the world is in splintering mode with people turning against each other over race, religion and politics at a rate that is still accelerating. how did we get to a point where nearly everyone on earth can feel this?

traditional media blames social media, arguing that the unifying force of a couple of news outlets kept us all on the same page. as self serving as that is i think they hit the right vein - only it goes much deeper.

a bad trip is the dark contrast to the self awareness of a good trip and if you've ever had one you know how alienating it can be. the existential madness you are experiencing is difficult to share with anyone, even your old rational self.

a different layer of consciousness emerges so profound the basic assumptions of your existence are called into question: can i stop breathing? is what im seeing real? who am i, really? every sensory input is subject to this new, unwelcome perspective. awareness of the mess you are in can be terrifying and a seemingly inescapable loop defines your bad trip.

the alternate reality offered by social media effects brain chemistry in a more sustainable manner, reaching the baser emotions through the classic plot devices of conflict and anticipation. though less penetrating than psychedelics, social media is far more addictive, with hours spent in its reality every day.

the collection of billions of brains that we call society is now wired into a network completely changing our view of reality. the algorithms that reinforce our most manipulable feelings form the queasy onset of this mutual trip.

as society enters the limbo between old and new realities it experiences the same panic, dissolution and alienation of the bad psychedelic trip. we don't know what to believe and fear rules our actions.

it seems we were better off before we looked into ourselves too deeply but there is no shaking this off. we can't go back to what we thought was rationality.