5 ms·

"Be authentic" is not good advice to adults. To kids, sure. But you also have to explain to them that as an adult, nobody cares for your search for authenticit

"Be authentic" is not good advice to adults. To kids, sure. But you also have to explain to them that as an adult, nobody cares for your search for authenticity, you're expected to show up and work. There are too many people who are flaky these days who all think they're special, I think it's related to the wave of "be authentic" advice out there. Edited to not come across as negative - people are real sensitive about that.

codingdave 8y ago
I don't think you and I are talking about the same kind of authenticity.
- analognoise 8y ago
  Do you mean a codified and consistent set of actions and beliefs that we recognize as ourselves and appreciate? Like people who think "I should stand up for myself at work more" and it causes internal strife?
- xt00 8y ago
  I tend to put on opposite ends of the spectrum being strategic and authentic. Authentic interactions with people at work generally are better for everybody if you are in an environment that is compatible with that. Many environments are not so you have to be more reserved and strategic about what you say and how you interact with people. Being authentic with people outside of work is not terrible advice. Allowing people to know you are having some emotion such as happiness or fear or sadness allows people become closer to you and you to them. Mr Rogers talked a lot about that—expressing how you feel about things. I think many people misconstrue mr Rogers to be all about the “you are special” thing. But his target demographic was kids who likely were not that well off and had not great family lives. Having somebody who tells you that you are not a piece of trash probably helped a lot of kids.
jmcqk6 8y ago
>nobody cares for your search for authenticity, you're expected to show up and work. You are equating being authentic with being irresponsible, and those are not the same things at all.
- analognoise 8y ago
  Good point. I've only ever heard the "be authentic" bit from irresponsible people (or adults talking to children). The adults who took it seriously are naive underachievers (obviously imo). That's only anecdata though, I should qualify and separate that out when discussing it; thanks for helping my crystalize the thought.
ravenstine 8y ago
There's a difference between being unique and being authentic, but you are somewhat conflating those terms. People often think they are "special" individuals who are "unique", but it's far less common for people to think of themselves as being authentic. Someone can be totally average yet be exceedingly authentic in their averageness, the opposite being someone who is very unique on the inside but behaves like an average person because of things like blending in.
loco5niner 8y ago
> nobody cares for your search for authenticity, you're expected to show up and work Sounds like you're saying you can't be authentic and work hard at the same time.

codingdave 8y ago

I don't think you and I are talking about the same kind of authenticity.

analognoise 8y ago
Do you mean a codified and consistent set of actions and beliefs that we recognize as ourselves and appreciate? Like people who think "I should stand up for myself at work more" and it causes internal strife?
xt00 8y ago
I tend to put on opposite ends of the spectrum being strategic and authentic. Authentic interactions with people at work generally are better for everybody if you are in an environment that is compatible with that. Many environments are not so you have to be more reserved and strategic about what you say and how you interact with people. Being authentic with people outside of work is not terrible advice. Allowing people to know you are having some emotion such as happiness or fear or sadness allows people become closer to you and you to them. Mr Rogers talked a lot about that—expressing how you feel about things. I think many people misconstrue mr Rogers to be all about the “you are special” thing. But his target demographic was kids who likely were not that well off and had not great family lives. Having somebody who tells you that you are not a piece of trash probably helped a lot of kids.

jmcqk6 8y ago

>nobody cares for your search for authenticity, you're expected to show up and work. You are equating being authentic with being irresponsible, and those are not the same things at all.

analognoise 8y ago
Good point. I've only ever heard the "be authentic" bit from irresponsible people (or adults talking to children). The adults who took it seriously are naive underachievers (obviously imo). That's only anecdata though, I should qualify and separate that out when discussing it; thanks for helping my crystalize the thought.

ravenstine 8y ago

There's a difference between being unique and being authentic, but you are somewhat conflating those terms. People often think they are "special" individuals who are "unique", but it's far less common for people to think of themselves as being authentic. Someone can be totally average yet be exceedingly authentic in their averageness, the opposite being someone who is very unique on the inside but behaves like an average person because of things like blending in.

loco5niner 8y ago

> nobody cares for your search for authenticity, you're expected to show up and work Sounds like you're saying you can't be authentic and work hard at the same time.