Subscribe

 

Subscribe is to receive or have access to something (such as a periodical or service) as part of an arrangement to receive a certain number of regular deliveries or a certain period of continuous access especially by prepayment. the number of people who currently subscribe to the magazine/site.

I used to subscribe to ‘Newsweek’ magazine that was mailed to me once a month. I subscribed to the newspaper I worked for to have it delivered to my doorstep every day. I subscribed to religion by tithe to the church every month. I subscribed to the cultural morals and traditions that were presented to me. I subscribed to the fashion norms and etiquette requirements. I subscribed to my family’s values and rules.

Some subscriptions cost me money. Other subscriptions cost me time wasted on what someone else defined as important. No one questioned if the words in the books were real or the pictures on the television were propaganda or if the music was just to keep the kids hopping and out of the way of the adult issues.

Then, the Internet came out with a promise of ‘free’ speech. Anyone from anywhere could type in anything and publish it to the entire globe. Like a conversation over the dinner table or at a cocktail party, only outlandish statements were questioned or politely ignored and overlooked. There were no background checks.

Readers seeking through this ever-expanding galaxy of thoughts start to follow (or be influenced) by writers of questionable knowledge. If it sounds like a stand-up comic, we will laugh. If it sounds like a college professor or some medical professional who instead of cutting and prescribing is propounding ideas and opinions of questionable value, we will listen and perhaps believe.

To subscribe to these thoughts and opinions will cost you. Give away your bank account number and email and whatever profile information you are willing to share with strangers. To subscribe means you’ve joined the club.

When you sign the marriage certificate you subscribe to the belief that love is eternal, but it will cost you. To subscribe to a relationship not only takes time and money, but may wane over the years to transform to a partnership that wasn’t originally intended.