Nice Costume, Dude

Halloween has finally taken its throne as America’s greatest holiday. A night so good, many college students stretch out multiple costumes over the course of a three-day period. In 2020 though, Halloween grew in such popularity that many folks across our great nation never stopped celebrating. Proof ? Oh I don’t know, how about the guy with the Viking horns that stormed the Capitol? Or maybe the army of disgruntled baristas who wore riot gear (paired with their favorite Hot Topic beanie) in Portland to “fight against fascism.”

Interestingly enough, our new found love for roleplay in America allowed the riot baristas to be heralded as “courageous soldiers” in some circles. The surely unemployed Viking man from Phoenix, Arizona (a region suited better for twenty year-olds wielding their dad’s American Express card at the local Vineyard Vines dealer) is a “Patriot” in other fringe markets of the internet.

At face value, it is easy to dismiss all parties involved in this never-ending Halloween celebration as non-contributing parasites, who are doing little more than sucking the life out of our once vibrant and joyous Twitter feeds. On the contrary, a more in-depth look at the situation reveals an unsettling horror developing within our society.

Social Media is creating an entire generation of people who believe that what they do is actually important enough for other people to care. Such a belief system is exactly how year-round Halloween is born, as people hope to be recognized on the internet more so than earn a paycheck or pay their rent.

It is a dangerous line we walk, when an 18 year-old from California with a personality built entirely upon the painting of his fingernails, coupled with an eyebrow slit, becomes a viral sensation and a “fashion icon,” all because he lip syncs for TikTok in his LED-lit room, alone, from the hours of 11 AM to 8 PM everyday.

Maybe, just maybe, when we tell people that they are just one pair of tight jeans, and an impassioned performance of the “Renegade” away from social stardom, we end up creating a world where people are more excited about being the first guy to wear viking horns in the Capitol, than they are about getting their taxes filed on time. Maybe when we put “e-boys” on pedestals, we end up with baristas in flak jackets.

I don’t know, I am just connecting some dots. Maybe I am wrong, or maybe I am right. I will suggest though, that in 2021, we all take a deep breath, and maybe step away from the world of virality for a while. Let’s enjoy Halloween at the end of October, and then keep the costumes in a box for the other 364 days of the year.