The Exclusivity of Expression
There is this interesting relationship between being able to afford and being able to express. obviously there is more to it than just this. But when you remove money from it then it is apparent there is a form of gatekeeping surrounding the ability to do it well or at all.
Being fluent in a digital environment costs money. It's taken me a good 6 years to get to this point, and I still consider myself like at a meaning I can pretty much convey what I want to convey with nuances of a native speaker. Though I will still stumble. On top of the time investment, there was a financial one. I went to university where I studied an adjacent form of Computer Science (Cognitive Science) Then I went to a bootcamp later in my career to upskill further in the nuances of web development.
Before Computers
Extending this beyond the current iteration of this -- literacy in general is another form of this. There was a point in time where most people couldn't read or write. One's ability to express and influence and be influenced was limited to just their immediate surroundings. Now with most people literate to a basic degree, we have introduced another layer to it. Literacy to another cast of people that require money and means to afford it.
Accountability
All this is to say, I am humbled to be here, in a situation where I can express, and see it as an obligation to share that. To realize my wealth and privilege to be here shouldn't be taken for granted.