Last Friday I spent about 3 hours writing a reflection on my year in El Salvador and what I think about the place now.
It was my honest take... which made it brutal.
(TLDR: I don't think it's good, what's happening there. The gang clean-ups and security improvements were excellent, but now it's just paved the way for corporate big money development. Maybe that's the way of the world, but an uncomfortable third world country building the same chain grocery store and fast-food fried chicken restaurants everywhere, acting like it's giving the finger to the IMF but is actually taking loans from them, removing the Bitcoin Law... that's not for me. No thanks. I'd signed up for building Bitcoin Country...)
By 200K views, the hate started to pour into the comments and re-tweets. People I'd considered friends insulting me because they disagreed with my conclusion. Strangers re-posting me saying I'd never be happy anywhere.
So I took 3 days off of social media to collect myself emotionally.
But when I logged back in, I discovered something surprising:
My "DMs from strangers" folder was full of support!
These are just 3 examples... all from Salvadorans, even though I'd written the post with ex-pat Bitcoiners in mind. In total I received almost 20 messages from people saying they agree, and thanking me for speaking up... because the propaganda machine is so strong there that it makes everyone uncomfortable to say anything negative.
Even me, I waited until I left the country to say anything publicly. (No big cajones on this gringo!)
My validation moment was when the GOAT of Bitcoin nation-state adoption himself agreed publicly:
The drama has continued since then, but that's not what I want to discuss today. This whole thing about online discourse drama is showing me two major things:
- Opening up to share an opinion with the world == VULNERABILITY
- Sharing your own experience == WILL UPSET SOMEONE OUT THERE
- Approval from others == SAFETY
I'll start with #2 because it's quick: how weird is it that sharing your own personal experience with something/somewhere can actually piss someone else off?
I'm having trouble wrapping my head around it. So someone likes/dislikes something that you dislike/like... that means they must fight you, or they have the right to accuse you of complaining, or simply tell you you're wrong and call you names?
Crazy world we live in.
Back to #1: vulnerability.
I don't feel vulnerable posting a YouTube educational video. Or entertainment-minded content. If people hate it, fine. It's not personal, and if they leave a nasty comment, that's on them.
But when the content is my perspective?
A recap of my lived experience?
My patiently-formed opinion?
For some reason the disagreement cuts deeper when this is the case. As if its personal.
Makes me wonder if this is perhaps why we don't see too much authenticity on the internet. Real truth sparks controversy sparks disagreement triggers the emotionally immature.
Some can disregard online drama and grow thicker skin to ignore it. I have mad respect for them.
But for me, this is always a powerful exercise in personal sovereignty: amidst the chaos of online drama and discourse, can one observe their own conviction of belief and battle test it against attacks without attaching their identity to an outcome?
(Like they say, if you can't explain your own beliefs, they're not your beliefs.)
And if you're being honest with yourself, this online drama discourse might even help you realize your beliefs need work.
I think that's what makes online arguments (or going viral) an exercise in vulnerability. It's not easy to approach conflicting perspectives with a fully open-heart... but it can be rewarding if approached correctly.
Finally, I'll close this off with validation.
Something I'm not sure I'm proud of how much relief I felt when I received validation and approval of my post from others.
If I'm acting from a place of truth, why must I feel the need for approval from others?
I suppose the answer lies in the same realm of this discussion; that when everyone agrees, I don't need to question my own belief system and (potentially) the thoughts I've unwittingly attached my identity to.
"I'm safe in my tribe."
There were a couple valid (and respectful) counterarguments made to my post. Nothing strong enough to disprove my opinion, but well-written enough to put some thought into my "belief" and recognize that it was still on solid footing.
But at the end of the day, all the hate spouted towards me was all just nonsense. Why let it get to me? When someone's attacking your character because they disagree with you, well... I guess that's the internet for you. It's not actually personal.
Thanks for reading.
Catch you soon.
