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Can We Choose Not To Succumb To Our Egos?
Whether we become relevant to anyone or anything might depend on it
There is a trend in online forums for people to post anonymously and/or beg others not to judge or scorn them. Someone will ask for advice on a situation and plead with group members to focus on the question or to ignore it if they cannot or will not help. For instance, the other day, the algorithm engine fed me this post where someone asked about gender-neutral pronouns in the German language. The comment section had to be shepherded: someone summarised the few helpful comments and added a link to an expert paper on the topic. The vast majority of the commentators had flooded the discussion with their snarky and useless contributions.
While unsurprised, I was still impressed by the need we have to give our opinion on a topic we don’t know much about and have not been requested to participate in. It feels like hearing the drumming sound of a house party and inviting ourselves in only to tell the organisers that their event sucks. I imagine someone being assaulted in a dark alleyway and seeing their potential saviour show up only to remark they should have been more careful and leave them to bleed out. Savage imagery for savage behaviour: I hope you will forgive me; after all, you chose to read this article of your own volition.