On Identity and Community
----------------------------
Identity is not a buffet where you can pick and choose your attributes at will. It is an inherent part of who you are, shaped by numerous factors like your upbringing, cultural background, and life experiences. It does not exist in isolation but is deeply intertwined with the communities you're a part of. Your identity grows and evolves within the framework of this community, influenced by its norms, values, and shared experiences.
This is why the idea of self-defining one's identity in any way one desires can be seen as narcissistic. It dismisses the communal context and suggests that the world should adapt to an individual's chosen identity, no matter how detached it may be from reality. It implies that the individual is at the center of their own universe, and that their personal whims and wishes should override the societal reality around the individual.
Such a perspective demands that the community complies with an individual's self-definition, without considering the collective identity of the community itself. It places the individual above the group, neglecting the shared understanding and mutual agreement that are the building blocks of any society.
Identity, at its core, is a collaborative construct. It's a reflection of our collective existence, not just an individual attribute that one can morph as they please. The idea that we can arbitrarily define our identity disregards the importance of communal coherence and mutual values, debasing the morals that hold communities together.
jimmysong /
npub10v…psp42
2023-07-20 13:32:42
Author Public Key
npub10vlhsqm4qar0g42p8g3plqyktmktd8hnprew45w638xzezgja95qapsp42Seen on
wss://relay.noswhere.comPublished at
2023-07-20 13:32:42Event JSON
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"content": "On Identity and Community\n----------------------------\n\nIdentity is not a buffet where you can pick and choose your attributes at will. It is an inherent part of who you are, shaped by numerous factors like your upbringing, cultural background, and life experiences. It does not exist in isolation but is deeply intertwined with the communities you're a part of. Your identity grows and evolves within the framework of this community, influenced by its norms, values, and shared experiences. \n\nThis is why the idea of self-defining one's identity in any way one desires can be seen as narcissistic. It dismisses the communal context and suggests that the world should adapt to an individual's chosen identity, no matter how detached it may be from reality. It implies that the individual is at the center of their own universe, and that their personal whims and wishes should override the societal reality around the individual. \n\nSuch a perspective demands that the community complies with an individual's self-definition, without considering the collective identity of the community itself. It places the individual above the group, neglecting the shared understanding and mutual agreement that are the building blocks of any society.\n\nIdentity, at its core, is a collaborative construct. It's a reflection of our collective existence, not just an individual attribute that one can morph as they please. The idea that we can arbitrarily define our identity disregards the importance of communal coherence and mutual values, debasing the morals that hold communities together.",
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