Why do you think your gear is inadequate?
Why are you unsatisfied with the places you go and the fish that you catch?
What has lead you to question your legal, preferred technique?
How much time have you spent angry in comment sections?
Why has another angler you’ve never met, and probably never will meet, made you upset?
Is it social media? Well, I think it is safe to say that social media is the opposite of fly fishing.
What do I mean by that? First an illustration. Literally.
Look at the picture at the head of this article. Notice anything fishy? On first glance, it is a pretty rainbow trout in a picturesque setting. Immediately, you realize that the thing is floating over the water. A quick, closer look also reveals some fin anomalies. It isn’t quite right. And that is because it was created with AI. It is a composite picture of all a trout might be or could be or, and this is where the analogy kicks in, some algorithm things an idealized version ought to be. Thus it isn’t real. It isn’t authentic. It is a perverted version of the experience we’re looking for. It is the opposite of real fly fishing.
Social media, bedfellow of AI, is not that different. Social media is not an accurate representation of the people who fish up and down your local stream. It is not a faithful picture of the ethos and culture of angling at large. It is the for the ‘gram, tik-tok-ified filtered and posed version of fly fishing… with a healthy serving of shaming and vitriol (right and left flavored) scooped on top.
Sad to say, but these days most of the legitimate content being forced into your feed happens to be directly from brands. At least there you know the angle, the slant, and the goal. The rest seems to foment the angst, fomo, and conflict that makes the fingers get a-tapping.
So what to do?
Use it. Don’t let it use you.
Know when to call it a night and turn it off.
Cultivate and value real relationships and real conversations so that the things of the net will grow strangely dim.
Disclaimer. Maybe you found this post on social media. “Ah – hypocrite!” you might retort. My three so what to do? statements still stand. But here is another aspect of this little corner of the fly fishing internet: I welcome legitimate conversation. So click that contact me button and express your questions, comments, or accusations.
Then put your phone on silent and go outside.