"i keep meeting 10 year olds that seem more like we were than the weird hothouse flowers i was seeing in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. the kids seem less lost and gormless, more engaged and independent. they lost their faith in “tribal loyalty” when the tribe masked them up and locked them down for years of formative time. they are walking away from online and back into IRL."
If there's a silver lining to covid and the rest of this mess, it's that we're likely raising the most libertarian generation in decades. They will grow up knowing their government doesn't give a shit about them -- and that's maybe the most important lesson one can learn.
I'm sure the libertarian party leadership will seize upon the new zeitgeist....right after they spend the next 10 years crying about abolishing child labor laws.
For sure. And they need to learn how to work with their hands.
I could go on forever about that, but I truly believe that's part of the reason curiosity and creativity have fallen woefully short in the last few decades .
Where I am living in SE Asia, the middle class is very small, and poverty is the most common economic status. Thus, children, from a very early age, are taught and expected to work and contribute to the often meager existence of large numbers of families. Given reality, it is NOT seen as abuse or exploitation, but as loyalty to the family. Cultural differences are real and so are differences in perception of reality. Close examination of ALL the factors is necessary before making pronouncements on Relativism. Some of it is valid. Some of it is bullshit. It's up to US to decide, not some "authoritative source". One of my favorite things to say in a variety of circumstances (including a couple of job interviews) is, "In my never humble opinion, there are two kinds of people: Those who agree with me and those who are wrong!" How others react to this - literally or as humor - will usually tell me all I need to know about them.
I am not so fond of cultures that survive by selling their four-year-olds into indentured servitude rather than using birth control after the fourth kid.
I lived in a South Asian country at different times for different lengths of time beginning in 1976 and the poor have as many morons amongst their numbers as any other class in society.
Also, the fact that parents believe it is imperative to have kids who can speak German, play the bassoon, dance the part of Clara in 'The Nutcracker', be the closer, collect toys for children in war torn countries and participate in a walk to raise funds for the local puppy shelter make 'just being a kid' time impossible to find. This one is on the parents.
No no, first, they'll get outplayed in their own primary by a liberal with questionable ideas on minors and Lockheed Martin-brand Pride socks and... what do you mean that already happened?
I hope tritorch is okay. He sent out a funny message a couple days ago, that his account had been wiped clean, his phone blocked, and a strange car was in front of his door for hours. Seems he was in a panick (I think it is a he). As for cats, it is easy to get along with even though you don't agree on anything - they change their minds continuously ! As for dogs, they only think of 2 things - food and catching beasts!
I’m wondering about TriTorch too. Hope he (?) is ok. His messages were going on about some frequency being blasted into his head? It was pretty concerning. I hope anyone who knows more can post something.
"i’ve lost friends over it. i suspect many have. you disagree, as far as they’re concerned, you’re literally hitler now, and that’s the end of that."
I'm a gen xer, hubs is boomer. We did not coddle or bubble wrap our children. Home when the streetlights came on etc. etc.
My almost 40 y o daughter has not spoken or communicated at all, not a peep since she saw something derogatory about pronouns on hubby's Twitter. Took away our now 14 y o grandchild too.
That was in Nov of 21. We tried and tried, but she has blocked any form of contact.
Breaks my heart.
Thank you for this deep dive into the minds of these people. I can now understand a little better the cultish machinations of the woke mind virus.
So sorry about your daughter. Good grief, what insanity! That’s heartbreaking to keep you away from your grandchild. I think Rosemary B can unfortunately relate to your situation. Not sure how to tag her here.
Wow, that is insane and definitely hurtful behavior. She couldn’t have had a conversation with your husband?? Sad. I have relatives (my Aunt & her husband) as well haven’t seen since my mothers death in 2021. They refused to see my mother because she didn’t get jabbed and since we didn’t as well that was the end of that. No contact. Now they’re not doing well (jabbed and boosted with many medical issues) and I probably won’t hear anything from them or their kids til they’re in the hospital or worse. People really suck and I try to spend my time with those who are open minded and kind :)
So cruel. This election I’m getting windows into the souls of many people. It ain’t pretty. exponentially more damage has happened since the jabs. They aren’t the same.
I English, we have only one form of the infinitive "to be" and it sounds permanent. Saying "I am an accountant" is tantamount to a reflection of identity rather than career, as does "I am bipolar" or "I am a Democrat."
But what if you're no longer that thing?
In other languages, Spanish included, two forms of "to be" exist, one permanent, and one temporary, to indicate to the listener what the speaker is referencing. So in English when we say "I am..." followed by an idea or a belief (or God forbid, a mood), we tell our brains that it's always going to be that way.
In turn, letting go and changing one's mind about the topic is tantamount to losing one's identity. Of course that's terrifying, so we just...don't. We rigidly cling to the belief-as-Self even in the face of changing information.
Beware of your "I am" statements, and hold loosely to your ideas. Practice nonattachment but act with conviction.
When I teach emotions I emphasize this point because language matters so much. What we tell ourselves absolutely impacts how we view the world and our Selves (capital S), and when we don't say stuff accurately it can really hamper communication, understanding, identity, mental wellness, and much more.
Tibetan is interesting - they have a ‘be’ for things that are generally accepted (but you haven’t seen yourself) and a ‘be’ for things you’ve experienced or seen with your own eyes.
Oh man. Those kids aren't as all right as you think. Jeff Sharlet's "super goth kid" wrote a letter a few years ago crying to our regional newspaper that none of the adults in line with her in a local store intervened when a group of typical teenage boys started laughing at her. She was deeply, deeply outraged that nobody came to the aid of her little LGB++++++++ self by delivering an epic scolding.
I couldn't write the scathing letter to the editor in response that I really wanted to because I know people who really like Jeff Sharlet. Pissing near one's own den, it ain't the thing to do.
Your bucket of water story reminds me of one. I have a brother many years younger than I. A long time ago a buddy and I were sitting on the dock talking story. My brother comes down demanding attention, poking my buddy and just being a pain in the ass. So he says, “do that again and I’m pushing you in the lake.” He ended up in the lake of course, ran up to get my dad who came down and asked why we pushed him in the lake. We told him why, and my dad just shrugged his shoulders and went back up to the house. My brother learned a valuable life lesson that afternoon.
I have a story in a similar vein with my son (who is in his 30's now). A few months ago I stumbled on a live version of 'A Forest' on you tube. It has a certain edginess to it because Smith, et al, have been informed they must cut their set short for Robert Palmer. At the end, Smith yells," Fuck Robert Palmer, Fuck Rock and Roll!". I showed this clip to my kid as evidence of the attitudes of my misspent youth.
The first thing out of his mouth was, "Who's Robert Palmer?"
My youngest son got all excited when he discovered Bon Jovi in 2014. And he assumed I'd never heard of Bon Jovi. Let me tell you about your parents in the 1980s, son. 😂
This is great. I'm a left-wing guy -- or maybe a former left-wing guy, I dunno -- that does not like Kamala. And among my friends and family that would be a big problem. So I don't tell them. But it's hard sometimes when everybody else is yakking it up about how Trump is so terrible and I feel like I have to stay quiet. I want to say that I don't like Trump either but he just might be better than the alternative. But if I do that...well, WWIII. I might lose friends. I would certainly lose respect. Perhaps there's an alternate universe out there with a me that doesn't care and speaks his mind, but for now you can find me in the closet.
Yeah. I’ve been getting a whiff of what would happen if I did the same. My sister badgered and bullied me yesterday to get me to admit I was a trumper. Because I criticized Cackles. I’m not but will vote for him. If I told her that, she would never speak to me again. She already said our dead sister certainly wouldn’t if she was alive so deducing she wouldn’t either. Her trump derangement was quite a sight to behold but very sad and a little scary. I know there are others out there just like her.
I know people who track their kids by their phones on the mountain to find out how fast they are going. I don't even know where mine are, but I know it involves trees, rocks, and videos I am not going to want to watch!
Same here. That was a bizarre statement by the cat in an otherwise solid piece. Hose water and running through the smoke let out by the mosquito fumigation trucks that drove through the neighborhood a couple of times every spring and summer.
"i keep meeting 10 year olds that seem more like we were than the weird hothouse flowers i was seeing in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. the kids seem less lost and gormless, more engaged and independent. they lost their faith in “tribal loyalty” when the tribe masked them up and locked them down for years of formative time. they are walking away from online and back into IRL."
If there's a silver lining to covid and the rest of this mess, it's that we're likely raising the most libertarian generation in decades. They will grow up knowing their government doesn't give a shit about them -- and that's maybe the most important lesson one can learn.
I'm sure the libertarian party leadership will seize upon the new zeitgeist....right after they spend the next 10 years crying about abolishing child labor laws.
Priorities SimComm!...;]
Forget the tyranny happening right now, let's focus on hypothetical tyranny that perhaps happened 100 years ago!
https://open.substack.com/pub/axilkiptyn/p/fwmj?r=4h52rx&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
I think kids should work, but making it the law seems like too much ; )
For sure. And they need to learn how to work with their hands.
I could go on forever about that, but I truly believe that's part of the reason curiosity and creativity have fallen woefully short in the last few decades .
Which leads to a bunch of adults lacking wisdom.
Where I am living in SE Asia, the middle class is very small, and poverty is the most common economic status. Thus, children, from a very early age, are taught and expected to work and contribute to the often meager existence of large numbers of families. Given reality, it is NOT seen as abuse or exploitation, but as loyalty to the family. Cultural differences are real and so are differences in perception of reality. Close examination of ALL the factors is necessary before making pronouncements on Relativism. Some of it is valid. Some of it is bullshit. It's up to US to decide, not some "authoritative source". One of my favorite things to say in a variety of circumstances (including a couple of job interviews) is, "In my never humble opinion, there are two kinds of people: Those who agree with me and those who are wrong!" How others react to this - literally or as humor - will usually tell me all I need to know about them.
Agree. Well said.
I am not so fond of cultures that survive by selling their four-year-olds into indentured servitude rather than using birth control after the fourth kid.
I lived in a South Asian country at different times for different lengths of time beginning in 1976 and the poor have as many morons amongst their numbers as any other class in society.
Also, the fact that parents believe it is imperative to have kids who can speak German, play the bassoon, dance the part of Clara in 'The Nutcracker', be the closer, collect toys for children in war torn countries and participate in a walk to raise funds for the local puppy shelter make 'just being a kid' time impossible to find. This one is on the parents.
No no, first, they'll get outplayed in their own primary by a liberal with questionable ideas on minors and Lockheed Martin-brand Pride socks and... what do you mean that already happened?
Keystone cops
Well, only the ones who don't break easily. In any era that's the glowering minority that refuses to be crushed.
"Kids are resilient"
Until they hang themselves in the closet after a fight with mom.
I hope tritorch is okay. He sent out a funny message a couple days ago, that his account had been wiped clean, his phone blocked, and a strange car was in front of his door for hours. Seems he was in a panick (I think it is a he). As for cats, it is easy to get along with even though you don't agree on anything - they change their minds continuously ! As for dogs, they only think of 2 things - food and catching beasts!
My dog’s thinking is 3 fold. If he can’t eat it or hump it, he pisses on it.
I’m trying to be more like my dog.
I'm with you...let's get in touch with our inner dog!
I also endorse lying about in the grass on your back wriggling.
Thanks! I just realised that I'm a dog...
wow. that is kind of horrible. I hope he is not in trouble.
I am beginning to think there are a lot of us that are having trouble but we dare not talk about it loudly or at all.
I’m wondering about TriTorch too. Hope he (?) is ok. His messages were going on about some frequency being blasted into his head? It was pretty concerning. I hope anyone who knows more can post something.
💯🎯🎶🎶📣📣📣😉
And THAT dear gato is how you solve the the existential question of the 2020's-
How did some people just know something wasn't kosher about the great '20 "pangolin/bat-nomics meets faster pincushion" problem.😉
Identity.
You cannot hoodwink (especially with really transparently, lame arguments!), a person that is strong in identity.
THAT is what all the "sovereign" discussion is about, and what "anarchist" really means- one without king.
#follownone #BEtheleaderyouwant #wearemany #wearememory #wewillnotforgive #mistakeswereNOTmade #getlocalised
"i’ve lost friends over it. i suspect many have. you disagree, as far as they’re concerned, you’re literally hitler now, and that’s the end of that."
I'm a gen xer, hubs is boomer. We did not coddle or bubble wrap our children. Home when the streetlights came on etc. etc.
My almost 40 y o daughter has not spoken or communicated at all, not a peep since she saw something derogatory about pronouns on hubby's Twitter. Took away our now 14 y o grandchild too.
That was in Nov of 21. We tried and tried, but she has blocked any form of contact.
Breaks my heart.
Thank you for this deep dive into the minds of these people. I can now understand a little better the cultish machinations of the woke mind virus.
So sorry about your daughter. Good grief, what insanity! That’s heartbreaking to keep you away from your grandchild. I think Rosemary B can unfortunately relate to your situation. Not sure how to tag her here.
So so sorry. I have a sister with the same virus.
As do I… 😞
Wow, that is insane and definitely hurtful behavior. She couldn’t have had a conversation with your husband?? Sad. I have relatives (my Aunt & her husband) as well haven’t seen since my mothers death in 2021. They refused to see my mother because she didn’t get jabbed and since we didn’t as well that was the end of that. No contact. Now they’re not doing well (jabbed and boosted with many medical issues) and I probably won’t hear anything from them or their kids til they’re in the hospital or worse. People really suck and I try to spend my time with those who are open minded and kind :)
So cruel. This election I’m getting windows into the souls of many people. It ain’t pretty. exponentially more damage has happened since the jabs. They aren’t the same.
The jabs and the MSM are the virus!
This is the way; THE WAY WE TAKE IT ALL BACK.
Tip of the hat, gato.
👍👍💯🎯😉
I English, we have only one form of the infinitive "to be" and it sounds permanent. Saying "I am an accountant" is tantamount to a reflection of identity rather than career, as does "I am bipolar" or "I am a Democrat."
But what if you're no longer that thing?
In other languages, Spanish included, two forms of "to be" exist, one permanent, and one temporary, to indicate to the listener what the speaker is referencing. So in English when we say "I am..." followed by an idea or a belief (or God forbid, a mood), we tell our brains that it's always going to be that way.
In turn, letting go and changing one's mind about the topic is tantamount to losing one's identity. Of course that's terrifying, so we just...don't. We rigidly cling to the belief-as-Self even in the face of changing information.
Beware of your "I am" statements, and hold loosely to your ideas. Practice nonattachment but act with conviction.
This is beautiful. In Gaelic apparently they say stuff like “sadness is upon me.” So yes, a temporary state.
When I teach emotions I emphasize this point because language matters so much. What we tell ourselves absolutely impacts how we view the world and our Selves (capital S), and when we don't say stuff accurately it can really hamper communication, understanding, identity, mental wellness, and much more.
I like this. It's not just phrasing.
Tibetan is interesting - they have a ‘be’ for things that are generally accepted (but you haven’t seen yourself) and a ‘be’ for things you’ve experienced or seen with your own eyes.
Oh man. Those kids aren't as all right as you think. Jeff Sharlet's "super goth kid" wrote a letter a few years ago crying to our regional newspaper that none of the adults in line with her in a local store intervened when a group of typical teenage boys started laughing at her. She was deeply, deeply outraged that nobody came to the aid of her little LGB++++++++ self by delivering an epic scolding.
haha too funny
I couldn't write the scathing letter to the editor in response that I really wanted to because I know people who really like Jeff Sharlet. Pissing near one's own den, it ain't the thing to do.
Your bucket of water story reminds me of one. I have a brother many years younger than I. A long time ago a buddy and I were sitting on the dock talking story. My brother comes down demanding attention, poking my buddy and just being a pain in the ass. So he says, “do that again and I’m pushing you in the lake.” He ended up in the lake of course, ran up to get my dad who came down and asked why we pushed him in the lake. We told him why, and my dad just shrugged his shoulders and went back up to the house. My brother learned a valuable life lesson that afternoon.
Priceless. And spot on. This should be required reading for every human. Thank you gato...
high identity society coalesces and finds commonality.
LOL about the Cure.
I have a story in a similar vein with my son (who is in his 30's now). A few months ago I stumbled on a live version of 'A Forest' on you tube. It has a certain edginess to it because Smith, et al, have been informed they must cut their set short for Robert Palmer. At the end, Smith yells," Fuck Robert Palmer, Fuck Rock and Roll!". I showed this clip to my kid as evidence of the attitudes of my misspent youth.
The first thing out of his mouth was, "Who's Robert Palmer?"
LOL!
My youngest son got all excited when he discovered Bon Jovi in 2014. And he assumed I'd never heard of Bon Jovi. Let me tell you about your parents in the 1980s, son. 😂
My 18yo son asked me recently (he was delighted) if I had ever heard of Stevie Wonder. Ha!
Same when guitar hero came out and my kids were strumming to Aerosmith and loving it lol!
This is great. I'm a left-wing guy -- or maybe a former left-wing guy, I dunno -- that does not like Kamala. And among my friends and family that would be a big problem. So I don't tell them. But it's hard sometimes when everybody else is yakking it up about how Trump is so terrible and I feel like I have to stay quiet. I want to say that I don't like Trump either but he just might be better than the alternative. But if I do that...well, WWIII. I might lose friends. I would certainly lose respect. Perhaps there's an alternate universe out there with a me that doesn't care and speaks his mind, but for now you can find me in the closet.
Yeah. I’ve been getting a whiff of what would happen if I did the same. My sister badgered and bullied me yesterday to get me to admit I was a trumper. Because I criticized Cackles. I’m not but will vote for him. If I told her that, she would never speak to me again. She already said our dead sister certainly wouldn’t if she was alive so deducing she wouldn’t either. Her trump derangement was quite a sight to behold but very sad and a little scary. I know there are others out there just like her.
"in one of my all time favorite stacks (in praise of lawn darts) i explored the idea of challenge based growth into adulthood in some detail."
Still my very most favorite <3 you big time el gato!
Excellent post, one of your best!
"identity is herd immunity for woke. woke does not and cannot infect confident people with a sense of self".
"the opposite of "woke" is "self contained" and the opposite of "identitarianism" is "identity".
Brilliant!
I have a T that says Not Woke lol and get quite the stares ;)
Real risk is as essential aspect of growth.
I know people who track their kids by their phones on the mountain to find out how fast they are going. I don't even know where mine are, but I know it involves trees, rocks, and videos I am not going to want to watch!
I'm a (late) Boomer. I grew up with hose water and "fight your own battles." Not sure generational demographics explains it all.
Same here. That was a bizarre statement by the cat in an otherwise solid piece. Hose water and running through the smoke let out by the mosquito fumigation trucks that drove through the neighborhood a couple of times every spring and summer.
My teenager's friends listen to Green Day. Come on, guys, anything from the 90s but Green Day. Sheesh.