May vinyl challenge and the importance of communities

It is Mental Health Awareness week this week, and this year they have the theme of community. As the Mental Health Foundation states:

“Being part of a safe, positive community is vital for our mental health and wellbeing. We thrive when we have strong connections with other people and supportive communities that remind us, we are not alone. Communities can provide a sense of belonging, safety, support in hard times, and give us a sense purpose.” 

Which got me thinking about a current activity I’m engaged in over on Instagram. I run a vinyl account there (I know, male mid-life crisis alert!), and every year there is a May Vinyl Challenge, where participants are given a theme for each day. This is organised by Jenn D’Eugenio who is also the founder of the fabulous Women in Vinyl, which promotes women working in the record industry.

It’s a fun challenge to take part in, and makes you root through your collection from different perspectives. But what it also highlights is what a nice community the vinyl one is on Instagram. It is almost entirely supportive and encouraging (at least from my experience). People rarely diss your tastes, and write ups are intelligent, thoughtful and respectful of artists (except Coldplay). Of course, my experience as a white man may not be universal, but I don’t see the toxic comments on other’s posts that you encounter elsewhere.

The point here is not to convince you that vinyl people are special, but rather that these fine connections are valuable. I don’t need them to become deeper, lifelong friendships. I enjoy having some occasional chats about records, and seeing the offerings from others. It could be anything – crochet, cheese tasting or matchstick architecture. When we are constantly battered by online presence, and a constant doom news cycle, cultivating these communities is not only a nice antidote, it may be essential.

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