Mark, I've been following your content for years across social media. Even though I'm a stranger, I am profoundly changed by your work (and that of Kylie's as well). You have just so professionally spoken to a very contentious topic, and done so with dignity and respect for all of humanity. As the other responses stated, this resonates, is wildly refreshing, and I thank you for it. Keep being you.
So well said. My husband and I have been having similar conversations behind closed doors and it’s made me feel ‘othered’ again, much like when the v&x was coming out and I was on the other side of popular opinion. Thank you for articulating and sharing this - bringing all of us ‘radical’ folks a breath of fresh air.
The collective gaslighting is quite destabilizing! However, when I see it all with compassion I recognize that the way to thrive in this culture is to present as being "all-in" on every aspect of mainstream ideologies in order to preserve social safety.
Congratulations on bringing so much depth and nuance to a subject that can stir up so much reactivity and resistance. The dance between accountability and alienation is one that requires so many skills that we're not taught to master within ourselves and therefore struggle to embody with others... Grace and Love are the answers and it's so fascinating to see that we've made it so extremely hard to find either in the name both! Thank you for this essay that has planted new seeds in my heart 🤲🏻🎁
Mark, your writing is raw, authentic and intimate. Keep writing and sharing.
You have such wisdom and the gift of translating that wisdom into spoken and written word. Persevere with these gifts even in the face of reactive culture. ~Liz from Create the Love Community
I love this. It captured well how I feel ... so often. I'm exhausted by the moralizing. With some you can't even "agree to disagree" as that offends them! I try to stay informed about all sides as I'm a curious person and like to keep my mind open. But sometimes the entitlement and moralizing of the left provokes such a reaction in me that I just can't read it.
I call the same 'absolutism'. Rigidity of ideas and ideologies. I thought I came up with that term only to realize that it already existed in the lexicon because I guess absolutists have always existed. The internet and social media has only managed to widen the chasm.
At times I feel sorry for the people who have been gaslighted by the status quo into worshipping totally asinine ideas. People can't think for themselves anymore and when they do, certainly can't think objectively.
Mark, I've been following your content for years across social media. Even though I'm a stranger, I am profoundly changed by your work (and that of Kylie's as well). You have just so professionally spoken to a very contentious topic, and done so with dignity and respect for all of humanity. As the other responses stated, this resonates, is wildly refreshing, and I thank you for it. Keep being you.
Thank you so much! Was a wonderful comment to read. It's hard to write these in the face of a reactive culture, but necessary in order to grow myself.
So well said. My husband and I have been having similar conversations behind closed doors and it’s made me feel ‘othered’ again, much like when the v&x was coming out and I was on the other side of popular opinion. Thank you for articulating and sharing this - bringing all of us ‘radical’ folks a breath of fresh air.
The collective gaslighting is quite destabilizing! However, when I see it all with compassion I recognize that the way to thrive in this culture is to present as being "all-in" on every aspect of mainstream ideologies in order to preserve social safety.
What a refreshing read in such a time as this. I feel a little less crazy; thanks!
You're welcome! Thank you for reading!
This resonates on a deep level. Thanks for writing this Mark!
You're so welcome! thank you for reading it!
Congratulations on bringing so much depth and nuance to a subject that can stir up so much reactivity and resistance. The dance between accountability and alienation is one that requires so many skills that we're not taught to master within ourselves and therefore struggle to embody with others... Grace and Love are the answers and it's so fascinating to see that we've made it so extremely hard to find either in the name both! Thank you for this essay that has planted new seeds in my heart 🤲🏻🎁
Mark, writing where all great transmutation and transformation happens - on the knifes edge! Oh what a dance. Phenomenal work.
Mark, your writing is raw, authentic and intimate. Keep writing and sharing.
You have such wisdom and the gift of translating that wisdom into spoken and written word. Persevere with these gifts even in the face of reactive culture. ~Liz from Create the Love Community
Couldn’t agree more! You’ve phrased everything so eloquently Mark. Spot on as always ✨
I love this. It captured well how I feel ... so often. I'm exhausted by the moralizing. With some you can't even "agree to disagree" as that offends them! I try to stay informed about all sides as I'm a curious person and like to keep my mind open. But sometimes the entitlement and moralizing of the left provokes such a reaction in me that I just can't read it.
YES🙏🏻 thank you. Enough of this insanity. Thank you for calling out the victim culture— so needed!
Thanks for this, Mark. I’ve been having conversations with folks lately that orbit this topic.
Great piece! Thank you for expressing so articulately what have been my thoughts also. 🙏
I call the same 'absolutism'. Rigidity of ideas and ideologies. I thought I came up with that term only to realize that it already existed in the lexicon because I guess absolutists have always existed. The internet and social media has only managed to widen the chasm.
At times I feel sorry for the people who have been gaslighted by the status quo into worshipping totally asinine ideas. People can't think for themselves anymore and when they do, certainly can't think objectively.