The Individual And The Other

If someone is to accept themselves as an individual, as a separate being of their own control, how do they react to others who do not view themselves as such? The answer is simple, in no way differently, it is not the place of the Individual to shun other who is different or to enforce their views, to do such would be hypocrisy. That is not to say they should be afraid to explain their position or to disagree with someone else, merely that an Individual should respect others as Individuals even if they do not consider themselves in the same way. And what of accepted Individuals to one another? Why should that be any different, the truth and heart of this perspective is to perceive all people including the self as an individual. Everyone should be welcomed and seen as a unique person, no judgement may be made until post experience.

The Individual and The Self

The Individual, the concept of the self seperate from all other things, is a difficult idea. We live in a world that puts us in a place relative to others and it becomes hard to seperate I from them. More importantly it is not Necessarily need to a degree. The concept relies on an understanding of I, different from all others, a creation of the self. But this is not an argument for solitude from others. Infact the main focus of this understanding is an introspective, to not so much change our view of others save to accept that they are Individual and not members of others. The Idea of looking at our selves, seperating I from others and also mainting relationship with them is confusing to some. It is merely an argument to say that though we may partake in cirtain activities or be members of particular groups they do not make us, we are made by ourselves. This also means we are in many ways resposible for ourselves and must begin to accept that we cannot be simply led but must hold our own hands some times.

The Individual within Society

The views which I have been voicing are views that differ in part to those views of the larger society that we currently live in. This can pose an issue for any who might decide to follow those concepts I proclaim, there is difficulty being and individual in a culture that subcribes so heavily to the devision of people into groups. In this instance it comes down to personal and individual action, it is not the place of the individual to presume that society or others should conform to this view just as society should not presume the indiviual should conform to it. The individual must strive onwards, taking pleasure in what they can, in seeing the best in others and in viewing them as individuals even if it is not a concept they are aware of. Society needs changes, but with out the break of revolution patience must prevail and society will simply have to change one individual at a time.

A Collective of Individuals

People are unique, biologically as well as Psychologically. We are a collective of individuals. Though many of us may share thoughts and opinions, preferences and relationships we must not be so blind as to assume we are the same. More importantly we must not be so stupid as to assume other people are the same. In this society the focus is on the groups we reside in and our conformity to them, from racial and sexual groups, through nationality to music tastes. But the concept that we are at any time a part of a group is a sordid fallacy. We are never part of a group, group membership is purely a part of us, no more. We are a race of unbelievable diversity and potential but until we accept the diversity of people we cannot reach the potential. we are not mods or rockers, we are not men and women, we are not rich or poor, we are people, we are on race, one species, one tiny speck of dust in the infinite cosmos.

This is not a difficult conept to overcome in itself it is the practicle application of it that is difficult, we are to some extent naturally deisgned to group people in an innate defence, but to overcome nature is not impossible, if anything the human race is proof of that fact. So what do we do with this concept, we destroy our preconceptions of all people and groups and only accept the information we recieve and at all times consider the individual as seperate to the group. We must strive to support the individual and all individuals, to nourish our own individuality, to broaden our horizons in as many ways that we can reach. We must always seek out the beauty of the unique. We are a collective of indiviuals, every one of us an I.

A View To Start With

I have studied numerous social theories to a reasonable degree and I find them lacking. The issue comes to this; they are out dated and no longer appropriate. Now lots of work is done looking at the old greats and tweaking them, taking parts and modernising them or trying to desperately apply them to new technologies or situations. Therefore I feel the time is now when new social theory is need, not reboots of old but ones freshly carved, they may well be heavily influenced by previous theory but they are a foundation not the body. Theories that exist influence many things and as they grow stale so the things they influence slow and become stale. This generation is one of many benefits and these are not benefits we should resent, they are things many of us have come by through toil and they support us, to eschew them is idiocy. Also we must look to a new theory that benefits and unites all people; a revolution is needed but not one of the past. We need not throw down any shackles nor pick up any weapons, we must throw down and prejudices and pick up our pens. This is not about reactionary thinking but striving forward, as a people, a species, a whole collective and most importantly a collective of individuals. We are all the same in our unique nature and this is something to be embraced and encouraged. This is an age of wealth for many, of information and of infinite potential. The future is forever before us, we need only reach out for it.

Loving the enemy: Why we should give Rupert Murdoch a break

One thing that over the last few weeks that has been inescapable is the current crisis for empire Murdoch. How many of us have delighted to see his company stumble in it’s BskyB bid, how we laughed as they announced the death of News Of The World. Oh it has been a good week for us. The illegal actions taken by those at NewsCorps finally seem to be being brought to some justice. Everything seems to be just as it should. But I do have an odd feeling in my gut, a bitter taste in my mouth.  Know now that I in no way support the phone hacking scandal, though I have some issues with celebrities and they concepts of rights to privacy I do honestly believe that they have right to some privacy at least. With the emergence of new evidence that phone hacking was done to the late Milly Dowler and may have caused a delay in her case only infuriates me. The feeling in my stomach and the bitter taste in my mouth is that I know in part the attacks on NewsCorp and its infamous ruler Rupert Murdoch is nothing more than pretentious bullshit.

It seems many people hate Murdoch for one thing, that he is good at what he does, that he is very successful. But why should we. He started out with a newspaper in Australia and has since used his good business knowledge as well as a talent to know what people want to spread his empire far and wide. He owns newspapers and internet domains, programmes and broadcasting companies. He is friends with many people in high places. Yes there’s another thing people may not believe, the reason he meets with lots of important people is probably because they move in the same circles and may well be genuine friends. Obviously some will be crying out in anger at the fact that many of the companies under his enormous wing publish inflammatory news and celebrity gossip as well as general rubbish and right wing propaganda. But unfortunately for those screaming out that would seem to be what is popular, and for someone who owns a company it makes sense to sell what’s popular. Besides the concept that we should only put out high class complicatedly written left sympathising papers is elitist bollocks and nothing more that censorship.

So I implore you to be angry at the hacking scandal to cheer the punishment being rightly levelled, but don’t make a monster where there isn’t one. Rupert Murdoch does not hide under your bed and whisper evils in your ears. He publishes information in a format that pleases a great number of people, don’t like it, don’t buy it.

A Cynical Mood

I am in a fairly bitter and cynical mood today with little reason but it seems to be making me a bit of a bastard in my thoughts at least. I have come across several things today whilst wasting my time on the internet and all ready I feel the desire to publish little links and comments full of spite. But I stop myself and it’s given me a sight in to how much people must lie to each other (as I am sure I’m not the only one).

So many of us claim to be honest people, open with our thoughts and feelings, in many cases it’s just taken as accepted. But I am not particularly honest and I should imagine that was I a bit looser with my thoughts and feelings I would upset, and offend and end up even more bitter and twisted and alone. What would happen if everyone took just one day in which they posted things as they thought them, if they just said what they meant, if they answered every question with a truly honest answer? What would we find out about each other? About ourselves?

Maybe it’s just today’s strange tide of cynicism in me but I think we would find that we are more than we could ever imagine.