Our online personas and the need to feel included
We filter to feel connected. That’s human. But what often results is groupthink.
30-second read
It’s worth acknowledging that the need to feel liked and included guides our online personas.
Acknowledgment of this is useful for two reasons:
It helps us not take any of this—ourselves included—too seriously.
It allows us to see through our own bullshit, evolve our thinking, and even change our minds.
It’s safe to assume that what is portrayed as expert thinking, right thinking, left thinking, woke thinking, on-the-right-side thinking, and anti [insert opinionated topic] thinking is a filtered version of reality for the majority of us.
We filter to feel connected. That’s human. But what often results is groupthink.
This begs the question: Are any of the experts, groups, tribes, and outspoken advocates fully genuine in their stances? Or have they designed personas that get them welcomed into whichever cohort they deem the [coolest, best, most virtuous, most free, most persuadable]?
I’m guessing we’re all a lot more nuanced and measured than we let on.
(This is simply a PSA for self-awareness. Because change is unlikely.)
P.S. I’m in no way immune to this. I don’t like it. But I acknowledge that it exists and accept the trade-offs.
In my experience, our in-person selves are less filtered, more transparent, more genuine, more accepting, and more open to nuance. Something to consider when choosing where to invest time, resources, and budget.