The real problem is that so many of us grew up trying to be someone else, or to live up to someone else’s expectations, that we never really learned who we truly are.
We all run into our fair share of “characters” in life. Sometimes you’ve just got to filter them out and keep the ones most pleasant to work/be around. And don’t bother trying to change the “characters”, since a lot of them are impossible to change. Keep thinking about the good old Serenity Prayer.
Rat nails it with a religious epiphany regarding original sin. People following their basic human nature leads to the lowest version of oneself. The goal is much higher. Since all the psychological mumbo jumbo took hold people haven’t exactly been flourishing. Exactly the opposite.
Rat being himself means being an abrasive narcissistic pinhead who only cares about himself. Sometimes being yourself isn’t the way to make people like you. Sometimes, you need to improve and self reflect in order for people to like you. But we all know that ain’t gonna happen to Rat.
It’s the truth. Our instincts come from our animal ancestors. Bullies, sluttts, and rapists probably add more to the gene pool. Much of Jesus’ teaching was about overcoming these instincts with love & reason.
If people take ‘be yourself’ as ‘be a jerk’, then maybe the problem is that these people see being a jerk as just who they are. And that’s really sad, when you think about it…
Self-worth and self-improvement aren’t mutually exclusive. The trick is not comparing yourself to others, but to an earlier you. I’ll never be as talented/attractive/knowledgeable/put together as that guy, but I can always improve on where I was yesterday.
Rat’s right about this. I’ll add that the whole idea that we would get along better if we only knew each other better is a load of hooey. In order to get along, it is often necessary to know each other badly enough that we can each think better of the other.
Wow, this is actually so thought-provoking. If “being yourself” is just saying whatever’s on your mind, then, yes, that leads to being an @$$#013. But if “being yourself” involves getting over all the dysfunctional coping strategies always running through your head, leaving behind things like empathy, compassion, and the unique interests that make each person fascinating, then being yourself definitely becomes a good thing! Hard work though. (Just an opinion…)
Stefan Pastis has a bigger point. This age of facile and vacuous mantras (follow your dreams, be yourself, be the best version of yourself [yes, we are a piece of software], etc.) cannot end soon enough.
Wow! 76 comments on this. Was it Aristotle who said, “The unexamined life isn’t worth living”? If we examine our lives and find it lacking in empathy and kindness, we can change and still “be ourselves”.
The @$$#013 should not be so disrespected. After all, it does inform you of the differences among solids, liquids, and gasses. It rarely makes a mistake in this regard, and when it does, your pantaloons pay the price.
I don’t need anyone else’s approval to believe in myself and my convictions. But we have half the people in this country that are insecure and unhappy because they can’t get everyone to proclaim that their lifestyle, beliefs, politics, religion (or anti-religion) is the only way.
BE THIS GUY 11 months ago
But you’ll just be jerk with someone else’s personality if you tried being someone else.
BasilBruce 11 months ago
Rat has a point; what if “yourself” is an @$$#013?
Bilan 11 months ago
I’m surprised Rat didn’t say The problem with the world is that OTHER people are being themselves!
David_the_CAD 11 months ago
The real problem is that so many of us grew up trying to be someone else, or to live up to someone else’s expectations, that we never really learned who we truly are.
Alexander the Good Enough 11 months ago
“To thine own self be true” ~ Shakespeare
“Gnothi seauton” ~ Ancient Greek aphorism: “Know thyself.”
blunebottle 11 months ago
Always be yourself. Everybody else is already taken.
Johnny Q Premium Member 11 months ago
Rat should think about not being himself so much…
ArcticFox Premium Member 11 months ago
Just can’t see Rat as Dale Carnegie!!!
leopardglily 11 months ago
Michael Erickson 11 months ago
This is why the Golden Rule doesn’t work.
minty_Joe 11 months ago
We all run into our fair share of “characters” in life. Sometimes you’ve just got to filter them out and keep the ones most pleasant to work/be around. And don’t bother trying to change the “characters”, since a lot of them are impossible to change. Keep thinking about the good old Serenity Prayer.
iggyman 11 months ago
The secret is “Don’t let the B@stard$ get you down”!
Count Olaf Premium Member 11 months ago
“Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken.” ~ Oscar Wilde
Timothy Abraham Premium Member 11 months ago
Rat nails it with a religious epiphany regarding original sin. People following their basic human nature leads to the lowest version of oneself. The goal is much higher. Since all the psychological mumbo jumbo took hold people haven’t exactly been flourishing. Exactly the opposite.
Ignatz Premium Member 11 months ago
What if “being myself” means arguing with strangers on the Internet and eating too much cheese?
monya_43 11 months ago
Unfortunately, there are people who love their bad attitude, enjoy inflicting it on others and spreading misery.
jbmlaw01 11 months ago
All I can add to Mr. Pastis’s brilliance is “and get off my lawn.”
Ellis97 11 months ago
Rat being himself means being an abrasive narcissistic pinhead who only cares about himself. Sometimes being yourself isn’t the way to make people like you. Sometimes, you need to improve and self reflect in order for people to like you. But we all know that ain’t gonna happen to Rat.
chris_o42 11 months ago
Ya know, I think Rat has a point!
drivingfuriously Premium Member 11 months ago
Self Control.
Geophyzz 11 months ago
It’s the truth. Our instincts come from our animal ancestors. Bullies, sluttts, and rapists probably add more to the gene pool. Much of Jesus’ teaching was about overcoming these instincts with love & reason.
LupisLight 11 months ago
If people take ‘be yourself’ as ‘be a jerk’, then maybe the problem is that these people see being a jerk as just who they are. And that’s really sad, when you think about it…
Potamus 11 months ago
Self-worth and self-improvement aren’t mutually exclusive. The trick is not comparing yourself to others, but to an earlier you. I’ll never be as talented/attractive/knowledgeable/put together as that guy, but I can always improve on where I was yesterday.
Gent 11 months ago
To be or not to be youself. That is the question.
AtariDragon 11 months ago
Rat’s right about this. I’ll add that the whole idea that we would get along better if we only knew each other better is a load of hooey. In order to get along, it is often necessary to know each other badly enough that we can each think better of the other.
Gandalf 11 months ago
Rat is correct.
mleugs 11 months ago
Wow, this is actually so thought-provoking. If “being yourself” is just saying whatever’s on your mind, then, yes, that leads to being an @$$#013. But if “being yourself” involves getting over all the dysfunctional coping strategies always running through your head, leaving behind things like empathy, compassion, and the unique interests that make each person fascinating, then being yourself definitely becomes a good thing! Hard work though. (Just an opinion…)
TheBigPickle 11 months ago
Rat’s not wrong.
ladykat 11 months ago
I try to be myself and not be a nuisance.
RobinHood 11 months ago
The real problem is people being who they are told to be. See most of the Prickly City comments for the last six years.
legaleagle48 11 months ago
Hey, don’t tell me to “be myself” and then get all bent out of shape when you find out that this is who I really am!
Zebrastripes 11 months ago
Too many evil influencers and not enough brains to decipher the reality….
gigagrouch 11 months ago
If you’re not yourself, then who the Hell are you?
zeexenon 11 months ago
Yup, and the 2024 POTUS ads begin soon.
Over the last gluttony of them, I went ad-free on YouTube for a year. Also, watching “free with ads movies”? Bunk!
Goat from PBS 11 months ago
“Being yourself” is an excuse. “Bettering yourself” is how to improve society.
Thomas Overbeck Premium Member 11 months ago
The REAL problem is when people don’t let OTHER people be themselves!
Otis Rufus Driftwood 11 months ago
Once again , Rat gets it right. Rather than be yourself, try becoming a BETTER version of yourself daily.
wordsmeet 11 months ago
Stefan Pastis has a bigger point. This age of facile and vacuous mantras (follow your dreams, be yourself, be the best version of yourself [yes, we are a piece of software], etc.) cannot end soon enough.
prrdh 11 months ago
The problem is that too many people choose the wrong selves to be.
Mise Féin 11 months ago
Excellent point, Rat
hooglah 11 months ago
Who else can you be if not yourself?
mindjob 11 months ago
I’d be myself if only I knew who I was
KEA 11 months ago
too many people interpret, “be yourself” as “totally ignore the concerns of others”. …a part (huge) of the reason we’re in such a mess these days.
paulscon Premium Member 11 months ago
Wow! 76 comments on this. Was it Aristotle who said, “The unexamined life isn’t worth living”? If we examine our lives and find it lacking in empathy and kindness, we can change and still “be ourselves”.
Bruce1253 11 months ago
Be yourself, also be aware that there are these things called “Consequences.”
christelisbetty 11 months ago
All very selfish.
Dapperdan61 Premium Member 11 months ago
That’s what scares me. People are showing us who they really are
willie_mctell 11 months ago
Exactly.
cactusbob333 11 months ago
The @$$#013 should not be so disrespected. After all, it does inform you of the differences among solids, liquids, and gasses. It rarely makes a mistake in this regard, and when it does, your pantaloons pay the price.
rshive 11 months ago
Rat — ranting for the masses.
larslarson 11 months ago
As in, when people act a certain way, believe it.
Aladar30 Premium Member 11 months ago
Hum… This maybe the truth.
The Brooklyn Accent 11 months ago
“Be yourself” is about the worst advice you can give some people.
—Thomas L. Masson
WCraft Premium Member 11 months ago
I don’t need anyone else’s approval to believe in myself and my convictions. But we have half the people in this country that are insecure and unhappy because they can’t get everyone to proclaim that their lifestyle, beliefs, politics, religion (or anti-religion) is the only way.
Sisyphos 11 months ago
Perhaps the cleverest retort by Goat this year!
And yet Rat is possibly correct again….
ronaldspence 11 months ago
Maybe let other people be themselves??
DaBump Premium Member 11 months ago
Oh yeah!
itsacatsworld Premium Member 11 months ago
struggling to breeve….snort….guffaw….ummmm….checking mote in own eye….snicker….yup, there it is….Rat, you rogue truthteller yuuuuuu