Disclaimer

If you read this blog with any kind of frequency, you will likely begin to notice some of my convictions coming through in what I select to post. Sometimes these are positive proclamations of where I stand, but often they take the shape of criticisms of those with whom I disagree. And while I generally try to be understanding and avoid being overly mocking, I'm sure sometimes I can seem contemptuous and condescending. But you should understand that much of the disdain that comes through is really frustration with my own hypocrisy. I may have some passionate beliefs, but I feel that I turn very few of them into meaningful action. So if it seems I'm judging others a bit harshly, realize that I judge my own inaction even more so.

First, a few general things from the MBTI descriptions I posted:

INTJs are perfectionists, with a seemingly endless capacity for improving upon anything that takes their interest. What prevents them from becoming chronically bogged down in this pursuit of perfection is the pragmatism so characteristic of the type: INTJs apply (often ruthlessly) the criterion "Does it work?" to everything from their own research efforts to the prevailing social norms.(1)

I set very high standards for myself.(2) (and)

Perceived futility can make you shut down, and you will suffer intense feelings of failure if your end product is not "perfect." A good supervisor will give you praise for all successes. A bad one will only add to your stress by pointing out problems you already know about for which you are probably already punishing yourself.(3)

Next, a bit of theory: I don't have a reference to share, but in one of my social ethics classes the professor was talking about the civil rights movement. She mentioned a prominent thinker who had said that for white Americans to truly help black Americans, they need to deny their whiteness. This doesn't mean we should act color blind and deny the way our racial backgrounds inform our identities (ala Stephen Colbert), but that we should make every effort to abandon the inherent privilege that comes from being white in our society. It’s not enough to simply “do no harm.” You can be a perfectly nice person who never does anything overtly racist, yet still unwittingly contribute to the problem. The oppression is systemic, is a part of our societal structures and shapes our interactions whether we want it to or not. There are certain advantages that white people are simply born into, advantages that people of color don’t have access to. Unless we take steps to actively change the system, it will continue to perpetuate itself. One of the fundamental first steps is to refuse to accept the privileges we are handed and instead live and work in solidarity with those whom the system oppresses.

I used race as a way of introducing the concept, but the idea applies across the board. So I suppose the most authentic way to address class, for instance, would be to donate all of your money and live with next to nothing, but I don’t think you have to be that radical. You just need to take the time to make very conscientious decisions about your dealings with money so that your financial advantages don’t come at the expense of others. Consider how you make your money and where you spend it. There are many different levels of action. It can be as everyday as a man not taking the easy route to hang out watching football on Thanksgiving while all the women work in the kitchen. The point is to not just accept what’s given you but to take action to change things since they won’t change themselves, and the person with the privilege in the dynamic is the one with the power to do something about it.

So that’s the standard I hold myself to, and I generally find myself wanting. I’m liberal to the point of being socialist, yet enjoy a consumer capitalist lifestyle. I feel we are destroying the environment, yet do next to nothing to curb my energy consumption, don’t bother to recycle because it’s too much bother, and produce massive amounts of trash/waste. I have a religious degree and strong convictions, but am not active in a church. I believe it’s important to educate the poor, yet work in a suburb. Instead of using some of my free time to volunteer somewhere, I take advantage of having the luxury to escape reality through activities like D&D and exorbitant exercise. About my only redeeming practice is that I work in a non-profit, helping profession. Beyond that I feel I do almost nothing to try to change the systemic problems to which I contribute.

So if sometimes I seem severe in what I choose to point out on this blog, realize that the impetus is disappointment with my own laziness-induced impotence to do anything about it.