F

urther to my previous mini-rant on the value of influencers and the patent stupidity of their very existence; why is there even a need to invoke personal hubris and vaingloriousness in the belief that one had treasures to bestow upon the rest of humanity? We are surely all influencers, nicht wahr? If I pass the mustard, I seriously desecrate the breathability of a given space. If I smile at strangers, I most certainly impact any subsequent interaction with them. If I mistreat another person, the influence may be significant.
Put briefly, we are all influencers and to promote oneself as such is as absurd as declaring oneself a guru of hair curling, butt piercing, or celery licking. We influence those around and at a remove from us every day and in every way. At least we should . . .
We have had influencers throughout history, although we may not have recognised them as such. Jesus and Gandhi spring to mind upon first thought, but in all fairness, so do Hitler and Trump. But there is a difference. All of the above examples share a glaring difference from modern day influencers. They ‘promoted’ their ideas with the goal of advancing their beliefs, regardless of inherent social value.
Simply put, modern day influencers are invariably looking for a coat-hook upon which to hang their egos and Andy Warhol would have loved them and their shallow criteria for fifteen minutes of fame.