On Doing the Right Thing

     I want to believe that I have it in me to be a good person. Everyone does, and most of us are right. At least, when it comes to the ways in which our societies define good versus evil. What I'm not okay with is the way in which our society tries to force us to do the "right thing". 

     I'm one of those people who hurts others without thinking. A lot. It comes with having a brain that works poorly. I try and isolate myself as much as possible, both because I really hate people and because I know that prolonged contact with people means that someone is going to be hurt. The world does not like this. It doesn't want me to do the right thing and keep myself away from those who are more easily hurt. It keeps insisting that being human means that I learn to be with other people even if it means I have to pretend that I can't possibly hurt them. Psychology, career training, sensitivity therapies, all of these amount to little more than the world telling me that I have no choice but to be someone I adamantly dislike; someone who pretends they aren't causing people pain by their clearly selfish actions. Sure, I could become better, if I was to give up ninety percent of my personality. Am I supposed to brainwash myself into becoming a pro-social person? I know that I'm a terrible person, I have the ability to avoid hurting people, and yet the world has gone out of its way to make that as hard as it possibly can. 

     I hate this aspect about society so much that when people comment on Elon Musk's anti-social behavior, I find myself reflexively pointing out that we live in a world where he can't easily avoid other people. I'm not one of those people who believes that we are in control of our reactions, not when I know one too many impulsive people who reflexively do without thinking. I also think that in a world built on socializing, we have to take responsibility for the horrible things that happen as a result. Which is to say, most of the terrible things that happen in our world. Hermits don't tend to hurt anyone, just saying. 

    I know our world is one where socializing isn't optional, but I firmly believe that it should be. I don't think there should ever be a situation where someone is forced to interact with people if they don't want to, even if it's "for their own good". It's frankly disturbing that we're so wedded to the idea of forced interaction that most jobs still demand that you go into the office for at least a few days a week. Hell, I think it's appalling that we expect everyone to want to work in this day and age. We all know that we live in a world where that isn't necessary anymore, right? One can be alone and still depend on others. I think that we would do well to remember that.