This Guy Going Viral For Living In The Matrix, With A Normal 9-5 Life, Is Trying To Have It Both Ways

Yesterday, JackMac wrote a blog about this guy on TikTok whose life is being mocked for being shitty.

I watched the video. Then I watched some more of his videos. Then I had to toss the Aspirin down the toilet and grind the rubber tub stopper up in the Vitamix to lower the likelihood of taking my life in the tub. Why? Because these videos are utterly demoralizing. 

What are we talking about here? The dude sets the most melancholy music to a montage of his "day," which always seems to start with him hitting an inhaler and then making hand gun/cowboy face at the mirror as if to say, "you got this, buddy." 

That is the universal symbol of someone trying to convince himself that today will be different, things will get better, keep trying. This dude is presenting two completely contradictory messages through his page. The captions would have us believe that life is good, albeit normal or even mundane. But the terribly sad music, the pacing, the editing, the expressions on his face, his tech pant/nike polo outfits, his horrific diet of processed carbs and melted cheese, saying the Whataburger drive-thru lane is his happy place… come on. 

For once, TikTok's community guidelines overseers and I agree:

As far as I can tell, "this activity" is living a life where you hear sad music playing behind everything you do. It's somehow suggesting that the banality of a 9-5 as an insurance employee is OK while also filming yourself looking hollow and robotic. 

I agree with Jack Mac that there is nothing wrong with this dude's life, on paper at least. But I've never been more confused by someone's messaging. Imagine if an obese person was trying to deliver the message that life is about being comfortable in your own skin, big is beautiful, body-positivity, etc. But they set that message to a TikTik of themselves binge-eating bagel bites with tears running down their chins and R.E.M's "Everybody Hurts" playing in the background? 

Not… not sure we'd buy it. 

Anyway. This guy caught my attention. I did scroll long enough to find this video:

And of course, now I feel like I need to go get my first tattoo. "The grass is greenest where you water it." I feel like a middle school girl. This dude is speaking directly to me. Fuck's sake, thank GOD JackMac blogged him. I've never needed this prophet more than I do right now, at this moment in my life. 

PS- what's the messaging behind the delicacy with which he packs and removes his laptop? He puts that thing in there like it's a bomb. What does it all mean? If you're depressed, do you take better care of your electronics?