I complain a lot about the assholes, trolls, yentas, conspiracy theorists, amateur shrinks,  bigots, windbags, and political fanatics on social media. I want to do something positive on my blog. I want to rebound from the anger.

I’ve also been reminded in recent months that when used thoughtfully –  something more constructive than just tearing people down and telling them what to do – social media has helped me to find community in a new and significant way.

I want to use this technology to pull thoughtful and civil people into regular face-to-face conversations and try to humanize the process..

This new experience in the community has renewed my fading faith in the possibilities for good.

I joined the Good Garden People (my name) community this summer; we just found each other – the miracle of digital communications when used well. This technology was never meant to be a tool for lying, conspiracies, hatred, and argument. It can be much better.

Instead of telling each other what we are doing wrong, we can help one another restore community. In the case of my garden, I used it to identify flowers and learn how to care for them.

That is a community I have come to love, one which has welcomed me and which I can join.

I thank my raised garden beds for this. The garden people have helped me in every way, from beginning to end, without making me feel inept or stupid. For a newcomer, that is pretty beautiful. It’s the best of social media.

They even grasp Dyslexia and how it has affected my work.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve found another new community of good people eager to help, not hurt.

The Covid community is a group of people who have Covid or had it and offered practical support and valuable information. They know when I am down, cheer me when I am up and give me useful new things to understand and think about.

Judy is one of them. She sent me this message yesterday:

“I have been very comforted by the details of your Covid illness and recovery because they are the same as mine. We got it at the same time in similar circumstances…crowds (mine was on a Road Scholar trip to Newfoundland…eating in restaurants with other people), and our journey has been so similar I could have written your Covid blog myself.
It apparently hits people in their vulnerabilities…ours are our lungs, congestion, head miseries, coughing…low stamina, fatigue…
I think we are both turning the corner and clawing our way back.
I have appreciated your being with me in my misery…without knowing it.
We are a couple of old baboons doing the best we can.”

I appreciated this message, apart from being called an “old baboon.” I’ll have to think about that. There is something to it.

It is comforting to know that other people are going through the same experience and sharing what they know.

Covid has given me more time to think than I usually have, and I have many new ideas about time, the blog, and my readers. I’m going ahead with one if the technology and software work out.

I’ve begun planning for a weekly feature here called “Talk With Me,” where I set up a weekly Zoom chat with 10 to 12 people who read the blog or follow my life and work and would like to talk to me about those things.

For this to work, it needs to be kept small and manageable.

I’d limit the number of people, so everyone gets a chance to ask questions or offer thoughts of their own, and the session would last either 45 minutes or an hour.

If it works, I’ll undoubtedly consider expanding it.

The idea is for people who have questions to get a chance to ask them; I’m not looking for debates or arguments but listening, communication and thoughtfulness. I welcome ideas as well.

We are all weary of arguments and grievances. Here is a chance to build community in a new and positive way.

I think I’ll have people submit their questions or comment on subjects in advance so I can be prepared and keep the talk balanced and fair to everyone, and also so I can keep the angry, arrogant,  political, and disturbed off the sessions. I want this to be a safe community.

I absolutely will censor rudeness and cruelty,  totally and ruthlessly. People need to feel secure, unlike Amazon, Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok; I will take responsibility for that. (I’m just making a point, not equating my blog with those behemoths.)

I hope to build a more cohesive community around the blog, which had grown exponentially since 2007, when I started publishing it.

I’m meeting with some tech advisers to flush out the details next week. I’ll keep you posted. The idea is to offer a link where people can sign up for the sessions, which will be scheduled weekly on the same day and at the same time.

I’m encouraging Maria to do the same thing with her blog readers; she’s thinking about it.

If you wish to let me know your thoughts, you can comment in a blog post or e-mail me at [email protected].

That’s [email protected]. I can’t always answer my e-mail, but I always read it if it’s civil.