A Culture of Followers

I am concerned about our “follower culture.” Do we really want to encourage Americans to be a nation of followers and influencers. What about people who think for themselves, have their own ethical compass and values? Of course, even if one is their own person, they are likely to seek out a connection with those with whom they have common cause or interest and often, in these groups there are leaders. But do they need to be “followers” of an “influencer”?

Honestly, it’s a dilemma for me. As a writer who has written five books, I would love to have people read them. I do want readers, but do I need ‘followers.” That is not what I want. I just want people to read my books as I read other people’s books and take from them insights that resonate, reflections that matter, facts that speak truths, and some ideas they either totally disagree with or cannot get their heads around, or their hearts. Or be entertained.

I might not be so concerned about this if I had not lived through a time when people in a cult committed mass suicide for a leader, twice, or heard about Donald Trump saying people would still follow him if he shot someone on the streets of New York. I might be okay with Americans as “followers” if it were not for the fact that Democracy requires people who think for themselves.

Okay, I may be taking the whole thing too seriously or giving examples of followers that are extreme. But I am experiencing a Congress in which we have followers who cede power to the executive branch of government who will not even challenge an unpopular war that is killing civilians and bringing down the world’s economy. A Congress that continued to fuel Israel with arms when they were committing genocide. We do not need followers. We need principled representatives who have enough integrity and courage to act out of their own human decency.

Then again, maybe a follower in a modern sense is just a fan. Maybe it is just an internet thing that helps us sort out which posts we want to follow, to read, or listen to, or support. We cannot read everything, but this person appeals to me, either as an artist, politician, thinker, etc. So now, we can talk about fans as followers, which they are, in a way.

But no. I cannot talk myself out of not liking the concept of being a “follower.” Language has implications even when they may not be intended consciously. We will wake up one day and find ourselves to be a nation of followers. Rife for dictators.

The world is not made up of important people and ordinary people, of leaders and followers. The world is made up of all ordinary people who have gifts and talents, personalities, and connections. We all live in systems and cultures that need some people to take leadership roles and responsibilities, some people to rise to artistic fame and entertainment prominence. But they are ordinary people like the rest of us. As a Minister, I would never think of congregants as my followers. If we are followers, we are all followers together of Jesus Christ as Christians. Others have their own greater loyalties.

It is important for all of us to use our gifts for the good and enjoy them. Some people get to be famous and others, while not in the spotlight, are influencers in their own way in their own sphere.

The problem with the growing trend toward most of us being followers of influencers is the harm it does to all of us. It leads us down the path to worshipping power, wealth, or fame or looks.

Let’s acknowledge that power, wealth, and fame exist, but let us not idolize those things or the people on whom those things are conferred. Let us honor our ordinary humanity and all the acts of valor, or contributions to art, or service to society we are all providing. Let us keep “influencers” in their place. They are just one of us.

We could try on some other concepts for size. We can be fans without being followers. We can be supporters without being followers. We can be part of a community without worshipping its leaders. We can be our own people. We can be leaders without being influencers, we can be artists without being in the spotlight. We can be entertaining without being influencers. Etc.

As a woman, I am familiar with the idea society once held that women are happy and satisfied when they live lovingly through others, husbands, children, fathers. Followers and supporters, auxiliaries. Thank heaven we have moved beyond that or can. Love entails letting the best in all of us shine and be nourished.

I do not expect to change the language that has developed around internet sites and systems. But if there are some people who are on the same page as I am and interested in the same things and committed to the same values let us be companions on this journey through life without being followers or influencers. Resist being a follower, or heaven help you, an influencer.

I will say it again, language matters. It can contribute to shaping our lives. If you are going to follow someone on the internet, don’t be a “follower.”