The “YOU” Problem of Protest

To the protesters who are putting yourselves in harm’s way, and then condemning others for not joining you:

I understand being angry. I understand being afraid. But you don’t get to treat your emotional intensity as a measuring stick for the morality of everyone else. Pressuring people to take the same risks you’re taking isn’t courage, it’s emotional coercion dressed up as conviction.

Here is the truth: a lot of what’s driving current events isn’t strategy, it’s high neuroticism. Neuroticism, broadly speaking, is having a negative reaction to events as they are happening; leaning toward negative emotions instead of positive ones. Fear, anxiety, anger, and sadness become the default. People with high neuroticism are likely to have a negative interpretation of events; greater difficulty dealing with stress;  they are more likely to lash out at others; and are quick to conclude that even an ordinary situation is impossible or untenable.  So, those with high neurosis are going to conclude that an already bad situation is world ending and quickly jump to, “The sky is falling!”

And that’s exactly the tone being broadcast nonstop by some. You are scanning social media like it’s a threat-radar, then publishing your panic as if it’s progress. It isn’t. Nothing meaningful is changed by constant outrage and emotional spirals. All it does is raise the temperature, harden people’s hearts, and weary the world around you: “If you don’t show up like I show up, you’re evil.”

Here’s the good news if you recognize yourself in any of this you have the power to reframe your response to what you’re experiencing. Reframing doesn’t mean you become passive. It doesn’t mean you approve of what’s happening. It means you stop letting fear and anxiety drive the decisions. It means you stop punishing others because they refuse to ride in your emotional vehicle.

Here’s the truth: many people are seeing the same thing you’re seeing, but they don’t have the anxiety, fear, and volatility you’re inflicting on everyone else. They may care just as much. They also may have an entirely different perspective, but they are not your enemy or adversary, lthough your neurosis perceives otherwise. In fact, they may even be doing more practical good. They simply aren’t addicted to escalation.

So, stop the condemnations and quit needlessly putting yourself in harm's way. Your tactics are neither wise nor productive.

It needs to be said: your neurosis is a "you" problem and you are not allowed to make a “you” problem an “us” problem. If you want to protest, do it. But do it with clarity, restraint, responsibiliy, and respect. And stop demanding that other people prove their righteousness by matching your level of panic.

What was it that the father of Renee Good said on the CNN interview? "I don't blame Renee, but if she would have been walking with the Lord this wouldn't have happened." Even Jesus, when the devil told him to jump off the penacle of the temple responded, "It is written that you are not to tempt the Lord, your God in vain." Don't tempt God. Stop putting yourself in harm's way. Be safe, Be whole. Be wise.