To delete something you’ve made, is to limit the amount of interfaces that other people can perceive you. 

There are two extremes here. One is super private, that for all intents and purposes to everyone else, doesn’t exist.

And the other is super sharing. Posting every thought in a public space to form an almost complete view of their inner being. 

The human soul, at least for some, is nourished by recognition. If we don’t feel seen by anyone, I think that starves our soul. Or just has negative psychological effects if that language doesn’t phase you.

But opening up too much leaves you vulnerable to being torn down. In theory. This might not even be the case at this very moment. Maybe in the past you shared things and got mocked, but is that still true now? Is that the real reason you delete stuff?

I think for some, it’s less about threat avoidance and more about control. When you delete something, you have utter control over it. That feeling of control is increased by the fact that other people might have been using it. Maybe this is how online trolls get their kicks.

Because when you release something, it no longer is yours. Anyone can do anything with it now. It exists as something outside you, an entity you have created but isn’t yours…

Except that’s the tricky part. For some, they still have the umbilical cord attached to their work. The piece of themselves they put in it, still attached to the host’s blood circulation.

It’s the classic “got too attached to the art and now its a pain voodoo doll”. 

Man the pacing is really slow. *Ow*

What the hell is that artstyle *ouch*

Can we watch something else [sfx: *halflife dead sounds*]

This fear is only multiplied by the platforms you can post it on. Views, Likes, Reblogs, Retweets, Comments. All metrics you can judge your post with. A direct number for your success. The value of the part of yourself you put in the work. And even though you tell yourself that isn’t important, you still pay attention to it. And it chisels away at your soul. 

When you release something, and the reception is none/negative, seemingly the only thing that creation does now is cause you pain.

It’s only logical then that deleting it is incredibly empowering.

Removing the source of self-doubt and pain, a clean wipe of a huge source of worry and anxiety. Poof.

So why post stuff at all? What’s the point?

Well some people do genuinely have to remove information that is dangerous to have around.

1. It ensures that more art exists for more people, because if what you created is no longer yours, then anyone can do whatever with it. Remix, sample, repost, mock, evolve, each time being exposed to a new audience including the possible next remixer. Now this doesnt happen with everything, but the tenant of “it is no longer yours once you release it” allows this to happen without any philosophical friction. Making new art, everyone enjoy the art. Abolish Copyright law.
2. It is a descriptive observation that the thing youve created, now exists outside your mind, and inside the mind of a viewer. You’ve made them experience something, and now their experience is theirs. Not yours. 

So with that in mind, what you doing when your deleting stuff? Your stopping that whole process!

You are literally deleting art!

Doesnt that sound silly?

Now trust me im not coming at this from a all knowing deity perspective, I’ve done it and will do it again.

BUT. I recently saw a channel which I thought was super fucking cool get wiped, and I saw myself in it and I figured we could all use a pep talk for why keeping stuff up matters!

I have plenty of examples I can go through but Ill stick with the most pointent one

Theres an old video on my channel called “Top 10 ways to express the existential rage that eats away at you” or something, im not checking. I made that around the time I was dealing with some tough shit which impacted my mental state, and the script, like, reflects that. After a few months I got in a different headspace, and looking back was shocked at what i’d dared to say in that video. I didn’t want people to see it and think I was crazy or dangerous, so I took it down, breathing a sigh of relief that people didnt have to see me at such a low point. Obviously this is problematic on its own since everyone goes through though times but whatever, its gone.

But then one day, my brother hears that I took down the video. His reaction sticks with me. He was sad to see it gone. He told me that it had really struck a chord with him, and that he thought it was maybe my best video. I couldnt really believe it. It was the worlds edgiest top 10 list why the fuck would it be that good. But he urged me to put it back up, and due to enormous peer pressure, I did. Im joking.

This shows that while I was doing other stuff, that video had become a part of someones world, not in spite of what I hated about it, but because of it. People can like, even love what you make, if you have the courage to keep it out there.

Whats also important to mention that at the time, the literal feedback on the video wasn’t exceptional. The views, likes, comments, kind of par for the course. But you can’t trust those numbers! They’re lies! Do it because you want to, fuck the numbers! Etc etc

And hey, I kept the video up and the following year someone else told me it also struck a chord with them. 

Art is cool kids, you shouldn’t hide it.

Some common counter arguments:

But I’ve changed as a person, the things I made back then don’t reflect me.

Good thing its not about you, bucko. Remember, its not yours anymore, its everyone’s now. 

But my art sucks! I hate having it associated with me!

Same as before, while it carries your author tag, it is no longer yours. However this pain is super common and relatable. If it gets too much, don’t beat yourself up for relieving yourself from it by withdrawing, but its not a permanent solution. Take care and follow your bliss.

But the video is just 30 minutes of me saying my credit card details!

…ok probably do delete that one. Be selective of what personal details you share, and for what purpose.