Great read mate. I really like how you pen your ideas. :)
Self-envy is something I've never really thought about. I had a faint idea that people might try and actualise their manufactured internet selves but I never bothered about it since I became a social media hermit since college. But now that I'm actively using Substack, it makes me wonder, since with Notes, we writers also have a platform where everyone can paint a persona of themselves.
Self-envy is scary, do you think writers on Substack can fall prey to it?
I think everyone can fall prey to it. On Substack, I would say that most people start with an ideal in mind (subscribers, reads, fast growth...) even if they don't admit it. We envy the writers we could have been, and mourn the stories we haven't told.
The mention of mirror Echoism was insightful, and mimetic desire does indeed drive much of our behavior. As someone who has unintentionally been sporting the “no makeup” look since conception, I’m aware of the negative attitudes that society maintains when interacting with the physical form in all its imperfection. But I can’t imagine changing myself in order to curry favor with others or appease some sense of vanity. To each their own.
"As someone who has unintentionally been sporting the “no makeup” look since conception..." 👏
Two thoughts:
- I suppose (with zero data, so challenge me if it's nonsense) that people more worried about aligning their appearance with the norm would be more vulnerable to the social media 'looks' ideals.
- Changing yourself needn't be physical. I think we all - consciously or not - mold ourselves following an ideal, achievable or not, physical or not. It's a difficult balancing exercise, finding that person you want to be, the people you envy (without jealousy), and not be consumed by listing your flaws. (That reflection, however, might be overly colored by my own experiences ;).)
Your second point reminds me of a Richard Feynman quote: “Fall in love with some activity, and do it! Nobody ever figures out what life is all about, and it doesn't matter. Explore the world. Nearly everything is really interesting if you go into it deeply enough. Work as hard and as much as you want to on the things you like to do the best. Don't think about what you want to be, but what you want to do. Keep up some kind of a minimum with other things so that society doesn't stop you from doing anything at all.”
Keeping up some level of societal acceptability seems necessary to make headways in nearly any field.
"Don't think about what you want to be, but what you want to do. Keep up some kind of a minimum with other things so that society doesn't stop you from doing anything at all.”
Great read mate. I really like how you pen your ideas. :)
Self-envy is something I've never really thought about. I had a faint idea that people might try and actualise their manufactured internet selves but I never bothered about it since I became a social media hermit since college. But now that I'm actively using Substack, it makes me wonder, since with Notes, we writers also have a platform where everyone can paint a persona of themselves.
Self-envy is scary, do you think writers on Substack can fall prey to it?
Thanks, Yashraj!
I think everyone can fall prey to it. On Substack, I would say that most people start with an ideal in mind (subscribers, reads, fast growth...) even if they don't admit it. We envy the writers we could have been, and mourn the stories we haven't told.
True, I agree about the ideal thing. Interesting, I hope we can dodge it for as long as possible for the sake of our well-being. :)
The mention of mirror Echoism was insightful, and mimetic desire does indeed drive much of our behavior. As someone who has unintentionally been sporting the “no makeup” look since conception, I’m aware of the negative attitudes that society maintains when interacting with the physical form in all its imperfection. But I can’t imagine changing myself in order to curry favor with others or appease some sense of vanity. To each their own.
"As someone who has unintentionally been sporting the “no makeup” look since conception..." 👏
Two thoughts:
- I suppose (with zero data, so challenge me if it's nonsense) that people more worried about aligning their appearance with the norm would be more vulnerable to the social media 'looks' ideals.
- Changing yourself needn't be physical. I think we all - consciously or not - mold ourselves following an ideal, achievable or not, physical or not. It's a difficult balancing exercise, finding that person you want to be, the people you envy (without jealousy), and not be consumed by listing your flaws. (That reflection, however, might be overly colored by my own experiences ;).)
Your second point reminds me of a Richard Feynman quote: “Fall in love with some activity, and do it! Nobody ever figures out what life is all about, and it doesn't matter. Explore the world. Nearly everything is really interesting if you go into it deeply enough. Work as hard and as much as you want to on the things you like to do the best. Don't think about what you want to be, but what you want to do. Keep up some kind of a minimum with other things so that society doesn't stop you from doing anything at all.”
Keeping up some level of societal acceptability seems necessary to make headways in nearly any field.
"Don't think about what you want to be, but what you want to do. Keep up some kind of a minimum with other things so that society doesn't stop you from doing anything at all.”
I like that!