Gravitas: “I care, and it’s important.” Sermons, manifestos.
Self-deprecation: “I care, but it’s not important.” Hobbies, fandoms, being nerdsniped, “merely” personal wishes.
Irreverence: “It’s important, but I don’t care.” Edgy jokes, shitposts, grifts,... See more
Sarah Constantinsubstack.comSarah Constantin (@sarahconstantin)
I can think of only three pure or independent eigen- modes of non-earnestness. In order of historical emergence, I think they are humor , irony , and surrealism . I’d guess humor is at least as old as civilization and possibly as old as life. Irony proper seems like an outgrowth of early modern conditions. Surrealism is the newest and youngest... See more
Venkatesh Rao • The Importance of Not Being Earnest
The moment you are afraid of your emotions is the moment you stop living fully — like switching to airplane mode during a thunderstorm and calling it safety. Feelings aren’t liabilities, they’re instruments: raw, chaotic, sometimes out of tune, but capable of playing symphonies reason alone could never write.
Fear... See more
Tamarasubstack.com