GetInTheSoup!
Smash Rookie
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2009
- Messages
- 13
So the history of people to this point shows how many of our cultures are obsessed with identity; who we are, why are we here, how we represent ourselves... Especially in a place like America where the term melting pot is supposed to be a core principle of our culture, the individual subcultures have an interesting time developing their own personal identities; what it is to be black, what it means to be goth, what it means to be a man, to be strong, to be perfect, to fall in love etc. Why is it so importantly exactly that we define ourselves in these ways, or have it defined for us as a society? Will someone tell me?
I believe its most of the reason why we judge: "I don't want to be like that person, that person is (insert subjective and degrading adjective here), my identity is different than that". Often how we communicate and what we are afraid of has a lot to do with our identities; our ideas on who we are and who we want to become are based on identity. It seems identity is one of the ultimate chicken and the egg things, wherein it is formed to some degree, mostly from information in the environment (typically information that ends in the benefit of that individual, as children, validation from our parents and caretakers is very formative) then finding out new information and judging it based on older experience., carving a new identity.
There is a lot more to be said, but I really want to hear the community's idea on identity, and if there is anything concerning the idea of non-identity: could that idea exist? Along the same lines, identity is based off of the self and others, so if you wanted to ascribe to a non-identifable existence, and society aims to identify you what does that say? Is being a non-identity the same as being a non-comformist (i.e. impossible because a group of those with that idea exists)? Thanks everyone
I believe its most of the reason why we judge: "I don't want to be like that person, that person is (insert subjective and degrading adjective here), my identity is different than that". Often how we communicate and what we are afraid of has a lot to do with our identities; our ideas on who we are and who we want to become are based on identity. It seems identity is one of the ultimate chicken and the egg things, wherein it is formed to some degree, mostly from information in the environment (typically information that ends in the benefit of that individual, as children, validation from our parents and caretakers is very formative) then finding out new information and judging it based on older experience., carving a new identity.
There is a lot more to be said, but I really want to hear the community's idea on identity, and if there is anything concerning the idea of non-identity: could that idea exist? Along the same lines, identity is based off of the self and others, so if you wanted to ascribe to a non-identifable existence, and society aims to identify you what does that say? Is being a non-identity the same as being a non-comformist (i.e. impossible because a group of those with that idea exists)? Thanks everyone
