printThe therapeutic creed is often used to coerce people into conformity. A central tenet of that creed is the idea that any trauma suffered will fester unless excavated, in public, if at all possible; on Oprah if you belong to the gilded elites. Research does not support the idea that beavering at—and broadcasting—past pain; picking at those scars and digging in them wounds, makes for a better adjusted individual. Still, an individual will pay a cruel price if he dares to challenge this convention.
Of course, there is nothing heroic about sharing the intimate details of your life. This state of affairs is the norm in a society that abhors boundaries between what is private and what is public, and encourages a state of flux between these spheres. If anything, hero status is granted to the conformist who lives by the precepts of pop-psychology, and manages a showy demonstration of therapeutic ‘self-knowledge.’
Thus, Sen. Scott Brown, a liberal, Massachusetts Republican, made a smart move by coming out with his torrid tale of childhood sexual abuse.
The silent and steely type is out. A country run by women (some of them with the Chromosome Y) wants its men to let it all hang out. Or at least to be a metrosexual like Barack Obama (who, to his credit, is more discreet than Scott). Brown’s “book,” grandiosely titled “Against All Odds,” might even be an attempt, like that of Republican Tim Pawlenty’s, to grease the skids for a presidential run.
Excellent strategy. Ask Oprah; she knows a thing or two about helping to elect a president.
UPDATE: On FAcebook, Michael Barnett expresses surprise that there is a “market for this stuff. Why do people want to hear about other people’s sexual abuse? I sure don’t.” I replied: “Michael, you are not yet a properly ‘evolved’ man. You haven’t got good ’emotional intelligence.'”
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I agree with the sentiment of the article and applaud your words. The average person used to have more class, taste, modesty, self-respect and basic dignity than to share every intimate misfortune and personal tragedy with millions of total strangers — let alone those who are well-educated and more sophisticated doing so.
Just a note: I think the book is “Against All Odds” not “Against All Odd” – even given the subject matter, that might be a little odd! [Typo fixed.]
Also, not sure how much decorum Barry has – have you read the content of his drugs-soaked books? :>)
He has a great chance with Oprah, seeing as she was also touched by an uncle. [Excellent]
Maybe she can be his running mate. I mean, what liberal (read progressive) wouldn’t want to see Oprah as vice president?
Somewhere between letting the entire Galaxy know your inner tsuris (troubles and aggravation) and bottling it all up is having close FRIENDS. What is often interesting is that many politicians seem to have very few close personal friends and instead has to be “friends” with the entire country. That itself is a certain strange type of mentality.