Something I’ve struggled with for ages is the concept of giving feedback to people about their products and services. I’m not sure why; laziness is very likely one part of it. But in the past when I bought things from big-name websites I’d delete their survey emails unread. When at a restaurant I’d be at a loss as to what to put on the questionnaires they passed out.

But something’s changed.

Something very big and political has changed, and you wanna talk about “trickle down” anything, that’s what happened to me in terms of giving criticism.

Make a phonecall to a representative. Write a review for a book online. Write a letter of protest or support. Donate to a cause. Comment on the fare at a restaurant to the staff.

Is this a turning thirty thing? Is it a growing up thing?

Who knows, but I’m riding this wave of conscious purchasing and reflection and enjoying it.

I can hear people in the distance saying, “Nobody cares what you have to say. You’re a drop in the ocean. It takes more than just one voice to change anything.”

There’s a grain of truth in that. I’m sure I’m not saying anything original or inspiring when I leave messages or make phonecalls. Still.

Do you have any idea how happy artists are when you reblog their work? How excited authors are to get a review–especially the first review on a given piece of work? 

Staff members brighten when I compliment their service/the food. Bloggers respond with thanks when I post even a brief message in their comments section.

It’s not so much about what I say, but the fact that I said anything at all. It’s that the person who created something or is doing something knows another human being is out there acknowledging them. 

I’m reminded of a line from the musical 1776, where a character is singing, “Is anybody there? Does anybody care? Does anybody see what I see?” 

Yes, we’re here. Yes, we care. And we may not see exactly what you do, but that’s why we share our views with each other, right?