4 ms·

> "I definitely feel the opposite: that progress is inevitable and the people who are "in charge" while it progresses are a commodity." This view is problemati

by apsurd 3y ago

> "I definitely feel the opposite: that progress is inevitable and the people who are "in charge" while it progresses are a commodity." This view is problematic too. It removes agency, accountability, participation. Leader worship is dangerous, I agree, but there's a strange emptiness to life when "someone's gonna do it, it's inevitable" takes root. A person ought to believe they can do great things. Also that we're quit ridiculously irrelevant in the scheme of things. Also: we can do great things. Lovely things.

drewcoo 3y ago
I like to think of the solo hero vs the group as more like the difference between men's and women's basketball. Men's is all about the individuals but women's is interesting because there aren't really heroes so much as team play, teamwork. And whenever I say that, there are people who immediately tell me that men's basketball is better. To those folks: it's ok to have a different opinion. You could be right! I'm just trying to illustrate another way of people working together.
smoothjazz 3y ago
> A person ought to believe they can do great things. I think there's pressure on us to think this, but I find that the older I get the happier I am moving away from this idea. I've accomplished a lot in my life and at the end of the day it doesn't bring me satisfaction. What brings me satisfaction is being able to sit quietly with peace of mind and be content with just being. The desire to do "great things" is paired with an existential anxiety that I don't think is healthy. And not to be political, but often "great things" mean accomplishments that don't correctly model externalities like environmental damage and human exploitation.
- apsurd 3y ago
  I agree! The older I get the more i'm able to understand peace. It becomes the only thing truly valuable. The paradox of holding both extremes is crucial i think. We're everything and nothing.

by apsurd 3y ago

drewcoo 3y ago

I like to think of the solo hero vs the group as more like the difference between men's and women's basketball. Men's is all about the individuals but women's is interesting because there aren't really heroes so much as team play, teamwork. And whenever I say that, there are people who immediately tell me that men's basketball is better. To those folks: it's ok to have a different opinion. You could be right! I'm just trying to illustrate another way of people working together.

smoothjazz 3y ago

> A person ought to believe they can do great things. I think there's pressure on us to think this, but I find that the older I get the happier I am moving away from this idea. I've accomplished a lot in my life and at the end of the day it doesn't bring me satisfaction. What brings me satisfaction is being able to sit quietly with peace of mind and be content with just being. The desire to do "great things" is paired with an existential anxiety that I don't think is healthy. And not to be political, but often "great things" mean accomplishments that don't correctly model externalities like environmental damage and human exploitation.

apsurd 3y ago
I agree! The older I get the more i'm able to understand peace. It becomes the only thing truly valuable. The paradox of holding both extremes is crucial i think. We're everything and nothing.