Comparisons in a world of Individualism

  It's a very simple concept. Do what makes you happy, not what makes others happy or interested in you. We often like to think of ourselves as different, unique, distinct, as that gives us a bigger sense of the ego. Charm. A sense of superiority. We're happy about it. But even in our pursuit of weirdness we can still seek to be perceived. To be interesting. Worthy of attention.

  It makes sense. We are social animals. We need to talk, we create social hierarchies, we avoid conflict and want to make genuine connections. Today however, those things seem quite hard to obtain. 

  

  Individualism is not a movement we collectively chose all at the same time. One would be naive to close their eyes towards the very clear signs of elites and governmental powers, as well as corporate monopolies succeeding at a separation of the population, disruption of communities and replacement of relationships with an AI girlfriend that's always ready to tell you exactly what you want to hear (please stop using AI I am begging). We are better controlled ants when we are separated from the colony. 

  It is fine, I must mention, to be an introvert. The younger generation, my fellow gen z's and our pupils, gen Alpha, were raised already at the end wits of capitalism. With the rise of technology. Our parents chose to leave us with gaming consoles, unprotected access to the internet and gave us the Ipad so we'd stop crying in the car, or the plane, or the restaurant, or at all. Instead of wasting money putting us in dance classes and sports, they let us spend the entire weekend playing games and watch youtubers that later became... controversial. Our senses of identity, our search for individuality, I believe, is connected to all of this.

  I don't necessarily want to go back to the y2k era (do not bring jeggings or uggs back please ty), but it is the closest thing we have to healthy tech. Personified tech. Helpful tech that doesn't make u dumber or completely dependent on it. I think, collectively, the general consensus, be your reasons what they may, is that we are, as a whole from all generations, rejecting modernity.

  There's no soul. No sense of community. No artistry anymore. There's no personality, no user control, no suspense, no fun. They gave us individualism in the beginning of the 2000's to then force us into conformity with minimalist consumerism painted white, grey and black. Anything that is sold in colors is more expensive. Apps and software all look the same. Platforms and online stores are all owned by the same companies. The individualistic philosophy became a self fulfilling prophecy of loneliness and isolation. A weapon to contain us in our houses, in our computers, in our phones. We were brainwashed to rely so much on electronics most of us can't follow the directions on a map. Search for good informational sources. Walk outside without an end goal and find our way back home eventually. Or simply read in a park or cafe. Talk to people as we wait for the bus.

  So to connect with the title of this post. Our idea of happiness and fulfillment will not be always the same as everyone else. There's people who hate traveling. There's people who don't like to exercise. People who despise sports and others who refuse to drink (like me \o/). Forcing people to conform to their idea of what you should do rather than what you want to do is not the right course of action. We must not ostracize the other simply because they are different. And we need to remember not to ostracize or isolate ourselves too. 

  It's ok to have lots of friends just as it is ok to have few. Never none.

  It's ok to enjoy spending more time at home than outside. But we need to touch grass from time to time.

  It's ok to be yourself. But if you want other people to accept you for you, you must be accepting of others too (as long as they're not bigots/intolerant people but you get the point we don't need to interact with those at all).