Let’s talk about Instagram Create Mode story memes. We’ve all seen them. Some of my favorites include “Hoes with no car always in the most Drama like bitch how did you even get over there” and “If I ever get rich all my loyal story likers gonna be taken care of I promise you that ‼️💯” On my Instagram, I am an avid user of Create Mode. My stories are almost exclusively Create Mode stories. These one-liners are some of my best work, and many of my followers on @joehoru seem to agree with me. (I’m basing this off the number of likes I get on my story.) But if we agree that these stories are one of the funniest forms of contemporary short-form comedy, why don’t more people use them?
To preface, I would like to admit that this article is a bit self-centered. I will be gassing myself up a bit, but I think it is warranted and for the greater good.
I am God’s strongest soldier in the fight for Create Mode stories. I’ve heard these stories are associated with “unhinged” thoughts. I realize that maybe not everyone is as unhinged as I am, but still, I wish more of you weren’t afraid to post your controversial and even unhinged opinions. I believe we can create a more tolerable and less annoying Yale population if we were all saying what we were actually thinking all the time. So what are we afraid of? If there is no consequence (unless you’re being a bigot) to posting our silly thoughts on our little corner of the internet, why don’t we do it more? After much reflection and discussion, I think I have discovered the fear: a tainted digital footprint.
It happens to everyone. You apply to a really important, boujee, fancy job/fellowship/internship, and you immediately turn all your accounts private in fear of being discovered by the hiring manager. What would they say if they knew you were getting drunk on the weekends and shitposting? If they knew you were posting thirst traps? All of these things are pretty normal college kid things to do, yet it is still scary to think about. Being perceived is scary. But dearest reader, I think there is an art to simply not caring. I’m not saying you shouldn’t take your job prospects seriously, but I do think you shouldn’t be afraid to be perceived as human. We are turning into cyborgs! We act one way in person, but a completely different way when we are online. This scares me. Does it scare you?
I will admit, I am fluent in LinkedIn. I can write a killer post about a menial event that I helped run. But I hate it. I don’t want to have to exaggerate the truth. I think we should reject professionalism. After all, it is a racial construct that is rooted in white supremacy. I realize that I am privileged in that I do not have to worry about entering a scary, extremely selective career field (thank you American Studies and Music) where my personality and online presence matter a huge deal (at least I hope not). But I think the intersection of professionalism and white supremacy deserves a separate, in-depth, well-researched article.
In my History of the American Circus class, we talk a lot about clowns and their purpose. In some ways, I am a clown. I like to entertain people and want to normalize laughing at people (in this case, I am the “people”). I treat my followers like my family. My nation, if you will. Thus I feel the need to entertain and engage my loyal followers. I’d like everyone who follows me to feel like they know me and can talk to me. To quote an Instagram Create Mode story I randomly found on Twitter, “My Posts Be Ruining My Life But Ion Care Yall Come First 💪🖤😢😭😭😭😭😭.” Life is more fun when you are silly and subversive. And so, dearest reader, I will conclude with this: if Create Mode stories have a million fans, then I am one of them. If Create Mode stories have ten fans, then I am one of them. If Create Mode stories only have one fan then that is me. If Create Mode stories have no fans, then I am dead. If the world is against Create Mode stories, then I am against the world.
