First, read this: http://www.newstatesman.com/laurie-penny/on-nerd-entitlement-rebel-alliance-empire
There are a lot of great points and I do agree with the general view on society's current state/situations (there's a lot of privilege out there with plenty of room for improvement), but I take issue with the general tone and construction of the piece in that it continues to generalize both men and women and only comments/calls out that SOCIETY is wrong. To paraphrase the piece, SOCIETY is bad due to patriarchy, as such, BOTH men and women are flawed (but nerdy white males have it easier than they're possibly willing to acknowledge) - I have no issue with this statement and actually recommend reading her link towards the end of Rebellions and Empires.
What I take issue with is that I'm getting tired of statements/pieces with this message because they present no real solution nor do they go to the actual source of the problem (regardless of who wrote the article). They generalize people in the sense that they are a complicit (or active) part of society and society is the problem. EVERYONE is thus inherently bad.
Sure, they acknowledge that everyone has a different life which may comparatively be difficult, but continue to generalize and inadvertently be negative. It's a backhanded, unintentional if not direct, insult, as opposed to being something more positive, uplifting and eye opening.
We need to more directly call out the root of the issue - the INDIVIDUAL. Society is made up of a large number of individuals. We do not individually act as a society. We are not psychic, even if there's occasionally a group mind. The INDIVIDUAL is what we can change. Like a pebble thrown into calm water, if we can change an individual it can have a ripple effect to hopefully spread more positivity. To walk among a society composed of beacons of light would be simply illuminating.
Be a good HUMAN, not just a good man or a good woman. Treat others as you want to be treated. Take more confidence and comfort in yourself and your individuality. Know that at the end of any day, the lowest common denominator is YOU. Actively LISTEN to each other. Maintain a POSITIVE ATTITUDE, for attitude is one of the best things we can control. Build positive habits. Acknowledge that we are flawed and imperfect. Take responsibility for all of the good and bad in your life and reflect on how and where you can change and grow. Soak it all in and reflect. Remove the bad.
For better or worse, we're currently in a CULTURE OF BLAME, with the center of the blame being who's currently in power in our society/culture - heteronormative white males. There's a lot of blame going around, on oppression (by minorities) and victimization (by majorities). I frequently see a constant failure to accept any negative responsibilities, regardless of side - and both sides are contributing to the blame/negativity. The amount and degree of that doesn't even really matter, everyone has some degree of it and all that matters is the individual level.
There will probably always be differences between us humans - sex, gender, sexuality, ethnicity - but we're all human. We're all individuals with our own unique backgrounds and identities. We all have difficulties, some more than others. We should be open and honest in discussing these situations, but not as a means to pass blame, simply to acknowledge the difference and learn how to change and improve. How can I as an individual be more empathetic, compassionate, helpful - how can I be more HUMAN?
Change can be very difficult and hard. We're often so caught up in emotions, technology, digital communication as a CULTURE OF DOING that we fail to act as a CULTURE OF BEING. The kneejerk reactions need to stop. We need to pause and reflect. Check ourselves and our thoughts.
The internet in this GOLDEN DIGITAL AGE is a great power that allows us to communicate on an instant global level. It's a great power that needs great responsibility and we have not been using it properly. We are perpetuating the fast spread of negativity because we like DRAMA. Take a look at pretty much any news outlet - sensational negativity. Take a look at all of the hotbed issues of the past few years and see what difference we as a society are actually making, how quick we are to forget - Occupy Wall Street, Ed Snowden's leak, Sandy Hook, Trayvon Martin, Catcalling, Gamergate, Ferguson.
Communication is very important. Incredibly important. RIDICULOUSLY important. It's what makes us the most advanced species on the planet, the most advanced species in the currently known UNIVERSE. Yet, what is it we're communicating, through both ACTIONS and WORDS?
It's January 1st, 2015. A fresh day of a fresh year. Let's pretend every day is a new day and new year. Let's focus on the positive and wash away the negativity of the past. Every day IS a new day. Every day IS a chance to be a new and better person, a new and better version of you. This year, as every year, I choose to make my New DAY'S Resolution a simple one:
Be a good human. Be the best me possible.
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