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The Joy of Not Responding
Non-responsiveness is often viewed negatively, as it evokes the pain of being ignored. This work seeks to shift the focus from the threats posed by disrupted communication to the joy found in choosing not to respond. In an age dominated by the need to connect, can withdrawal serve as a respite from the demands of 21st-century transparency? Is unavailability a necessary outcome of an emotional landscape driven by independence and optimization? Not every expression of disconnection is neutral. Without idealizing disengagement or romanticizing the analogue, the text explores the pleasures of severing ties, challenging hierarchies, and subverting responsibilities. Some articles delve into how feminist discourses address the pressure to remain available, while others examine cultural phenomena like ghosting that arise from new technologies. The disruption between sender and receiver raises questions about the very nature of reading. From 18th-century German epistolary novels to contemporary American short fiction, the literature analyzed reveals significant blind spots in narration and language. This exploration proposes a new framework for understanding the core issues of late capitalist society, illuminating the connections between economic, romantic, and emotional realms in previously overlooked ways.
