nrc.nl
From Idealism to Pragmatism: A Personal Journey and Societal Shift
A fourteen-year-old makes a passionate commitment to fighting injustice atop a Ferris wheel in January, but later becomes disillusioned, highlighting a societal shift towards pragmatism and self-interest.
- How does the author's personal journey reflect broader societal shifts in values and priorities?
- The author's shift from fervent activism to a more moderate approach highlights the challenges of maintaining unwavering idealism in the face of systemic inertia. Their experience reflects a broader societal trend of prioritizing personal gain and social capital over principled action.
- What prompted the author's initial commitment to social justice, and what factors contributed to their later disillusionment?
- At age fourteen, the author experienced an epiphany atop a Ferris wheel, vowing to dedicate their life to fighting injustice. This commitment, fueled by youthful idealism, eventually waned due to exhaustion and disillusionment with the world's resistance to change.
- What are the long-term implications of the declining emphasis on unwavering principles and increased focus on personal gain in contemporary society?
- The author's narrative suggests a growing societal acceptance of compromise and pragmatism, potentially indicating a decline in passionate advocacy for social justice. This trend, amplified by social media and economic pressures, raises concerns about the future of meaningful societal change.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The framing is heavily personal and subjective. The author uses their own experience as the primary lens through which to view societal problems. The anecdote of the Octopus ride serves as a symbolic representation of their youthful idealism, which is contrasted sharply with their current cynical perspective. This framing emphasizes the author's disillusionment and implicitly critiques societal trends without presenting a comprehensive analysis.
Language Bias
The language used is largely descriptive and emotive, reflecting the author's personal feelings. Terms like "corrupt," "hebberige" (greedy), and "hypocriete" (hypocritical) carry strong negative connotations. While effective in conveying the author's perspective, they lack the neutrality expected in objective reporting. More neutral alternatives might include 'questionable ethics,' 'self-interested,' and 'lacking transparency,' respectively.
Bias by Omission
The passage focuses on the author's personal journey and doesn't offer statistical data or external perspectives on societal issues like corruption or activism. While the author mentions a lack of resistance to societal ills, no sources or data are provided to support this claim. The omission of counterarguments or different viewpoints limits the analysis's scope.
False Dichotomy
The narrative presents a false dichotomy between a life of principled activism and a life of compromise and 'hustling.' It implies that one must choose between unwavering righteousness and succumbing to societal pressures, neglecting the possibility of finding a balance or alternative approaches.
Gender Bias
The passage does not exhibit overt gender bias. The author's description of their friendship with a female peer is fairly neutral. However, a more detailed examination of gender roles and representation within the broader societal critiques might reveal implicit biases.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article reflects on the author's disillusionment with fighting inequality, highlighting the pervasive influence of greed, and the lack of substantial resistance against societal emptiness and avarice. This reflects a negative impact on efforts to reduce inequality, as the author describes the difficulty of maintaining principles in a system that rewards ambition and self-interest over justice and fairness.