A Bowl of Smarties

In his post entitled `I’m proud to be a libertarian, pescetarian, atheist, transhumanist, compatibilist, neo-darwinian and one day I hope to join the Bayesian Conspiracy ', Stuart shoots down my discomfort with boxes. He is also correct in saying that there is a box for people who don't want to fit into a box.

All true. But, I think the important thing is to not go along the route of some political parties that allow differing opinions... but then once the party makes up it's mind everyone votes according to the majority opinion. That makes a mockery of democracy.

A party holding 70% of the parliament has a vote.
60% say yes. 40% say no. Party says yes.
The 30% not in the party say no.
So 28% (=40% X 70%) + 30% = 58% of the countries elected reps say no.
But the vote goes through... with 70% `saying Yes'.
There is something wrong about that. So yes, there are many boxes I am in.

I am a male. But don't necessarily support the majority male opinion.
I am a capitalist. But that doesn't mean I don't want the poor to do well.
I lean towards the Democratic Party in the US. But Protectionism sickens me.
I am an Atheist. But I have a strong moral core (in my humble opinion).

Labels should be taken with a pinch of salt. Or at the very least not judged in isolation. And the problem is... it is very difficult, near impossible to know all the boxes someone is in.

Boxes imply you are only in one... there must be a better metaphor. I am a bowl full of smarties. In the US elections, there would have been more Blue smarties than red smarties, but that doesn't mean I think Obama is the messiah.

Pick a Box

I have given many friends a good giggle over the years as I stand, hand clasped to my chest, belting out the national anthem as the Boks prepare for battle.

Recently people have been spared my rousing renditions. After the Xeno-attacks earlier in the year, and good points made by my birthday girl sister-in-law, I started to question blind patriotism. I still love South Africa, and consider myself South African but in the same way that I consider Kwa-Zulu Natal, and Westville a part of who I am.

But... more and more I think that it is important to avoid classifications.

Saying you belong to a political party, or are a conservative or a libertarian, or classing people by nationality... is particularly inhibiting.

Even classing yourself by your own opinion is inhibiting.

For the simple reason that even if your box is custom made, you may feel the need to defend the principles of that box.

In fact, we should be trying harder to find the holes in our own box.

Easily said, and labels and boxes seem to make life easier. But wouldn't it be great if we were able wake up every morning and look at the world with fresh, brand new, independent eyes... and figure out the best way forward?