Speaking of ethnocentrism.

[jackshoegazer]

I may have mentioned my social anxiety/massive shyness at some point.  Thus, I don't speak often in classes.  However, today in Sociology, I spoke a lot.  A lot.  A LOT.  For me anyway.

The discussion was on ethnocentrism and the thread had started devolving into an argument of capitalism versus Marxism and general socialism, illegal immigration, and economics.  Everyone kept arguing what was right and wrong, completely missing the point that their arguments were the direct expression of ethnocentrism.  I pointed out that if one were to raise their level of awareness to a world-centric perspective, the idea of MY country, MY jobs disappears.

It was good times, though I'm pretty sure I turned bright red while talking several times.

Comments

[ms-elusive.livejournal.com]

Hey good for you. I used to hate speaking in class, so much so that I failed a European Lit class because I didn't do my presentation. :/ I had to go back in the summer to resit.

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

I seem to go through phases. I'll be shy for a few years and then I'll be outgoing for a few and back-and-forth. I'm getting out of a shy stage right now :P

[pretzelcoatl.livejournal.com]

I have a lot of social anxiety-related problems (it even effects my driving), so it's definitely good to hear about that. I tend to be quiet too, but if it's something I'm passionate about, I'm surprisingly vocal.

Glad to hear that you had fun while doing it, too.

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

Especially if it's a topic I care about, I can be very vocal and even elegantly loquacious. I also do better in smaller groups (five or less.) See also, the comment below where I talk about the different situations in which I am nervous, specifically, the performance aspect.

Talking to a few people, fine. Going to a busy restaurant - hate it. Talking to the class from my seat, hate it. Talking to the class from a performance perspective - totally fine.

(Anticipation before all these events - horrifying.)

[holographia.livejournal.com]

as someone with major anxiety/shyness issues i applaud your speaking up! i know the "bright red whilst speaking" feeling all too well so congrats for pushing through it. :)

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

Oddly, in my English class today when our group had to give a presentation, I talked just fine and didn't turn red. In my drama class, I could get in front of class and speak and be fine, but answering questions from my seat, I turn red. I wonder of its the aspect of performance that allows me to do it without freaking out. When I'm in my seat, it's just me, I'm more vulnerable that way, I guess?

[holographia.livejournal.com]

if i'm expected to speak it's not that bad- but when you speak up while others are speaking, that's what gets me. it's like, i feel bad for presuming that my input matters so much that i dare vocalize it without being solicited. i think that stems equally from my self-consciousness and my rather antiquated ideas of etiquette.

[antarcticlust.livejournal.com]

Aw, I'm so proud of you! :) Good for you, taking a stand.

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

Now, of course, I think of more to say, like, why do they think that we, as a nation, 4% of the world population, have the right to live as we do, consuming over 30% of its natural resources? We can only successfully argue that this lifestyle is our right if we maintain this ethnocentric point of view, which explains why our government is getting us into wars. If we are concentrated on our country, our nationalism, our way of life, and remain ignorant of conditions world-wide, then higher perspectives, world-centric points of view, can't be promulgated. NAFTA, for instance, has been a big detriment to the US economy, but has been a boon to the countries where those jobs relocated.

[antarcticlust.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's when you know you're having fun in school - when you keep thinking of things to say afterwards! Write those thoughts down - they may come in handy for a paper or exam response someday. And you have those sexy little Moleskines!

[irishspongie.livejournal.com]

White Rights! Powah!

:D


(On a more serious note: well done, both for offering a more global perspective on the discussion and for overcoming your anxiety.)

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

Thank you, I appreciate that. I think I may be the only person in my class besides the instructor who has ever had a thought outside of enthnocentrism. It's still early, so I hope I'll be pleasantly surprised. As it stands, I'm starting to realize how much I already think in sociological terms. :P

[irishspongie.livejournal.com]

I think I may be the only person in my class besides the instructor who has ever had a thought outside of enthnocentrism.

That's unfortunate... one of the reasons I like polyglots (and why I tend to get on better with people from continental Europe better than I do with Britons) is because they're usually less culturocentric, which in turn leaves them open to being less ethnocentric.

In any case, with my background in evolutionary psychology, ethnicity barely comes into it - apart from noting the more interesting sociobiological differences which highlight how things the western world (or, in many cases, the US and its retarded cousin, the UK) sees as "normal" are, in fact, also socially derived.

[jesuslovesbono.livejournal.com]

"I think I may be the only person in my class besides the instructor who has ever had a thought outside of enthnocentrism."
aw man, i know what you mean. that is why i am very glad that i grew up in a few different countries.

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

I don't know how it came about since I grew up in isolated, rural, southern Indiana. Perhaps it comes from never feeling at home anywhere and thus I feel at home everywhere? I have a hard time thinking of myself as anything other than a citizen of Earth. Anything more specific than that makes my brain fizzy.

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

P.S. I don't know if you say it or care, but in the latest edition of my iconomicon there's an icon that says: DON'T HASSEL THE HOFF. Your icon reminded me :)

[irishspongie.livejournal.com]

Neat, though I prefer Hass pictures with him in it. It has more effect on people :D

[strawdogs.livejournal.com]

i'm the same way in class. it's a shame, because sometimes i feel i have a lot to contribute. kudos to you for stepping up, then :-)

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I just *hate* turning bright red. I have the most horrible fear of being misunderstood or thought stupid :P

[lagizma.livejournal.com]

Woot!

I actually *didn't* know you had social anxiety.

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

Because it only comes out in anticipation to being in large groups/crowds. Just a few people, I'm totally fine, and even in those large groups, I will be okay, but the anticipation is maddening.