <sigh> it turns out pretty much everyone is hanging on by a thread, badly enough that they needed to tell Elmo."

"Oh."

"God help me, boss, I think Elmo needs to be there for them."

I don’t have time to research how to best defend my data outside of the well known and standard options. I don’t have time to figure out a new program, or how to get into the code of my phone. I don’t know how to decide what search engine is better suited for my needs. I shouldn’t have to fortify myself and be suspicious of everything just so that I can safely do research for an essay I need to write for my study.

I followed a computer class a few years ago. I was pretty good at it. Then I don’t pay attention to technology for a few years and suddenly everything is different, worse, and wants to do you harm.

And I also know that I won’t be able to convince my family that they need to protect themselves. I couldn’t even talk my mom out of buying something from TEMU. And if their data gets stolen, my information will be in there too. Even if I do manage to protect myself.

as long as you smile and nod, people are satisfied. it’s just to show that you are nice and there with good intentions. we’re small in a big world and have to rely on other people to be decent to us. so we do our little human dance to each other to say, “i’m not here to hurt you. here’s something we have in common, like the weather or sports or itchy sweaters, so we both know we’re on the same team. we both agree on a basic fact, like that it is rainy or that being itchy is uncomfortable, and this proves we can get along. i’m being light-hearted and non-threatening right now.”

small talk isn’t to get to know a person. it’s just a greeting to affirm you’re buddies in the universe.

It's no wonder so many people are profoundly lonely and disconnected from their communities when maintaining a social life in what little free time we have is incredibly difficult. If you have kids, a second job, a very long commute, or other responsibilities, it's nearly impossible.