The Destruction of Authenticity

It really is that deep

Caring has become suspicious. Too eager. Too earnest. People can read you like a book, and suddenly, you're too scared to show you actually give a damn. We say phrases like “It's not that deep” like armour and paint others who express passion as being “too much”. But why? When did being detached and nonchalant become the new norm? 

I've felt this most clearly in how passion is treated, as if the very act of being excited about something is a social misstep. We’ve all heard the term “try hard” at school; some of us might have even been the ones dishing it out. If we ran too quickly or actually tried during a presentation instead of laughing through it you’re looked upon negatively. Being fine is just perfect, but if it looks like you're celebrating your goal too much, then you're a try-hard and should lower yourself to everyone else's standard. 

This notion doesn't fade away once we leave school; if anything, it just gets worse. We hear terms like “performative male” or “cool girl” every day on social media, conforming our unique souls into a social construct. They’re diagnostic tools for understanding individuality and have weaponised simple acts like reading a book or wearing a tote bag. Once you step back and look at these terms, the more ludicrous they sound. Reading a book while drinking a coffee is seen as an insincere act; anyone who decides to turn their phone off and choose presence over digital distraction is deemed a performer. Ludicrous right? 

I think the death of authenticity derives from a rise in anti-intellectualism as well. People read less because ignorance really is bliss. And if you can watch a 10-second video for 2 hours with constant dopamine, why pick up a book that requires your patience and attention? Therefore, that person who chooses to do something analog instead of having their phone plastered in front of their face all the time is seen as the odd one out.

Being authentic takes effort; the destruction of authenticity derives from laziness. We don't want to put in the work anymore because we don't have to when the system encourages disengagement. 

I don't want to be that person, but maybe it really is our phones. They aren't just a tool to connect you to friends and family like they were 20 years ago; now they're a portal into a never-ending stream of nonsense, putting everyone into a certain box to make them feel a sense of belonging. But what is there to belong to? A trend? An idea? Our very presence is exquisite and extraordinary, and it would be a complete disservice to yourself to spend your whole life conforming to someone else's opinion of who and what you should be. 

Read more, know more, care more, make your one shot at life more memorable. Forget about conforming, wear whatever it is you want to wear, react however you want to react.

As, at the end of the day, we live and we die. So we may as well make the most of the short time we get on this interesting but exquisite floating rock. 

I understand it's not that easy and that social anxiety exists. Maybe you do want to skip down the path, listening to your favourite song, or speak passionately about a topic you're really interested in, but how other people will perceive you turns you off from being who you really want to be. It's daunting, I feel it too. I think we all do. But passion is cool, feelings are even better. Be chalant.