Sunday 1/12/20
Innumerable people will now find a way to mention somewhere online or on apps--whether that be in their Facebook or Twitter bios, or on dating sites--how they are passionate about social justice. Every time I see this, an imaginary conversation plays out in my head on account of the sheer ridiculousness of the statement/boast/claim. The conversations always go the same way, because the circumstances are always the same. The people the same, the "reasons" the same. It goes like this.
Me: But you were not passionate about social justice five years ago?
Them: No.
Me: Weren't at like the soup kitchen?
Them: No.
Me: Not then?
Them: No.
Me: Not now?
Them: No.
Me: What you do, then, is, what? Click the right buttons on social media, share the right links, sometimes go to a rally, with a sign or a hat, maybe have brunch after?
Them: Yes.
Me: But you didn't care about any of this before?
Them: No.
Me: You had to see a lot of people claiming interest in something, for credit and attention, that you wouldn't have had, and did not have, any interest in on your own?
Them: Yes.
Me: It didn't come from inside of you?
Them: No.
Me: You are passionate about it at forty, but had no passion for it at thirty-five?
Them: Yes.
Me: Never once thought about it at thirty-five, but are all about it at forty?
Them: Yes.
Me: So it's just a trend and you thought, right, I'll get in on that, it makes me look good, I don't have to do too much, it's sort of like posing, that won't take me any time or effort at all?
Them: Yes.
Me: It just as easily could have been something else that was popular? A different vogue. It just happened to be this one?
Them: Yes.
Me: And when it goes away, the interest you try to show in it will go away, too?
Them: Yes.
Me: And something else can come along, and having discarded this one thing, you can say you're passionate about this new trend?
Them: Yes.
Me: And it can be anything? It actually has nothing to do with how you are, what you would put forth the effort to do on your own, care about on your own? It has to be a trend.
Them: Yes. Also: I hate you! Patriarchy!
