"the unexamined life is not worth living" "be yourself" "go with the flow" & other shitty nonsense

[belenen]

I used to think that "the unexamined life is not worth living" was a great quote. Everyone should examine their lives, I thought, instead of just floating by and not considering things deeply. What I didn't realize was that those aren't the only two possibilities by a long shot, and while there are plenty of defaults who should stop floating on

Comments

[rainbowfox9]

This is a really, really good post and excellent thoughts and seriously well-verbalized something that people don't realize when thinking about these sentiments: there is only a certain part of the population that can (generally) 'do these and get away with them', to put it bluntly. I so seriously get this.

These sentiments are often written by people who are in an enormous amount privilege. (I don't know that I've ever used these sentiments myself, but I'm also aware that I have a great amount of privilege.)

May I ask what has propelled your deep interest in these social justice kinds of questions? I think there are some gaps in what I know of you since we were last so closely connected.

These seem to be more social-stratification questions/points.

I am trying to think up more of an educated/informed response and I am getting stumped.

[belenen]

It was something I was concerned with to a certain extent since I was about 16, but it was only about 3 years ago that I took a class on race and ethnicity and it taught me how much I didn't know, and how pervasive and urgent the problems are. Since then I got a lot more involved with social justice work. I guess what propels me to continue is just seeing things like a young black girl whose car broke down and so she went to ask for help and the homeowner shot her in the face when she knocked. And knowing that that isn't rare, violence is a very real threat for anyone who is not "on top." I am still in a stage where all I know to do is to speak up against oppression when I can, but I hope to find a good path for more action at some point, and I feel that my efforts have a ripple effect. So I have to do what I can. I write about it mainly because it affects my life daily.

This.

[ext_2450525]

This.... this.... a thousand times, this. Your perspective brings me joy, and reminds me to remain awake, even when the world beats me down and makes me want to return to slumber. I thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for writing this.

Re: This.

[belenen]

*hugs!*

[delicatexflower]

oh my god, james! yes!

i always thought "go with the flow" were the same sayings as "lighten up" or "get over it" -- it is never a straight flow. it's never a straight line. it curves, it turns and it goes up, down... you get what i mean.

i am always in surviving mode, my life has been trying to swim the current--sometimes i don't even have the energy of for self-examination. when the currents calm down--it's almost when it's over with, i am able to fully self-examination my life and that experience.

[theindiequeen]

I enjoyed this post.

I think "be yourself" is a weird phrase anyway. I see what the idea is, but we are ALL different people in different situations. I am a totally different person at work than I am on stage and I'm different with my partner than I am with my family, etc. etc. Everyone is constantly shifting. Does that mean we all have "fake work selves" and "fake family selves," etc.? I don't think so. I think you can play many different roles and still be authentic.

I feel like "go with the flow" is mainly intended in specific situations--like if someone is freaking out about plans being changed and someone else says "hey, just go with the flow." They aren't speaking to an overall state of the world, but rather, that particular situation. I still think it's pretty stupid, though, because when has saying "go with the flow," "chill out," or "calm down" ever actually worked? I know I certainly don't find those phrases to be effective!

[raidingparty]

Stuff I had seldom considered all the way through, thanks.

Another problem with a related mindset: "Do What You Love and the Money Will Follow"... it devalues labor, and tells people who are struggling that they're to blame for not picking a happy job.