Hello everyone,
I'm so very sorry … I feel horrible doing this, but I have no choice. You see, I have published my first book on Amazon/Kindle! This piece (and many others) had to be taken down because they do not allow published material to be available online for free. (Go figure) I wanted to leave the shell of the posts because I felt compelled to leave all your helpful and loving comments. (Silly sentimental, I know), but I also didn't want to just have the pieces disappear without an explanation. I feel bad enough as it is!
I owe ALL of you so, SO much for all of your reads, love, and support. It was YOU that gave me the gumption to FINALLY get off my **** and publish! Thank you all for the warm comments, camaraderie, and encouragement! I will still be here, reading, uploading and just being the Rascal that I am. How could I EVER leave you guys?
The book is called “The Way I See It – FictionPhilosophySoul Food” and it will be FREE for the first few days on Kindle Select, so watch for it, if you are interested. I hope that you go and grab it. If you do, I would also hope that you find it worthy, you would leave me a good review. That will help me get in the public eye! Soon afterward (2-3 days or so), it will be available in paperback.
Find the book(s) here: www.amazon.com/author/jeff.gaines
Or find the book(s), and all about me, here: www.JeffGaines.world
Soon after, I also hope to have my first novel (a supernatural thriller), called “Wanderer” available as well!
Wish me luck!
Big, Biggest Love,
Jeff Gaines
This is my generational piece about the sad state of affairs that (anti)social media has brought upon the youth of today. I am appalled that the politicians and bureaucrats would rather make gun laws than address this horrible scourge. IMHO, THIS is the REAL root of the problem causing these mindless shootings.
And NOBODY is addressing this!
WHY?
If in the name of commerce, then we have slipped into a very much darker time than even I am imagining right now ...
Their obsession with this mindless, empty lifestyle has made them all but sociopathic. They engage in whisper campaigns and organized, yes ORGANIZED, bullying in order to keep themselves and their "followers" in some sort of twisted and depraved "pecking order" on a scale the likes of which no generation before has EVER witnessed. It has, and continues to, cause the victims of this pack mentality to commit harm to others in backlash and even SUICIDE to be freed from its hateful and tormenting assault.
Their starving search for acknowledgement, recognition, validation and respect has led them to posting "shock"-type behaviors, like showing their "junk", or some ill-gotten loot or another person in a compromising or embarrassing situation ... and even threatening (and now carrying out) SHOOTINGS! All in their screaming request for attention.
BUT ... this need can NEVER be fulfilled by a cold, glass screen. The very thing they are seeking these desperately needed things from IS, in fact, the VERY THING that is, and will continue to, KEEP them from it!
They are losing touch with their own feelings and sadder still, what it means to have a real life and a real friend!
I've YET to see a screen that can reach out and give you a HUG!
Also, this work has NOTHING to do with the Band called Company of Thieves. They are good friends of mine and I speak to Marc, the guitarist all the time. I simply "stole" their moniker (and the very idea of that phrase) and a few trivia's about them, mischievously, to use as a vehicle to tell this tale about how the youth of today don't HAVE friendships, they STEAL them, literally AND figuratively!
I LOVE the way it turned out. It was perfect.
If you've never heard of them, you will. If you don't wish to wait, just Google them or better still, search for a playlist or their new EP "Better Together" on YouTube. They are one of my all-time favorite bands and just NOTHING short of AMAZING!
You can (and will) thank me later!
