Being "Small" and Reputation -- A Critique of Societal Priorities

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Article Overview by Mr. O. C. Isaac

The article "Being 'Small' and Reputation -- A Critique of Societal Priorities" is a thought-provoking critique of societal values, authority, and the human tendency to prioritize based on relevance and proximity. The writing style is passionate, personal, and direct, effectively capturing the reader's attention and drawing them into your reflections on fairness, authority, and societal apathy.

The positive aspects of the article include engaging anecdotes, questioning the relevance of the education minister's health, raising thought-provoking questions about respect, authority, and societal expectations, using metaphors like "Corner People" and comparing North Korea's isolation to societal tendencies to ignore those deemed "small" or irrelevant, and displaying raw emotion and honesty.

In summary, the article is a passionate and compelling critique of societal priorities and the inherent biases that shape human empathy and respect.

A personal comment: It is essential to continue challenging readers to think critically about their own biases and societal norms, as your voice and perspective are valuable in driving meaningful dialogue. 

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"Your time here is severely limited, do you really think wasting the precious few years of your lives on wage-slavery is how you meant to exist? Isn't it about time to go a different but happier direction?" -- John Duran

Part I: Anecdote on The Inherent Unfairness of this World

I remember an incident in school where our teacher mentioned that the education minister was ill. I was curious and asked why it was important for us to know. After all, we had no direct connection to him, and if he died, we would continue with our lives, just like he would. Such is this alienating world, all in all.

The teacher seemed surprised by my question and explained that we should care because he is a figure of authority, and therefore, a pretty damn-hard relevant person. You know, more than me, maybe even more than you.

I questioned the relevance of his personal health to our education. After all, if one of us were sick, the minister probably wouldn't be informed. And if he was sick, the education system could still function normally, in repressing our thoughts and emotions.

I wondered why we should be expected to care about his well-being when he didn't seem to care about ours on an individual level. I mean, the education system helped me repress and discard my own individuality than to teach me anything one can study by his lonesome.

The teacher became upset, insisting that we should show respect and concern for those in positions of power. However, I couldn't see how knowing about the minister's illness would benefit us or contribute to our learning.

They also told me there are the rest of the class around me as I asked that question, with their fingers showing the classmates being there, although I already know they are there because I can sense using my subjective perceptive abilities.

Implications and a Question

Yes, I do find it unfair that we are expected to respect authorities that seek to condemn us for our inner light, and even oppress us as we remain depressed and miserable, without really having a say in the matter. While order and authority are important in maintaining harmony, they can unfortunately come at the cost of our physical and mental health, as we ourselves remain small and insignificant. That, is at least in how we might feel at the sight of unfairness.

The question then arises: Must we sacrifice so much of who we are just to be a part of society? I firmly believe that the belief that we absolutely must, and that there are no other ways, is but an assumption. An assumption, and a delusion of necessity.

Part II: A Metaphorical Death of "Corner People"

A relative once told me a peculiar idea: North Korea doesn't truly belong to the world. While they occupy a physical space on Earth, and therefore are a part of the physical earthly reality, their extreme isolation makes them seem almost detached from the global community.

This isolation breeds apathy, as many people struggle to empathize with the suffering within the "Hermit Kingdom." That is of course besides those who look beyond their egos and care about such things (Like me).

Contrast this with the intense reactions that would likely occur if similar conditions existed in Western nations like the U.S. or the U.K. The dominance and identity associated with the West would likely trigger far greater global concern. Many would use the strawman's fallacy to discard the importance of people they don't honestly care or want to care about.

Implications and a Question

That is the sad truth about us humans: most of us care not for those who seem "foreign" to us, but for those who are within our sense of "tribe": family, friends, and people we appreciate beyond any "regular" human.

We are, to an extent, tribal beings, and those who exist beyond our sense of belonging, beyond our personal and societal circle, are most likely to not care much about us, no matter who they are in life or what they are enduring in life.

What I'm trying to say in all of this is that one's reputation has a lot to do with being cared for by others, while those who are "small" are likely to be ignored or have their significance demoted (in comparison). And of course, a lot of that reputation's value has to do with what its got to do with us.

Hence why relatability is hard, although it is imperative for a better world. It's why I use personal confessions, by the way, so I could "Dominate the world" through philosophy.

In other words, in a world where humans have an equal share of existence, they will care for each other not equally, but in coherence with their reputation. However, could we really reach an equality more realistic than the equality of opportunity?

Conclusions

To gain global attention, you need to make a significant impact on the world. And, the more attention you get, the greater the impact will be. These are two elements that are capable of feeding each other in a circular, Tao-like way.

Even within our own countries, we often prioritize issues that directly affect us, overlooking problems that seem smaller or less relevant. Sometimes these issues are important, but we minimize them as small because they bore us.

Simplistic logic makes us discard/minimize issues whose long-term effect could be very important, for good and for bad. For example, the alienation I felt in the education system is one of the reasons I turned darker in mind, and become more solitary.

Another example, is when the world ignores North Korea, the country then can better lie low with its activities, and get more powerful under the shadows in its criminal ways.

As with the case of suicide, an estimated 703 000 people die by suicide worldwide each year. According to my research, one of the reasons for suicidal feelings is: "Feeling inadequate or a failure". Those who feel like that, obviously feel that they are small and irrelevant.

Yet, due to societal taboos, suicide is often overshadowed by historical events, and by the authority of people who are considered more important and more valuable. This highlights our bias towards the familiar and our tendency to downplay issues that don't align with our personal or societal perspectives. Such is the danger of tribal bias, that it can make us ignore the potential dangers, of those who feel inadequate, those who feel small.

Feeling small is one of the reasons Walter White became Heisenberg. A preventable tragedy, if he was seen for the genius he is, despite his wage-slavery to his high-school teaching position, and later on, the work at the car washing station.

As humans, we're flawed and limited in our ability to perceive the full scope of global suffering. Many important issues remain hidden in the shadows, simply because they don't fit our subjective worldview.

If we care more, if we look beyond the scope of our egos, we can better rectify this flawed world.