I think this self-censorship is also a disservice to your audience — and to society as a whole. If all the discourse that’s “allowed” ends up sounding like a slightly altered version of the same thing, the range of perspectives shrinks. People then have to become language critics, parsing micro-nuances just to decide what they think. Most won’t bother — it’s exhausting — and the debate shifts from ideas to clever turns of phrase. The beauty of bold ideas is that they’re easy to grasp. You know exactly what they mean, and you can decide where you stand without playing detective
Couldn't agree more. It truly is a disservice to everyone. I always enjoy people who speak their minds bc I know what to expect, even when I don't agree with the things they say. It actually makes disagreements easier bc you at least know they're being intellectually honest and engaging in good faith.
As someone well-versed in rocking the boat simply by being radically true, not serving the collective has a cost. Most people are transactional in nature, seeking validation above all.
I write satire in the pursuit of higher truth. My readers follow me for a time and then make a dramatic exit. They want the smug satisfaction that their perspective is the higher truth to possess it and wear it like a badge. But when I don’t pander to them, it makes them lash out. Even people who say they are open-minded are usually not.
I say this not to be a deterrent, but so often we hear “be true to yourself” or “practice self-love” sounds nice in theory but the reality is crucifixion by those who have a vested interest in staying small.
Great perspective. I think many people prefer to stick to their beliefs because their beliefs are tied to their identity. I'm a super curious person and I love satire—I think the weight it often carries in truth is much easier to digest bc it "threatens" your identity a little less. Most people are open-minded to the extent that it confirms their own biases.
What’s really fascinating is how most people build their entire identity on illusions, carefully reinforced by biases designed to keep the ego at the center so those illusions never shatter. This is why I don’t see “being true to oneself” as a deterrent, but as the very point of life. Yet the frameworks we’re handed rarely point to true north because the value system rewards keeping us safe in the padded cell of comfort.
Take the field of psychology for instance. Did you know mainstream frameworks for mental health are legacy systems, inherited rather than rooted in higher truth? This is why the philosophies in public discourse feels so flat, nihilistic, and allergic to nuance.
To break free, one has to dismantle everything you’ve been told is real by living in a kind of paradox. It’s exhausting work, but it’s also alchemy. Each time an old framework dissolves, a new one appears and all opportunities no longer suppressed by rigid beliefs are now possible and a renaissance begins. And it’s coming. Sooner or later, each of us will face a choice to change who we are or quietly slide into irrelevance as the world moves onto a new era.
Yes, this resonates deeply. Funny enough, I just posted this to X this morning and am actually working on making it a longer piece for Substack. I think they encompass a lot of what you're talking about here.
Another great article! Thank you so much for being clear and challenging me to practice not sanitising my thoughts
tysm, Zinz! glad to hear they're resonating with you :)
I think this self-censorship is also a disservice to your audience — and to society as a whole. If all the discourse that’s “allowed” ends up sounding like a slightly altered version of the same thing, the range of perspectives shrinks. People then have to become language critics, parsing micro-nuances just to decide what they think. Most won’t bother — it’s exhausting — and the debate shifts from ideas to clever turns of phrase. The beauty of bold ideas is that they’re easy to grasp. You know exactly what they mean, and you can decide where you stand without playing detective
Couldn't agree more. It truly is a disservice to everyone. I always enjoy people who speak their minds bc I know what to expect, even when I don't agree with the things they say. It actually makes disagreements easier bc you at least know they're being intellectually honest and engaging in good faith.
Brillant ⭐️
tysm, Gregory 🫶
As someone well-versed in rocking the boat simply by being radically true, not serving the collective has a cost. Most people are transactional in nature, seeking validation above all.
I write satire in the pursuit of higher truth. My readers follow me for a time and then make a dramatic exit. They want the smug satisfaction that their perspective is the higher truth to possess it and wear it like a badge. But when I don’t pander to them, it makes them lash out. Even people who say they are open-minded are usually not.
I say this not to be a deterrent, but so often we hear “be true to yourself” or “practice self-love” sounds nice in theory but the reality is crucifixion by those who have a vested interest in staying small.
Great perspective. I think many people prefer to stick to their beliefs because their beliefs are tied to their identity. I'm a super curious person and I love satire—I think the weight it often carries in truth is much easier to digest bc it "threatens" your identity a little less. Most people are open-minded to the extent that it confirms their own biases.
What’s really fascinating is how most people build their entire identity on illusions, carefully reinforced by biases designed to keep the ego at the center so those illusions never shatter. This is why I don’t see “being true to oneself” as a deterrent, but as the very point of life. Yet the frameworks we’re handed rarely point to true north because the value system rewards keeping us safe in the padded cell of comfort.
Take the field of psychology for instance. Did you know mainstream frameworks for mental health are legacy systems, inherited rather than rooted in higher truth? This is why the philosophies in public discourse feels so flat, nihilistic, and allergic to nuance.
To break free, one has to dismantle everything you’ve been told is real by living in a kind of paradox. It’s exhausting work, but it’s also alchemy. Each time an old framework dissolves, a new one appears and all opportunities no longer suppressed by rigid beliefs are now possible and a renaissance begins. And it’s coming. Sooner or later, each of us will face a choice to change who we are or quietly slide into irrelevance as the world moves onto a new era.
Yes, this resonates deeply. Funny enough, I just posted this to X this morning and am actually working on making it a longer piece for Substack. I think they encompass a lot of what you're talking about here.
hard truths:
habits shape destiny
comfort is a slow poison
all certainty is an illusion
perception shapes reality
hesitation compounds like debt
no one cares about your excuses
you either use time or time uses you
the system isn’t designed to save you