I find the discourse of 'everyone should be free to be their true, authentic selves' troubling. Have we considered the possibility that one's 'true self' might be pretty unpleasant? That repressing it might be the key to upholding the thin veneer that is civilised existence?
I don't think that I am deep down some amazing human being who is constantly being suppressed by, like, you know, all these rules invented to keep us in little boxes, man. It's only the structures & restraints of society, the family & religion that prevent me being SO much worse
Left to my own devices without those things I'd probably be sitting around all day in my underpants watching Challenge TV, eating ice cream and day drinking. That's why I am generally so keen to impose those disciplines on myself. I might be a sinner, but at least I know I am
And before some atheist says 'so it's only religion & society that keeps you from being a savage, some of us are capable of being a good person without such things' ...nah. You've probably fallen very far from original righteousness yourself, you're just better at self-delusion
Maybe there are all these people wandering about who are just naturally good and are free from the impulse to be bloody selfish, nasty and exploitative, free from greed and violence and lust. But I know it's not true of myself and I'd pretty surprised if it's true of anyone
Loading suggestions...