Don't be yourself
Dear Blog Diary,
When I was young, an old and wiser friend told me “don’t be anti-stuff. Be pro-stuff.”
People often identify with what they oppose or dislike rather than what they support and love. Years ago I often found myself saying “modern rap is wack” when in reality I should have been saying “I’m really just more of a 90s guy.” People often identify more with what they oppose, anti-Trump, anti-racism, anti-facism.
I actually believe my friend to be wrong. I don’t believe in being pro-stuff. I don’t believe in being anti-stuff. I believe in being nothing.
It’s a difficult concept because there are a host of things that I love identifying as, an American, a man, (I really hope) an intellectual, but in practice I am striving to identify as nothing, or simply Eric. Without question, I am an American male. This is true, but in identifying as such lies the problem.
The issues comes when identifying as something, (apparently) there comes an automatic opposition that society gives us. You’re a man? Crazy extremist feminists think you’re the devil simply because of what you are as opposed to your character. You’re black? Basically everyone hates you.
Some of these oppositions may even have validity. The purpose of my position in being nothing or identifying as nothing is that I don’t want to have an opposition even on a subconscious level. Humbly and harmoniously, I just assume everyone likes me and is rooting for me to win. I strive to be that for every person I meet.
I’m not sure when this started but I do believe society has become a dynamic of “this is what I support/am/love/identify with and if you do not support this/me/us, you are the opposition and I am automatically treating you as such. Let’s forget the fact that people can be friends with people who have dynamically different views than them, but leaving out views, I believe it has more to do with values. Christians are often horrible people that if they are like Jesus, I wouldn’t want to spend a minute with him. Atheists are often kind, considerate, and respectful.
Now keep in mind if you’re now thinking that morality should be the focus, you haven’t been paying attention. Identify as nothing! Because even in the pursuit of high morality, you’re now taking the position of the virtuous and your opposition are the low morality individuals. You feed into your ego on your high horse and automatically view others differently.
Be nothing. Identify as nothing. Examine your character on a moment by moment basis. Treat every person as simply a person, and ultimately as I’ve said in a previous post as my philosophy for life: Don’t be a dick.
Cheers,
Eric