N
noname223
Archangel
- Aug 18, 2020
- 5,001
Not sure where this thread is heading. If many people associate identity politics with it could become heated.
There are different ways how I could start with it. Maybe to question the full concept of identity. Is there something as an objective identity or is this only a narrative we tell ourselves in order to deal with life better? Maybe it is more practical in a world of chaos and despair to cling to the concept of identity. We can feel as a part of a group. This helps many people to deal with existential loneliness.
There are many different groups to which we can have the feeling to belong to. We can feel superior to outsiders and see ourselves as better. Marketing and advertisements use this trick to sell us products. With buying a product we can feel as a member of a priviledged group. Moreover religions and national states have used this concept to gain the support of their followers. These 2 examples show how devastating the consequences can be if you have blind trust in your group. This often can lead to discrimination against outsiders. Not seldom the disdain for outsiders can lead to horrible crimes. We concentrate too much on our differences and forget that we are all sentient beings.
On the other hand I don't want to demonize the concept of identity. It can give you strength and the feeling of compassion. For some people this even can become their meaning in life. I think the most important thing is to always question your own beliefs. To check your own reality and not drifting away in echo chambers. We often experience this on social media. It has to be a rational approach to this concept.
What is my personal identity? This was the initial question which I have asked myself. I want to ask you the same. Though if it could leak you you might should not be too specific about it. For example if you feel the affiliation to a local identity.
In this forum I often emphasize that I am a German. Many of my peers rather see themselves as Europeans. For me personally I feel a stronger connection to me as a German. Maybe that fact is caused by the German language, the way we have remolded our history or simply some childhood experiences. I think the abuse and domestic violence I have endured also shaped my identity. Another big part of my identity is my suicidality and my bipolar disorder. It determines my whole life. I have to plan very detailed my whole life in order to deal with these two influences.
What do consider your own identity? Or do you think the whole concept of identity is too artifical?
There are different ways how I could start with it. Maybe to question the full concept of identity. Is there something as an objective identity or is this only a narrative we tell ourselves in order to deal with life better? Maybe it is more practical in a world of chaos and despair to cling to the concept of identity. We can feel as a part of a group. This helps many people to deal with existential loneliness.
There are many different groups to which we can have the feeling to belong to. We can feel superior to outsiders and see ourselves as better. Marketing and advertisements use this trick to sell us products. With buying a product we can feel as a member of a priviledged group. Moreover religions and national states have used this concept to gain the support of their followers. These 2 examples show how devastating the consequences can be if you have blind trust in your group. This often can lead to discrimination against outsiders. Not seldom the disdain for outsiders can lead to horrible crimes. We concentrate too much on our differences and forget that we are all sentient beings.
On the other hand I don't want to demonize the concept of identity. It can give you strength and the feeling of compassion. For some people this even can become their meaning in life. I think the most important thing is to always question your own beliefs. To check your own reality and not drifting away in echo chambers. We often experience this on social media. It has to be a rational approach to this concept.
What is my personal identity? This was the initial question which I have asked myself. I want to ask you the same. Though if it could leak you you might should not be too specific about it. For example if you feel the affiliation to a local identity.
In this forum I often emphasize that I am a German. Many of my peers rather see themselves as Europeans. For me personally I feel a stronger connection to me as a German. Maybe that fact is caused by the German language, the way we have remolded our history or simply some childhood experiences. I think the abuse and domestic violence I have endured also shaped my identity. Another big part of my identity is my suicidality and my bipolar disorder. It determines my whole life. I have to plan very detailed my whole life in order to deal with these two influences.
What do consider your own identity? Or do you think the whole concept of identity is too artifical?
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