There is a certain irony in the fact that "the masses" have a "voice" now, via the free internet, and also the fact that this is the wealthiest era in human history, obviously not for all individuals or people, but for humanity as a species. It is the first time in recorded human history that a person who was not raised in a wealthy enough family, or has "class", race, or gender privilege, is freely able to simply PUBLISH whatever is on his or her mind, with very little censure. Throughout human history, only certain people were "allowed" to express their views, their observations, even their scientific discoveries in a public, published way; it has always been under the rule and subject to the approval of whomever was governing the region at the time.
Most of the history we read, religious writings, science, philosophy, even music and art have been nearly all under the control and scrutiny of those who held "authority". So whatever their personal prejudices and biases were, whatever their agendas were, they were reflected by what was published, what was allowed to be published, what passed their personal approval.
Most published works of ANYTHING have been created by males, and only those works were published that passed through the scrutiny of whomever held power, however skewed their perception.
The reasons for both of these facts were about control and power of the "masses", and also about the personal prejudices and issues of those "in power", not about "All Men" believing themselves to be superior. Women have been mostly closed out of being published due to obvious prejudice and certain people's personal issues, but men have also been under just as much control and scrutiny for the most part, and MOST MEN were NOT published, no matter how enlightened, skilled, talented, or smart they were in their interest.
(It's amazing to me, personally, that some of the obviously anti-elitist and anti-sexist teachings from the era of Jesus survived in the 4 written Gospels that Emperor Constantine allowed to be included in the origin of the Christian Bible.)
However, now, in this modern era, this very modern, recent era, for the first time ever, men of any age, any background, any "status", educational level, wealth "status", or ancestry can freely PUBLISH pretty much whatever they want. ANY point of view can be published freely, no matter what the person's personality, mental state, emotional state, or personal prejudices are. A completely psychotic person with extreme prejudices against specific groups or individuals can PUBLISH, and present their work as "factual", as advice, as guidance, as religion, as spiritual guidance, as if they are coming from an experienced, grounded, and "enlightened" point of view, just as freely as a person with years of experience, just as freely as a person who is very fair-minded, aware, experienced, genuinely caring and supportive, or "enlightened". Just as freely as anyone else on the planet. The wealthy and the "connected" are of course more able to PROMOTE what they publish, whether they're psychotic or stable, but literally any person who can access a Wi Fi device can publish whatever they want, for free.
That means we are all exposed to every imaginable personality type in the human species; when we read, listen, or engage with those who publish, we need to keep this in mind. We are no longer in a purely "academic" forum, with only people who have been guided in critical and objective thinking, or only people who understand what "bias" and "prejudice" is, or even only people who maintain basic civility and basic respect for others because they know and understand why it's important, or even what it is. So when we listen, read, or engage with those who publish in this era, remember that they could be coming from, literally, ANY point of view, ANY mental state, ANY bias or emotional disorder. They MIGHT be a person who respects other humans, who is insightful, civil, and cares about people (or animals, or rights), but they also MIGHT be a psychopath, or just completely delusional.
Of course throughout history, many of the published works were ALSO done by delusional, mentally ill, emotionally disordered people, and there has always been serious consequences because of people following along with their "work" and "instruction". There has ALSO always been serious consequences from people MISCONSTRUING the published work of fair-minded, aware, intelligent, stable people. Most religious writings have "inspired" unstable readers and followers to do horrendous, ridiculous things that weren't even CLOSE to what the script was trying to communicate.
So, we have mentally and emotionally compromised individuals throughout history both doing the publishing AND the reading, listening, viewing, and "following". However, this is the first time ever, as far as we know, that any one at all could PUBLISH whatever their point of view is without CENSURE from someone in authority or power. And that means ANYTHING that ANYONE thinks of to publish, either because they're serious or making a joke, can be something we find on a Google Search, or on YouTube. The most prejudiced, skewed, sick, mean person in the world can be creating and publishing their work right now, as we speak, and if we do the right search, we might find it; we aren't going to know that the person is psychotic or has a personality disorder.
So, we need to remember not to "BUY INTO" what we read, what we listen to, or what people advise. We are free, of course, to listen, but we do not EVER need to swallow or buy into their opinion, advice, guidance, or beliefs.
And then there's the matter of participating in commenting and discussion. Anyone who's ever been in a situation with a Narcissistic or psychotic person is probably aware of the problem with engaging personally in any kind of verbal exchange, whether it's in person or on the internet. No boundaries, no conscience, no remorse, no self-control, no awareness means no qualms about verbally attacking a person, smearing their reputation to others, sabotaging them, or trying to establish more of a connection with them than they allow or are willing to do.
Awareness Trumps Fear! :)
Most of the history we read, religious writings, science, philosophy, even music and art have been nearly all under the control and scrutiny of those who held "authority". So whatever their personal prejudices and biases were, whatever their agendas were, they were reflected by what was published, what was allowed to be published, what passed their personal approval.
Most published works of ANYTHING have been created by males, and only those works were published that passed through the scrutiny of whomever held power, however skewed their perception.
The reasons for both of these facts were about control and power of the "masses", and also about the personal prejudices and issues of those "in power", not about "All Men" believing themselves to be superior. Women have been mostly closed out of being published due to obvious prejudice and certain people's personal issues, but men have also been under just as much control and scrutiny for the most part, and MOST MEN were NOT published, no matter how enlightened, skilled, talented, or smart they were in their interest.
(It's amazing to me, personally, that some of the obviously anti-elitist and anti-sexist teachings from the era of Jesus survived in the 4 written Gospels that Emperor Constantine allowed to be included in the origin of the Christian Bible.)
However, now, in this modern era, this very modern, recent era, for the first time ever, men of any age, any background, any "status", educational level, wealth "status", or ancestry can freely PUBLISH pretty much whatever they want. ANY point of view can be published freely, no matter what the person's personality, mental state, emotional state, or personal prejudices are. A completely psychotic person with extreme prejudices against specific groups or individuals can PUBLISH, and present their work as "factual", as advice, as guidance, as religion, as spiritual guidance, as if they are coming from an experienced, grounded, and "enlightened" point of view, just as freely as a person with years of experience, just as freely as a person who is very fair-minded, aware, experienced, genuinely caring and supportive, or "enlightened". Just as freely as anyone else on the planet. The wealthy and the "connected" are of course more able to PROMOTE what they publish, whether they're psychotic or stable, but literally any person who can access a Wi Fi device can publish whatever they want, for free.
That means we are all exposed to every imaginable personality type in the human species; when we read, listen, or engage with those who publish, we need to keep this in mind. We are no longer in a purely "academic" forum, with only people who have been guided in critical and objective thinking, or only people who understand what "bias" and "prejudice" is, or even only people who maintain basic civility and basic respect for others because they know and understand why it's important, or even what it is. So when we listen, read, or engage with those who publish in this era, remember that they could be coming from, literally, ANY point of view, ANY mental state, ANY bias or emotional disorder. They MIGHT be a person who respects other humans, who is insightful, civil, and cares about people (or animals, or rights), but they also MIGHT be a psychopath, or just completely delusional.
Of course throughout history, many of the published works were ALSO done by delusional, mentally ill, emotionally disordered people, and there has always been serious consequences because of people following along with their "work" and "instruction". There has ALSO always been serious consequences from people MISCONSTRUING the published work of fair-minded, aware, intelligent, stable people. Most religious writings have "inspired" unstable readers and followers to do horrendous, ridiculous things that weren't even CLOSE to what the script was trying to communicate.
So, we have mentally and emotionally compromised individuals throughout history both doing the publishing AND the reading, listening, viewing, and "following". However, this is the first time ever, as far as we know, that any one at all could PUBLISH whatever their point of view is without CENSURE from someone in authority or power. And that means ANYTHING that ANYONE thinks of to publish, either because they're serious or making a joke, can be something we find on a Google Search, or on YouTube. The most prejudiced, skewed, sick, mean person in the world can be creating and publishing their work right now, as we speak, and if we do the right search, we might find it; we aren't going to know that the person is psychotic or has a personality disorder.
So, we need to remember not to "BUY INTO" what we read, what we listen to, or what people advise. We are free, of course, to listen, but we do not EVER need to swallow or buy into their opinion, advice, guidance, or beliefs.
And then there's the matter of participating in commenting and discussion. Anyone who's ever been in a situation with a Narcissistic or psychotic person is probably aware of the problem with engaging personally in any kind of verbal exchange, whether it's in person or on the internet. No boundaries, no conscience, no remorse, no self-control, no awareness means no qualms about verbally attacking a person, smearing their reputation to others, sabotaging them, or trying to establish more of a connection with them than they allow or are willing to do.
Awareness Trumps Fear! :)
