We're Too Old to Spout Memes in a World Demanding Complex, Critical Thinking
Too Old for This Sh*t: How to Take Your Life Back from an Ageist Society
With respect to my fellow hopefuls, let’s be thoughtful about what we repost
I’m not a fan of stars with political opinions, even those who agree with my choice of candidate. I’m not a fan of people who have some kind of social agency due to their star power who pass along material that isn’t carefully considered, even when it aligns with my thoughts.
The reason is that too often both money and/or star power brings people to believe that stars and rich people are experts on things they are not. That’s just me.
And while I will pass along material that I think is worthwhile, I will also call out material that I think is questionable. I’ll explain why here.
Mark Braund reposted this meme with the words,
What a wonderful world it would be
I completely understand Mark’s point and for the most part, agree. As someone with centrist views on most things, I am no fan of extremism on either side, and I decry the wars in the world.
So yes, BUT. Reducing these horrific issues and terrible, complex problems to simplistic memes is part of the problem. Raging and shouting and rioting and screaming these memes at riots and sit-ins makes US part of the problem.
We didn’t get here overnight. These deep-seated problems are going to take lots and lots of time and courage.
Memes mock that process and incite greater rage when we don’t get what we want RIGHT NOW. Please see
‘s seminal piece on The Rise of Neotoddlerism.
From his piece:
The ease with which dramatic behavior gets attention online has convinced many political activists that a better world doesn’t require years of patient work, only a sufficient quantity of drama. Many activists on both the Left and Right now hope to bring about their ideal world the same way a spoiled brat acquires a toy they’ve been denied: by being as loud and hysterical as possible. This is neotoddlerism: the view that utopia can be achieved by acting like a three-year old. (author bolded)
Let’s not add to the problem by demanding overnight answers to problems that took decades or longer to develop.
I agree with Mark to the extent that these people and situations are awful and need addressing. My comment is not to disrespect Mark here, it’s to address simplistic memes.
Will the world would be wonderful if only those things changed? No. All due respect, NO.
Because more horrific populist leaders are in the wings, there are famines and wars everywhere, climate change is causing mass movement of starving people and immigrants desperate for a chance to stay alive. Each of those is likely to spawn a new kind of supermonster who will take advantage of our fears and capitalize on our love of “othering.”
Witness Trump and Venezuelans, convincing Venezualan-Americans to “other” some of their own (who are darker-skinned and poorer; of course they are). If all immigrants are evil then we might as well all pick up and move overseas and give America back to its Indigenous peoples.
Who themselves were, at some point, immigrants. You get it. Such simplistic arguments insult the fact that society faces terrific issues and they are far bigger than just getting rid of one guy or ending one war.
None of this happened overnight. Trump and Bibi and Putin et.al. are symptomatic.
Our desire to have things fixed right now is also symptomatic. Leaders who promise an immediate fix are appealing to our lowest impulses, our inner todder. Immigration has been a complex issue for decades, long before the most recent Administrations. Congress kicks the can down the road and the next one inherits an even worse mess, as the party out of power gets to blame the party in power for a problem they inherited.
These problems grow in size, scope and complexity because we keep voting in people who will not deal with it right here, right now. It’s political suicide, while the problem itself becomes even more obese.
Think of it this way:
If someone is morbidly obese, it took years to get there, bite by bite by bite. That person can scream all they want about becoming a fitness model overnight, right? Good luck with that. Even with the new drugs, it takes time.
It’s no guarantee, either, as the drugs have a bad habit of plateauing after a certain amount of weight loss, so there’s that. You still have to do the real work of changing what how and when you eat, and moving more.
Getting rid of the fat takes a great deal of time, effort, discipline, patience and plenty of failures. Then you deal with the depression around learning that losing all that didn’t make you a fitness model. Then you have skin drapery, which is its own health issue, then then then then. It never stops.
The same with social issues, especially the big ones.
If those changes presented by Billy Baldwin (hardly a statesman, hardly a politician, hardly even an actor, just saying) happened, we might celebrate, briefly.
Then a new reality settles because a new evil finds its way in. It always does. If we’ve learned our lesson we’re prepared. If not, we’re so busy getting drunk on this wonderful world that we can’t see the monsters in our midst.
It’s NOT a wonderful world at all because we didn’t prepare for the After. If Bibi is out, imagine who might come in, and be worse? We have to prepare for that. If Trump is out, imagine who might come in, and be worse? We have to prepare for that. If Putin is out….you get it.
Simplistic memes invite simplistic thinking in a world which requires complex thinking, patience and commitment to the long term. China thinks in terms of centuries. In one century or less America might even no longer be here because of who we are right now. Too many Americans are little more than rabid crowds at Wrestlemania. Are we prepared for that? Of course not.
We think that if only THIS happens the world will be wonderful. We forget that when we create a vacuum, something else can get in. Sometimes it’s even more dangerous.
The world will be different, but not necessarily wonderful. Because in one case, half the country still thinks that Trump is the Second Coming and Kamala is Evil Incarnate.
If you want an object lesson in what happens after rioters get what they want, look what happened to the Arab Spring movement.
Please, let’s be brave enough to see that what is demanded of us is far more than a meme.
We need vision, grit and a great deal of compassion for the process, and the process is at times glacial. It may not happen on our watch.
Electing one person for a few years will not fix a problem that took decades or centuries to evolve into what it is today. Let’s not vilify those people who can’t fix it overnight. Nobody can.
Like planting the giant sequoias in my yard last week. Someday someone at this house will be sheltered by giants. I won’t get to see that. Someone in the future will.
Let’s be the giants by planting now and nurturing the world to come. Let’s recognize that we are always working towards a better future, and that means understanding that one big change does not a wonderful world make.
Hundreds of small changes right here, right now in our own spheres are what make the world better. Making more friends, eating better, moving more, caring more, and shutting down toxic social media are all important ways to do it. All are in our grasp.
We can plan, and work that plan, and be ready when the next evil shuffles our way, for it will.
Don’t let it play.
These are difficult issues to write about when I would prefer to stick with my lane about aging. However this is about personal responsibility and emotional maturity, two critical aspects of aging well. However you vote, kindly mind your expectations. Realize that all politics are local, and getting involved in your community is likely to help you feel so much better about your agency.
You can see the benefit of your efforts, even if all you do is read to seniors or become a Big Sister. Above all be in Nature, she needs us as much as we need Her.
You matter, your voice matters. Let’s use our voices responsibly. In the past I’ve shared memes, too, but I also recognize that they are the tips of massive icebergs. Trying to do better, and this is why. Memes are simplistic. Society isn’t. You aren’t, either.
Thank you.
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Julia, I applaud your perspective. It’s too true the loudest amongst us want overnight solutions to complex problems the world has been struggling a long time. Fixing the Middle East is one example. My very old and wise Lebanese friend said that it might 100 years just to get peace. It’s still possible to work towards peace. Blinken has been remarkable in his educated, perseveres approach. People who can’t bring peace in their own families are quick to criticize.
Julia, you make a great point. Memes can be entertaining and, to some extent, insightful, but they are simplistic answers to complex questions. I love when you say, "We need vision, grit and a great deal of compassion for the process, and the process is at times glacial. It may not happen on our watch." Truth.