Let's talk about being anti-establishment.
I have this default attitude of challenging any sort of authority. The 'authority' often shifts from person to person.
At a young age, it was my parents and family who were the authority. In school, it was my teachers, in my job, it's my bosses or whoever is paying me.
And ultimately, the authority is now the Government.
But I've been wondering for a while what was the origin of this anti-authority attitude.
The first answer is in my childhood. I was a terrible af student, didn't really excel at anything and I always felt like adults hated me. So I hated them back.
Second answer is in power structures. Since I really didn't have any real power or felt like I had any, it was always a game of taking power away from others.
My attempt is to Redistribute that power to people who need it.
Now I can detect a power hungry human being from miles away. Earlier I used to slink away and not really deal with them, but now I actively seek them out.
Now I try to chip away at that power they have accumulated over the years and give it to other people who don't have any.
In my head, nobody deserves to have insane amount of control over other human beings.
Pretty much explains my attitude towards everything.
There is an element of saviour complex here, of course. But then I also think about how privileged I am that I am able to even think like this.
That too is power, in its own way. Knowledge IS power. So if you are an anti-establishment person like me, understand that you're not alone.
Hi5!
Sidenote: This is the kind of stuff I'm going to use Mastodon for. Going to try and spark conversations like these as much as I can.
So please, do express your thoughts on being anti-establishment and what it means for you.
I'm listening eagerly!
@Memeghnad I wouldn't know where I fall in the spectrum of anti-establishment, because I'm compelled to follow rules and procedures (bringing this point up because you said you were anti-establishment as a kid, against authorities like parents/teachers). But all of that respect/obedience toward that authoritarian figure goes out the window the moment I perceive them to be unjust to me or others.
But after years of conditioning to be a "good girl who listens to everyone", I'm still unlearning.
@Neeneen whatever little I've seen about authority figures, they start off with implementing rules and regulations but then start to twist those rules in their favour.
Most authorities, after the power gets to their head, start believing they're above the law and invincible. That's just how human nature works.
So before they get to this point, anti-establishment folks need to temper them down a bit.
@Memeghnad also, I just realized: all of that anger I feel towards an unjust/power-tripping authoritarian figure? I still don't know where to put it, so I end up cynical and bitter.
Speaking up means breaking out and *that* takes guts.
@Neeneen I redirect my anger and turn it into lame jokes. Heh.
I often find that when my anger builds up, I blurt it out on one form or another. The audience helps me temper it down a lot. It's important to speak up!
@VivekT Of course. So I think if you're anti-establishment just to be anti, the authority actually gets more strength.
Effective anti-establishment attitude would be to understand the nature of authority and suggest alternatives BEFORE trying to chip away at power structures.
@Memeghnad keeping power in check is the basis of a just society. Studies have proven that decentralized units where power and decision making is distributed are more efficient systems (not just on the Internet but also in public institutions 😅).
Hoping to keep standing for equality and challenge the status quo. (n)
@CharismaticSal_ @Memeghnad yes, you're right! Rules are made so that the powerful remain in power.
@tariquesani "Justice" is often defined by the establishment. And the idea keeps changing depending on who holds the reigns.
You might have a different idea of Justice than I do!
@Memeghnad idk man, anti-authoritarianism for me's always been the idea rejecting being forced to do anything. If I'm not in a position to reject, I just annoy the authorities w questions.
In the principal's office being told to cut my shoulder length hair:
"Ma'am aapke bhi to lambe baal hai"
"wo alag hai"
"kyun?"
"Suspend hona hai?"
"Baalon ke liye?"
"Shibesh, get a haircut. This is not an argument"
"It can be a discussion"
This exact scene has played out at least thrice in my school life.
@Memeghnad While growing up as a kid, heard/read too many stories of Indian freedom fighters, and how they were anti-establishment. It was very clear that to stay on power, every person/family/govt will do all bad things possible & not everyone has the courage to question them.
Asking questions about the norm and doing things what I felt right caused enough troubles in school life, but, every time I felt good about it personally. The same attitude now still continues in life.
@Memeghnad The Internet helped to find and make connections with people who think different than the average friends/family.
For a person like who got laughed at for everything I did in my school/college/most of office life, finding and meeting those other people helped to think more about life in general, about the politics in general, and how governments. function.
@rthom @Memeghnad including judges.
They dont want to hear junior lawyers
Hmmm. I sometimes feel, if you're born queer, especially visibly, you have already kind of been enrolled into anti-establishmentarianism right away before your conscience even unfolds. I guess what it boils down to is how far you would push it, as you gradually locate your presence underneath your own skin (Or how far you'd go to shed it.)
@sankarshan yeah. I understand where you come from. But there just cannot be a situation without power structures. Someone will always be more privileged over someone else.
The thing is about someone with too much power to control lives around them. That's the worrying part.
@Memeghnad @atm404 for a lot of folks, that tone will feel very very soothing. Very Dad-like. Speaks to their inner child, sparks that same unconditional love they had for Dad as a 6 year old, which we now term as "Bhakti".
PS: I'm having too much fun psychoanalyzing India's mainstream collective consciousness. 😋
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