You’re so right about the irony here- the comparatively abstract, self-oriented ‘battles’ of identity politics which were taken up as central (perceived harm, hurt feelings, micro aggressions in meetings, etc) when the wolf really was at the door - it seemed to me then and now that in a world of power and privilege, people were desperate to find something to feel victimised about so that they too could be championed as social justice warriors, hence the massaging up of grievance and claims of harm and struggle. When these things got attention and time in the spotlight, they were not just legitimised and politicised, but incentivised (and of course in a society obsessed with power and prestige, monetised). And as you point out, the real oppression gets elbowed out of the spotlight so that the competitive ‘arms race’ of performed outrage and silencing of others can proceed. But how woefully inadequate this garnishing of ‘identity’ turns out to be when it comes to real life political power moves, when the pendulum swings!
So true Cate, and so well put. There's so many dynamics at play here. This need for victimhood is fascinating, it's such a counterintuitive motive, but it's everywhere, a form of cultural decadence - when all our needs are met, what's left but the attention that is reserved for those who suffer. This too we must have! I love the broad idea that politics is a macro manifestation of individual psychology - it goes one deeper than that line that politics is downstream of culture. We need to dampen that pendulum's swing...
Excellent post, Sanjiv and this made me LOL: "They arrived with big block paragraphs and sand for the gears. Lecture Mode Activated. HR energy. These self-appointed Prefects of Sneeze Province would tap away at a metaphorical chalk board as they explained at length not only why they would decline my request, but why everyone else should too." You're the funniest. "HR energy." It is sad that we're all so angry. I'm guilty of it too. My mom's husband (Trumper) was complaining that PG&E is changing the solar rules and it's not fair because they promised that he'd get benefits if he installed solar and now they are changing the rules! And, instead of sympathizing, I said, "Yeah, well, rules get broken all the time. I paid into Social Security for years and now a bunch of oligarchs want to take it away from me." It's the hypocrisy that's hard to take.
Thanks Hilary! I can only imagine how maddening it can be dealing with MAGA in your own family. The hypocrisy's off the charts, and also the sense that there's literally nothing Trump can do to lose their support. Isn't your mom's husband on social security too? Does he have a 401K? As the saying goes, "how's that working out for ya?"
You’re so right about the irony here- the comparatively abstract, self-oriented ‘battles’ of identity politics which were taken up as central (perceived harm, hurt feelings, micro aggressions in meetings, etc) when the wolf really was at the door - it seemed to me then and now that in a world of power and privilege, people were desperate to find something to feel victimised about so that they too could be championed as social justice warriors, hence the massaging up of grievance and claims of harm and struggle. When these things got attention and time in the spotlight, they were not just legitimised and politicised, but incentivised (and of course in a society obsessed with power and prestige, monetised). And as you point out, the real oppression gets elbowed out of the spotlight so that the competitive ‘arms race’ of performed outrage and silencing of others can proceed. But how woefully inadequate this garnishing of ‘identity’ turns out to be when it comes to real life political power moves, when the pendulum swings!
So true Cate, and so well put. There's so many dynamics at play here. This need for victimhood is fascinating, it's such a counterintuitive motive, but it's everywhere, a form of cultural decadence - when all our needs are met, what's left but the attention that is reserved for those who suffer. This too we must have! I love the broad idea that politics is a macro manifestation of individual psychology - it goes one deeper than that line that politics is downstream of culture. We need to dampen that pendulum's swing...
Yes! I miss actual conversations with those who are not and those who are “my people.” Thanks for your keen insight.
Thanks Maureen! The joy of stepping outside the bubble is you realize that your idea of who "my people" are is so limiting.
Excellent post, Sanjiv and this made me LOL: "They arrived with big block paragraphs and sand for the gears. Lecture Mode Activated. HR energy. These self-appointed Prefects of Sneeze Province would tap away at a metaphorical chalk board as they explained at length not only why they would decline my request, but why everyone else should too." You're the funniest. "HR energy." It is sad that we're all so angry. I'm guilty of it too. My mom's husband (Trumper) was complaining that PG&E is changing the solar rules and it's not fair because they promised that he'd get benefits if he installed solar and now they are changing the rules! And, instead of sympathizing, I said, "Yeah, well, rules get broken all the time. I paid into Social Security for years and now a bunch of oligarchs want to take it away from me." It's the hypocrisy that's hard to take.
Thanks Hilary! I can only imagine how maddening it can be dealing with MAGA in your own family. The hypocrisy's off the charts, and also the sense that there's literally nothing Trump can do to lose their support. Isn't your mom's husband on social security too? Does he have a 401K? As the saying goes, "how's that working out for ya?"
Yes and yes. When I brought up investments recently, the reply was “the stock market always goes up and down. “😵💫 They are brainwashed.