Ultracrepidarianism

*I wrote this maybe the middle of 2015. Went through some old writings and I figured this warranted a post.*

I haven’t been alive very long, so maybe there never really were any ‘good ol days’ like some say - the very picture of denial - when so many people didn’t seem to take pleasure from patronizing and talking down to others. Schadenfreude perhaps has been rampant long before we had a name for it.

Ultracrepidarian: a fun word I’ve come across recently:

"MEANING: adjective: Giving opinions beyond one's area of expertise. noun: One who gives opinions beyond one's area of expertise. "

“The term draws from a famous comment purportedly made by Apelles, a famous Greek artist, to a shoemaker who presumed to criticize his painting. "Ne ultra crepidam judicaret", can be taken to mean that a shoemaker ought not judge beyond his own soles.”

Yet, it seems with the advent of the internet and television, judging is at an all-time high. There are shows devoted to it. Jerry Springer and Maury and whatnot - people get their entertainment by a TV show ostensibly telling them it’s okay to laugh at the misfortune or folly of others (as if people think they need an excuse anymore). American Idol has (or had, anyway) episodes devoted solely to laughing at particularly embarrassing auditions. Am I remembering correctly that one of those people eventually committed suicide because of that?

Not only that, but vanity is at an all-time high. Insecurity is at an all-time high. I can’t help but feel these are all connected. The fear, vanity, insecurity, and the invention of instant communication. The fear that any moment an unflattering picture in which you don’t look comparable to the people on magazines could be taken by anyone around you and you’re immortalized for all of your future circle of friends to see. Is this why people comport themselves the way they do now? Is that why humanity seems so often vapid and soulless? Is that why it seems most of the population only care about plastering affectations on themselves and their personality, too afraid to be who they truly are for fear of eternal embarrassment should they not follow the popular trends? Is that why it’s so hard to find a sincere, genuine human being?

#ultracrepidarianism #judging #affectation #vanity #insecurity #schadenfreude