Being the Perfect Leftist vs Being Who You Are

[Taboo Tongue]

[Please move to correct forum if necessary. This is a serious question about self-awareness]

One could act like the perfect little leftist, color blind to race, see no differences between genders, maybe pitty the lumpen, and more over try to think as though they are the proletariat of the future.
I think that person would be a liar. A phony.
Doing things because and believing in ways they learn is "right" or even "hip." Because 'that's what a leftist would do'.

And you know what, I've caught myself doing this too.

I'm a class conscience worker, not because communism is the way forward---but because capitalism fucked me too hard, and I had a upbringing that allowed me and, unintentionally, pushed me to learn about fighting capitalist.
Anti-Capitalism is personal to me. That's 'why' I like communism (it's in my interest). It's not just some cool idea.

Now coming from that starting point...
I know racism is wrong, and I haven't liked it since I was 7 (when I remember getting upset over the N word being used at home), BUT---that's not to say I'm not prejudice. And anyone who says they don't pre-judge is a lying ass wannabe of somethin' they're not---a perfect little red; and they're not living in the real world.

If you put a "Black," "White," and "Mexican" man in front of me all with dirty clothes with some small holes in them. I know they're all humans but, I'll tell you right now---I'm going to automatically think the Black and White men are dope fiends, and the Mexican looking man just got off work.
Now that is ridiculous. But because I am a historical being and have had life experiences and am impacted by the dominate culture---That'll be what I think. And beleive you me, I've been spots where that's what I was basing my decision off of.

I go to a party. I see 3 women I don't know; I'm going to talk to the most attractive one first. It is what it is.
And if you're a male: Unless you somehow stand out, I probably won't talk to you right off, because I don't feel I can trust you (even after I get to know you)---Because I have had experiences.

Maybe that makes me a pig to some, maybe that makes me a racist to others; but I am who I am; and I'm not fake. And I suggest anyone who accuses me of either, take a good hard look at themselves, and who they are deep down inside versus who they wish they were.
I am not Mr. Perfect, I am a product of my surroundings (which also continue to push me to be better).

So at what point do YOU stop trying to be the perfect little leftist, and embrace who you really are (a worker in the 21st century).

'You gotta be the change you want to see in the world.'
But 'you also gotta be you'. =D

So where do YOU draw that line?

[L.A.P.]

A. Why is this in the philosophy forum?
B. What the hell are you ranting about?

[ZeroNowhere]

1. Socialism is not a lifestyle. There is no such thing as a 'perfect socialist lifestyle', nor is there even a 'good socialist lifestyle'.

2. In any case, we are irrelevant.

3. 'Ethics? Doing what is right? Trying to improve oneself? How inauthentic, man.' Apparently trying to live according to what one thinks is right is not being true to oneself, because apparently what one thinks is right is not a constituent part of oneself. If a person saw the described state as being what they ought to be, then I can't comprehend how they would be untrue to themselves or whatever to attempt to attain it. One never lives in absolute stasis. In any case, stop trying to pretend that your shortcomings are actually virtues.

4. If a person enjoys and wishes to become good at a sport, then are they being phonies if they practice and exercise to become better at it? Are all good players who were not such from the womb phonies? Are they perhaps less 'phony' if they wish to be good at the sport but don't just in case it might make them phony?

6. Have you read 'The Catcher in the Rye' recently? Just wondering.

[thesadmafioso]

Perhaps you are confused with the definition of philosophy, as nothing which you have thrown together in this disheveled post bears any relevance to this subject.

But regardless of this misinterpretation, I will take a brief moment to address what seems to be your primary point. Your individual experience is far too limited for you to act upon it in the manner which you have described yourself as doing. Most any individual is not capable of acting on cultural conditioning, as it is a factor which does not impart knowledge in an impartial and objective fashion. You need to learn to separate your capacity for judgement from the biased engagements of your own life, as you are only regulating yourself to a frame of reference which will distort your world view.

[Rafiq]

And what is "Who you are"? A product of a capitalist environment? A product of Bourgeois educational indoctrination?

You and I are nothing. We are who we choose to be.

[Meridian]

"Being who you are" is perhaps the most rubbish form of popular pseudo-psychological phrases that keeps popping up these days. "Just be yourself". Blagh.

[Franz Fanonipants]

I'm a class conscience worker, not because communism is the way forward---but because capitalism fucked me too hard, and I had a upbringing that allowed me and, unintentionally, pushed me to learn about fighting capitalist.

lol

anyways. stop posting and go read capital or something.

[Rudi]

"Being who you are" is perhaps the most rubbish form of popular pseudo-psychological phrases that keeps popping up these days. "Just be yourself". Blagh.

Yes, exactly....it implies we have some sort of essence....hearing that capitalistic and individualistic phrase makes me cringe.

Interesting post, though, I would agree with you that we leftist do indeed have some of these prejudices which you mentioned, but, theoretically we know these prejudices to be non-sense...and therefore we must overcome…or transcend these prejudices in reality. For example, I think an authentic way of living a revolutionary life would be to self-criticise ourselves constantly as you say you do, but where we differ maybe is the fact that you seem to be slightly proud of your essence...or "who you really are". Yes we are conditioned socially, economically etc. but the very awareness of this fact implies we harbour the intellectual means to break away from these conditionings in order to achieve something like communism, i.e. we must overcome are conditioning, not resign ourselves to it.

I also differ in the reasons why I am a communist; instead of feeling that I have been "completely fucked over by capitalism", I am more interested in communism as a move forward, a means to achieve complete equality; though it may be an economic step backwards for us first world workers and left intellectuals. Living in the "first world" I don't feel fucked to the extent that I want to change the system; rather, I want to change things due to the fact that others, primarily the "third world", are completely fucked!, and would be prepared to sacrifice the privilege we first world workers experience compared to the third world in order to achieve equality by abolishing capitalism; not falling into economism because we have been fucked!

[CommieTroll]

A. Why is this in the philosophy forum?
B. What the hell are you ranting about?

He's addressing people who hide their true feelings to fit the ''leftist status quo''.
People who jump on the band wagon because an idea is cool or makes them stand out, I've been around people like this my whole life and western culture thrives on behavior like this

[Rudi]

I disagree with some of the opinions above i.e. that the opening post is irrelevant and that socialism isn't a life style.

I would argue that we socialists do live a socialist life style, or rather, we experience it individually as such. I disagree that analysing our sincerity in being leftists or what we truly think as opposed to what we say is irrelevant. I believe it imperative to discuss how we socialists are to comport ourselves in the struggle.

[REVLEFT'S BIEGGST MATSER TROL]

You have a serious misunderstanding of leftism if you feel that wanting to be in contact with people you are attracted to more than people you aren't attracted to makes you a bad leftist.

[REVLEFT'S BIEGGST MATSER TROL]

"Being who you are" is perhaps the most rubbish form of popular pseudo-psychological phrases that keeps popping up these days. "Just be yourself". Blagh.

I like it though! Its true, I mean, it doesn't make any literal sense, but the meaning people take from it tends to be "don't be ashamed for not feeling or behaving in a certain way", which I think is a good message!

[the Leftâ„¢]

A. Why is this in the philosophy forum?
B. What the hell are you ranting about?

+1 :lol:

[Broletariat]

See for me, there's no difference between the two options you posted.

[IndependentCitizen]

Lol, nice rant.

I had a nice cup of tea today, but it wasn't proper tea, as property is theft.

[Taboo Tongue]

"Being who you are" is perhaps the most rubbish form of popular pseudo-psychological phrases that keeps popping up these days. "Just be yourself". Blagh.

Yes, exactly....it implies we have some sort of essence....hearing that capitalistic and individualistic phrase makes me cringe.
Interesting, would you care to expound?



Interesting post, though, I would agree with you that we leftist do indeed have some of these prejudices which you mentioned, but, theoretically we know these prejudices to be non-sense...and therefore we must overcome…or transcend these prejudices in reality. For example, I think an authentic way of living a revolutionary life would be to self-criticise ourselves constantly as you say you do, but where we differ maybe is the fact that you seem to be slightly proud of your essence...or "who you really are". Yes we are conditioned socially, economically etc. but the very awareness of this fact implies we harbour the intellectual means to break away from these conditionings in order to achieve something like communism, i.e. we must overcome are conditioning, not resign ourselves to it.
Now 'that's juicy'.
And I think really gets down to the point of what I was trying to get at. Especially:
"Yes we are conditioned socially, economically etc. but the very awareness of this fact implies we harbour the intellectual means to break away from these conditionings..."
I feel a lot of people do that on the outside---but not on the inside.
So the question is, how hard do you push yourself to fit your principles? (Or are your principles an expression of you)

I really don't push myself (for better or worse), I put my politics deep in my heart. But I don't try to front and be fake around anyone. I have my short comings.
(And not to go Off Topic, but that's why I feel it's necessary to consciously build a balanced political group. I 'can't' ever really think like a woman with black skin here in the US, our mindsets have been conditioned 'to be different')
I kind of just 'go with the flow' and let myself become more humble and what not (note: I'm a "white-male") as I grow attached to other people. Not just trying to study them as though I could 'really' put myself in their shoes. <-THAT'S fucking arrogant.

[Meridian]

"Just be yourself."

Who else could anyone ever be, unless they are masquerading as someone else? This sentence is used to delineate a particular form of behavior, which is not more or less an example of "being one self" than any other form of behavior.

You should usually not feel guilt about your own behavior or succumb to social pressure. Not because in doing so you are not "being yourself", but because in doing so you change what you are and how you act, not because you desire that yourself, but because you desire the recognition of others.

[Franz Fanonipants]

So the question is, how hard do you push yourself to fit your principles? (Or are your principles an expression of you)


I don't. If you have to push yourself to fit your principles, you're fucking useless.

[Comrade_Oscar]

Capitalism has created racism and even us leftists are exposed to it and it is in our minds and that is something we all can say is true. But we should try to get over this and create a society that does not give racial stereotypes and the problem will eventually die down. However I do not think that people will stop judging each other because that is part of being human.

[ZeroNowhere]

"Just be yourself."

Who else could anyone ever be, unless they are masquerading as someone else? This sentence is used to delineate a particular form of behavior, which is not more or less an example of "being one self" than any other form of behavior.

You should usually not feel guilt about your own behavior or succumb to social pressure. Not because in doing so you are not "being yourself", but because in doing so you change what you are and how you act, not because you desire that yourself, but because you desire the recognition of others.I'm fairly sure that the last part is essentially just what the admonition to 'be yourself' means. Act in accordance with how you wish to act, rather than acting like what somebody else desires your to be (so, for example, if one did not desire to be racist, this could entail trying to not be racist). Your problems with the phrase seem semantic more than anything else, but one would hardly object to somebody asking one to shut one's trap by declaring that one is not in fact a hunter and may or may not be vegan.

Or, at least, not with a straight face.

[W1N5T0N]

well, if you are prejudiced, just try to see things in a different way and not the way that the stupid right wing media that seems to dominate most television today portrays people...you should stop thinking about things like "oh he´s black" or "hmm a mexican". Acknowledge it and then move on. I mean, who really cares? Furthermore, you can`t be "the perfect leftist". (S)He does not exist. There are so many tendencies in leftism that constantly battle each other and differ in several important issue. Stalinists vs. Trotskyists, for example. If you try and be the perfect leftists, you gonna end up like a fucking clone. Being who you are should attract you to leftism anyway, if thats how you feel. From there on, you have to decide for yourself which way you want to go. Keep in mind that recognizing one`s faults is the first step to improving yourself (hope that doesn´t sounds too lame ;)

[W1N5T0N]

ps. if you are were a product of your surroundings, you would probably be a capitalist, no?

[Meridian]

I'm fairly sure that the last part is essentially just what the admonition to 'be yourself' means. Act in accordance with how you wish to act, rather than acting like what somebody else desires your to be (so, for example, if one did not desire to be racist, this could entail trying to not be racist). Your problems with the phrase seem semantic more than anything else, but one would hardly object to somebody asking one to shut one's trap by declaring that one is not in fact a hunter and may or may not be vegan.

Or, at least, not with a straight face.
However, to act in a way that is "like oneself" is simply to act in a particular sort of way. As far as I can see, the phrase is in general not used simply to say "don't worry about what others think". (Which I would have no problems with, and which would be analogous to your "shut one's trap" example). It's based on the supposition that one form of behavior that a person has is more in line with their essential character than another form of behavior of theirs. While I would argue that any behavior of a person are equally behaviors of that person, unless they happen to be mimicking others.

It seems to me to have a normative streak in its usage, but that might be more dependent on the particular usage which I am accustomed to (which is not in English).