Obesity of experience

This is an interesting insight from the latest Dense Discovery newsletter:

It’s fair to say, we ‘suffer’ from an obesity of experience: travel is so abundantly available to the privileged, it’s lost much of its original meaning and appeal. Every time I open Instagram, I’m in the middle of some oversaturated, stylised travel spectacle. What used to be about broadening one’s horizon and enriching one’s worldview is now more about looking sophisticated or adventurous on social media or momentarily escaping the gruelling reality of the modern job world.

Now, Kai’s writing in the context of travel, but consider this: what’s the role of experiential journalism, when we’re bombarded with experiential writing, imagery and video vis social media?

The obvious answer: look for the sorts of experiences that the shiny, happy world of commerce-driven influencers aren’t ever going to do. Think if reporting those experiences brings value, and if it is likely to be of interest to enough people to make it worth your time.

And then get on and do it.