Fear, Uncertainty, and Empowerment
Preventative maintenance via collective empowerment
fear and uncertainty is often the catalyst that transforms a nice person into an asshole
the more we know, the easier it is to make predictions, the more capability we have -
the less worry we have, problems seem less overwhelming - being nice becomes easier
we could say that empowerment is a supporting component of being a nice person
empowerment can be helpful medicine to reduce fear and uncertainty
but often, the difference between a medicine and a poison is the dose
empowerment is quite the sharp double-edged sword
see, the more empowered you are, the harder it is to understand those who are not
if you’re not careful, you can begin to lack empathy, if you take too much empowerment medicine
excuses for leaving trivial problems to be dealt with by someone else - become unbearable
lack of understanding between people breeds alienation
the very empowerment that can protect us from feeling fear and uncertainty
can be the catalyst that transforms the nice person into the asshole
what can the empowered do to save themselves from becoming the empathy-lacking asshole?
(who is no less righteous than the one fueled by fear and uncertainty, by the way)
we can help nice, unempowered people to empower themselves, thereby cultivating empathy
(and yes, there are plenty of very empowered people who are very much assholes. i just think that deep inside they frequently feel fear and anxiety, regardless of their outward presentatone.)