Not things that are black and white, of course. Like if you fall out of a tree you’re going to fall down—only a dummy or smart-aleck would argue the opposite. Anyway, this post was inspired by a recent “experience,” I’m not sure what exactly to call it. I applied to be part of a movie review group. I was super excited about it; I usually have a lot of commentary when it comes to movies and tv shows but typically have no one to share them with. (Side note: at some point I’m going to start a separate blog on here to share thoughts and recommendations for movies/tv shows.) Interacting with new people always makes me super nervous. This “interview” to see if I would be a good fit for the group was conducted online and by a young man and young woman. Now, normally I don’t feel my age and am not really conscious of it. I feel I’m in my mid-twenties. But only moments after we all exchange greetings I realize they’re not really prepared and don’t seem to know what to say. They, in fact, seemed to be waiting on me to speak and direct the conversation. Under most circumstances when it’s clear someone needs to take the lead or a decision needs to be made, I’ll step up, but in this case I wasn’t sure what needed to be said. It did help put me at ease though and I then felt older than them. (And I was. They said I’d be the only one in my thirties, married and with a kid.)
I could tell I wasn’t going to be part of the group the moment the young woman (she did most of the talking and asking questions which I thought a bit strange since the guy was the one who posted the job and invited me to the interview) said some of the things they’ll review could be political and that the whole group was far left but not with the left? I found that a bit confusing but whatever. Unless asked I’ll keep my views on everything to myself or only share with family. My views often conflict with society’s current “normal” and I prefer to be liked by people. But then she said something along the lines of “believing misinformation is okay as long as you’re open to realizing you’re wrong and admitting it.” At this I immediately thought, “Who do you think you are? How old are you even??” In the past couple years I’ve learned that a lot of truths are labeled as misinformation and a lot of lies pushed as the truth. It can be very difficult to figure out what’s what sometimes. It’s even worse thinking you’re right and finding out you might be wrong! I know that’s one of my flaws. Many times I’ll accept when I’m wrong but hardly ever will I say it aloud.
One freedom that I hold very dear is everyone’s right to think and believe what they want. Like J. K. Rowling—and I bring her up specifically because they brought her up. I don’t keep up with what anyone outside of my immediate family is doing, so they filled me in. As long as she’s not physically hurting people, she too is free to voice her mind. If anything I respect her more for not backing down because as I see it, a lot of the public think they have a right to bully someone just because they disagree with what they think. If you don’t like what she’s saying then why even listen or acknowledge her? People say and do stuff that I don’t agree with all the time. I don’t take offense. I don’t even really care, even, because in the end we all go the same place.
Not surprisingly, I was not picked to be part of the group, and surprisingly I actually was disappointed. But I’ll just add another page to my blog and do my own thing. Why would you want a group comprised of only similar-thinking people anyway? No one expands and grows and learns new things if they stick to their small corner and only accept those that are exactly like them. People are extremely layered (that’s why I love meeting pretty much everyone!) and no one is going to think exactly the same way on the exact same thing with everything.
Mikaela Nicole 