Self-satisfaction

You'll often hear some people from one political persuasion suggesting that others from a sub-group of another political persuasion are driven by their own sense of self-satisfaction - a sense of self-righteousness that they are doing the 'right' thing while others less thoughtful or sensitive than they are doing or believing the wrong thing.

I am of course referring to the accusations directed at what is thought to be the recycling-organic-yoga-welcome-to-country-green-voting-etc-etc clique

Do they wallow in a sense of self-satisfaction? Well, when they dwell on the righteousness of their lifestyles - yes. But...do people who make these accusations also wallow in a sense of self-satisfaction? Whilst they engage in their labelling and categorising, yes again.

It starts to look like a nasty cycle. One group feels judged, so in an attempt to derive some self-satisfaction (to which we are all entitled, but often struggle to attain), they label another group. The act of labelling and categorising others can generate, even temporarily, a feeling of being above such categorisation - being aware of all points of view and therefore not driven by the same uninformed biases - oooh how self-satisfying!

Feeling thus judged and perhaps a little diminished, the other group (they are starting to sound like opponents now...) dig their righteous heels in, seeking more self-satisfaction. The cycle continues.

One of the catalysts for this nasty cycle is the elephant-in-the-room assumption in the above words - 'groups'. 'Groups' don't make judgements, people do - and usually only a small number of people driven by insecurities. When one feels judged by a categorisable group, rather than an insecure individual - they feel judged by a portion of society - which they can then choose to draw a circle around and find error with.

So if you feel the urge to create a name for, or define and group of people in society based on their lifestyle choice, remember that that 'group' does not believe itself to be living in any way better than you, let them be and deal with the isolated cases of people who consider their way the best way.