Excellent piece, Bravo! This insidious phrase likewise drives me bonkers. I wish we could hear the great, and sadly, late-Dr. Timothy Keller preach. Perhaps he did...it would be the sort of sloppy, mealy-mouthed, slippery slope to Hell distinction that he relished parsing in his inimitable way. He would do it with humor and rhetorical brilliance all the while shedding light on the absolute dangers of this sort of relative and reductionist speech. How "My truth" leads to "Zero truth" in one tiny beat.
Inevitably such an innocent sounding turn of phrase allows cowards and liars off the hook or to lurk in the shadows. Everyone desperately trying to make sense from nonsense! Orwell would have a field day on this one too🤣 But, truly, this is NO joke. The foundation of our civilization rests upon this very distinction.
As I think about this, I wonder if the concept of "speaking my truth" has the paradoxical effect of making people more hesitant to express the actual truth. For example, let's say you wanted to argue in 2021, that kids should be in school in person and there isn't any need for them to wear masks (I have no idea why I selected this example). You come armed with reams of data to bolster your argument. But then you realize, what's the point? In an Oprahfied society where each individual's concept of "my truth" is paramount, you are really just surrendering to the lowest-common-denominator mob. The supremacy of feelings, wishes, whatever, absolve a person of the need to even consider alternatives to what they're inclined to believe. Nobody needs to listen to facts if their anecdote reigns supreme. And the real truth gets suffocated by the sea of Oprah's.
Agreed what an excellent read, your comment included. Over the last 6-7 years, students in my grad programs and in classes I teach use ‘my truth’ a lot to the point they deny objectivity exists. To them, objectivity is a complete myth. I’ve noticed that students equate the anecdotal to quantitative evidence. Anecdotal ‘evidence’, highly contextual, corresponds highly with knee-jerk inexplicable moral judgment, taken as if universally true. Because I’m white and male, I don’t possess truth, just oppressive status where white males forwarded a centuries-long rhetoric of deceptive ‘objective’ truths that, to them, really only favored white males. It includes me. Hence why people are way more hesitant because some possess the valued identity-based ‘truth’ while others definitely do not.
I love your bravery in truth and for standing up for it after realizing that "softening" it doesn't really help at all. Now this is difficult to know where to start because I agree with you on so many points but let me try - everyone does have "their" truth. The trouble comes when we allow one truth over another by not hearing the other side. That's called censorship or having media get the only dibs in voicing or announcing their truth. Truth is hearing all sides but that doesn't happen today as media owns all the voice. I always say men are (by the rule) stronger than women (usually even small men have more strength than a woman taller than him) but women have more intelligence. I've "softened" that truth by saying women have more wisdom. But because the people with all the money are men, because we live in a totally male-designed society (bibles, constitutions etc written only by men) then our entire view is skewed. I get a lot of flak for saying women are more intelligent but that's what I observe. The way to find truth is for all sides to be voiced. Debate is also a very quick way of often (not always) getting to the objective truth. Because truth has a lot of sides but only one reality and the only way to ascertain it is to hear all sides. So truth can only be found by this method - of hearing all sides equally (not just one side or one side more) This also makes life rich and full. I love your work, so encouraging to hear a woman speak her truth and not kowtowing.
💯 agree with you. Thank you for speaking truth. My heart breaks for all that you and all the other young gymnasts went through. Glad we pulled our youngest out of that weird world at 7.
I have said this before, as have you, but it bears repeating. One of the positive outcomes of the covid dumpster fire is connecting people from disparate backgrounds under a common approach to life. This essay highlights yet another instance. The term, "my truth" has almost always made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. There is not truth for some but not others. There is only truth. Facts, period. It is possible for what one thinks are "facts" to not be facts, obviously. That does not make "your truth" and "the truth" different, though. Somehow, we now think it does. (I have seen this in my own family.) Thanks for the confirmation.
What comes out of any human’s mouth is “their opinion” and everyone has the right to express it. It is a very big and egotistical leap to call it “truth”.
If you want to live only in YOUR truth, it's time to move to the metaverse, where you can create YOUR reality. The rest of us will live with truth that embodies objective facts. You can't force anyone to believe in a truth that is solely yours, your opinion. There have to be objective facts.
Is it possible through the Parkettes alumni to contacts the girls featured in this documentary. I, and probably most of the gymternet would like a 20 year update. I only know of the one who went on to compete NCAA
Interesting... I think I'll try that. Thanks for the suggestion. I am in touch with many from my generation... these girls/women are younger than me, obviously. But i'd love to hear from them.
Our limited subjective perspectives by definition can perceive objectivity but can’t replace it. And to conflate the two leads to incomprehensibility, confusion, and division between people. And neither’s presence necessarily negates the other. That is the healthy distinction leaders (corporate, admin, political, parents, professors, etc.) need in order to discuss and create sound policies.
So glad you took on the subject of objective truth. I see this as one of of our more serious problems today. Fuzzy thought is tolerated. Reason and logic are not demanded so we get harmful policies based on lies, as you point out. “My truth” and “my” lived experience blot out reasoned debate. Subjective feelings substitute as truth. Thank you for writing a great article on this dangerous phenomenon-- which seriously adds to the deterioration of thought and society.
"Safe and effective" is a phrase that was normalized by big pharma and accepted for their poisons for decades, prior to covid. It gained more strength in reference to the jabs. "Repeat a lie often enough, it's eventually accepted as the "truth"."
Great article! The phrase "my truth" is really just saying "my perspective". We all bring our own perspective and experiences to every situation which can make us view others actions in different ways. The reason most arguments occur is when there is a breakdown in communication because someone might misinterpret someone else based on their own views. This happens all the time and just because I may interpret a certain situation the way I do, it does not make it the "truth". When someone says "my truth", they are really just shutting down anyone else's perspective or different point of view. As a society we need more dialogue not less, more sharing of others perspectives and conversations to learn and grow from and sadly the phrase "my truth" doesn't allow for that. Thank you for highlighting this!
If I remember correctly the phase is “The truth shall set you free.” It was not and is not My truth shall set you free.
Excellent piece, Bravo! This insidious phrase likewise drives me bonkers. I wish we could hear the great, and sadly, late-Dr. Timothy Keller preach. Perhaps he did...it would be the sort of sloppy, mealy-mouthed, slippery slope to Hell distinction that he relished parsing in his inimitable way. He would do it with humor and rhetorical brilliance all the while shedding light on the absolute dangers of this sort of relative and reductionist speech. How "My truth" leads to "Zero truth" in one tiny beat.
Inevitably such an innocent sounding turn of phrase allows cowards and liars off the hook or to lurk in the shadows. Everyone desperately trying to make sense from nonsense! Orwell would have a field day on this one too🤣 But, truly, this is NO joke. The foundation of our civilization rests upon this very distinction.
This was an excellent read, and that's the truth.
As I think about this, I wonder if the concept of "speaking my truth" has the paradoxical effect of making people more hesitant to express the actual truth. For example, let's say you wanted to argue in 2021, that kids should be in school in person and there isn't any need for them to wear masks (I have no idea why I selected this example). You come armed with reams of data to bolster your argument. But then you realize, what's the point? In an Oprahfied society where each individual's concept of "my truth" is paramount, you are really just surrendering to the lowest-common-denominator mob. The supremacy of feelings, wishes, whatever, absolve a person of the need to even consider alternatives to what they're inclined to believe. Nobody needs to listen to facts if their anecdote reigns supreme. And the real truth gets suffocated by the sea of Oprah's.
Agreed what an excellent read, your comment included. Over the last 6-7 years, students in my grad programs and in classes I teach use ‘my truth’ a lot to the point they deny objectivity exists. To them, objectivity is a complete myth. I’ve noticed that students equate the anecdotal to quantitative evidence. Anecdotal ‘evidence’, highly contextual, corresponds highly with knee-jerk inexplicable moral judgment, taken as if universally true. Because I’m white and male, I don’t possess truth, just oppressive status where white males forwarded a centuries-long rhetoric of deceptive ‘objective’ truths that, to them, really only favored white males. It includes me. Hence why people are way more hesitant because some possess the valued identity-based ‘truth’ while others definitely do not.
I love your bravery in truth and for standing up for it after realizing that "softening" it doesn't really help at all. Now this is difficult to know where to start because I agree with you on so many points but let me try - everyone does have "their" truth. The trouble comes when we allow one truth over another by not hearing the other side. That's called censorship or having media get the only dibs in voicing or announcing their truth. Truth is hearing all sides but that doesn't happen today as media owns all the voice. I always say men are (by the rule) stronger than women (usually even small men have more strength than a woman taller than him) but women have more intelligence. I've "softened" that truth by saying women have more wisdom. But because the people with all the money are men, because we live in a totally male-designed society (bibles, constitutions etc written only by men) then our entire view is skewed. I get a lot of flak for saying women are more intelligent but that's what I observe. The way to find truth is for all sides to be voiced. Debate is also a very quick way of often (not always) getting to the objective truth. Because truth has a lot of sides but only one reality and the only way to ascertain it is to hear all sides. So truth can only be found by this method - of hearing all sides equally (not just one side or one side more) This also makes life rich and full. I love your work, so encouraging to hear a woman speak her truth and not kowtowing.
💯 agree with you. Thank you for speaking truth. My heart breaks for all that you and all the other young gymnasts went through. Glad we pulled our youngest out of that weird world at 7.
I have always admired you - now even more so. I'll be saving this link and forwarding it to the next person who pulls the "my truth " card.
I have said this before, as have you, but it bears repeating. One of the positive outcomes of the covid dumpster fire is connecting people from disparate backgrounds under a common approach to life. This essay highlights yet another instance. The term, "my truth" has almost always made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. There is not truth for some but not others. There is only truth. Facts, period. It is possible for what one thinks are "facts" to not be facts, obviously. That does not make "your truth" and "the truth" different, though. Somehow, we now think it does. (I have seen this in my own family.) Thanks for the confirmation.
What comes out of any human’s mouth is “their opinion” and everyone has the right to express it. It is a very big and egotistical leap to call it “truth”.
If you want to live only in YOUR truth, it's time to move to the metaverse, where you can create YOUR reality. The rest of us will live with truth that embodies objective facts. You can't force anyone to believe in a truth that is solely yours, your opinion. There have to be objective facts.
Is it possible through the Parkettes alumni to contacts the girls featured in this documentary. I, and probably most of the gymternet would like a 20 year update. I only know of the one who went on to compete NCAA
Interesting... I think I'll try that. Thanks for the suggestion. I am in touch with many from my generation... these girls/women are younger than me, obviously. But i'd love to hear from them.
“It isn’t compassionate to endorse a lie.” 💯
Our limited subjective perspectives by definition can perceive objectivity but can’t replace it. And to conflate the two leads to incomprehensibility, confusion, and division between people. And neither’s presence necessarily negates the other. That is the healthy distinction leaders (corporate, admin, political, parents, professors, etc.) need in order to discuss and create sound policies.
Thanks J-Sey. “The” truth well writ.
So glad you took on the subject of objective truth. I see this as one of of our more serious problems today. Fuzzy thought is tolerated. Reason and logic are not demanded so we get harmful policies based on lies, as you point out. “My truth” and “my” lived experience blot out reasoned debate. Subjective feelings substitute as truth. Thank you for writing a great article on this dangerous phenomenon-- which seriously adds to the deterioration of thought and society.
"Safe and effective" is a phrase that was normalized by big pharma and accepted for their poisons for decades, prior to covid. It gained more strength in reference to the jabs. "Repeat a lie often enough, it's eventually accepted as the "truth"."
Great article! The phrase "my truth" is really just saying "my perspective". We all bring our own perspective and experiences to every situation which can make us view others actions in different ways. The reason most arguments occur is when there is a breakdown in communication because someone might misinterpret someone else based on their own views. This happens all the time and just because I may interpret a certain situation the way I do, it does not make it the "truth". When someone says "my truth", they are really just shutting down anyone else's perspective or different point of view. As a society we need more dialogue not less, more sharing of others perspectives and conversations to learn and grow from and sadly the phrase "my truth" doesn't allow for that. Thank you for highlighting this!
“My truth” is for those who want an out when they’re proven wrong, and who want to stubbornly advance silly notions despite facts.