What is Real in a World of Social Constructs
In today’s episode of Future Tech I ask the question, what is real. Because in this world of social constructs, everything is created by people in society. Nothing is really an objective reality, because people in society say that they mean something, or a large group of people agree and accept things the way they are. But in the end, social constructs and everything in this world, or this universe isn’t real. So my question today is, what is real.
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Here’s the transcript from this podcast episode, please excuse any typos!
If you’re not familiar with social constructs or you don’t know what this episode is really about. Here’s a simple example. For those of you listening, I’m holding up a bottle of water, or see the social construct would say that this is actually called a thermos of some sort, because it has a different kind of lid. Okay, but inside is water that tastes like water, looks like we’re, it must be water because of the social construct. Throughout time has told humans that this clear liquid is called water. This plastic thermos with an orange lid is in fact a thermos with an orange lid, why, why is this called the thermos, why is this color called Orange. That’s not real.
his could be called a woodblocks this color, maybe not even the word color maybe it’s not even the word color maybe it’s Lila, or maybe this is not even orange maybe it’s Buddha, you know like, we being made up words to describe things. And this may not even be water. Why is it hydrogen and oxygen, who made up those chemical names? So what if water wasn’t water? What if it was, you know, some other word, yellow, you know, maybe that is the way you say what is in a different language. I don’t know, but a social construct is anything. You know why it is an apple. An apple. Why is a banana? A banana. Why are you a girl and I’m a boy? Simple question. Why are their vendors, why are their religions.
I think they’re adults and children, who’s to say that if you’re 50 years old you are now an adult, or if you’re 18 years old in some countries, you’re an adult. Why isn’t it that if you’re four years old. You’re old enough to do certain things because society tells you that you reach a certain age, you are not allowed to vote or drive, or drink alcohol, etc. Another great example as to, at least in my opinion, some of the most ridiculous things that have become the norm, right, is a simple handshake or in Europe you kiss someone on both cheeks. Who came up with that as the standard greeting like hello and then shaking their hand, nice to meet you. That’s not real. We made that up.
So what should be real or what is real, right when you look at all these when you look at everything around you, your, your computer, your, your paintings on the wall, your pets your animals your clothing, right you’re, who’s to say that overalls. At one point were in fashion or high heeled shoes Why are high heeled shoes in fashion Why are ripped jeans. At one point in fashion. Why do people, you know, fix their eyebrows and all sorts of things. It’s just this goes on and on as a million things that people socially accept as a real part of their life. And it’s normal, they’re like yeah this is this is normal for me this is what reality is. In fact, none of it, literally, lives in a fake world where everything is made up. It’s a big fairy tale.
But again I’m gonna ask this question, and I’ve been kind of procrastinating, because I’m, I’m trying to get your wheel spinning. I want to see if you guys know what is real, if you do know what is real, I want you to put it in my comments. I’ll ask you again at the end, but I’m telling you now, while you’re listening, put in the comments, tell me what you think is real. I’m about to tell you what I think is real.
The first step to understanding what is real and keep in mind I’m not an expert in the scientific stuff here but I, you know, this is just from my research and from really wanting to learn more about reality. There’s a lot of it is emotion based, and there’s a caveat. Emotions are social constructs, right, because if you’re scared, somebody told you that that’s fear. If you’re head over heels for someone or you love your pet or your family member or your friend, someone told you that feeling is love. You know if you’re anxious, or sad, or excited people made up those words, people made up those emotions. You know, that’s just the reality we live in. But if we base things off of our emotions. As a starting point, right, we have to sometimes accept social constructs for what they are, they are kind of a launchpad into the world.
So when you get feelings and emotions from certain things that you see, Basically, your perception of reality what your five senses are seeing what your eyes are seeing what your nose is smelling what your ears are hearing what you’re touching what you’re feeling everything your senses right when when you sense or feel emotions or if any kind of, you know, I guess what you would consider your reality, what you’re seeing what you’re hearing. That is the most real you’re going to get right and as you walk around the world, as you go about your day. And you see objects, And you see things, actions, you see, you know, your dog is playing or there’s a car accident, or you’re hungry, and you’re eating food, or you look up, look up in the sky and you see an airplane go by.
You have to realize that everything you’re seeing is fabricated in some shape, way or form, and you are just allowed to believe that you are seeing that thing, or being part of that situation. And the best way to understand what is real, is to take a step back. You see everything when you’re looking at everything when you’re part of your daily journey in your, you know about your business whether you’re working or playing or whatever. Take a step back and think to yourself. Everything you’re seeing is your own reality. Because everybody else has their own reality. Maybe what they see is not the same thing you see. Maybe the car accident you saw, You thought somebody was at fault, but it was the other person at fault because somebody else from a different vantage point isn’t on different perceptions, you know, maybe a dog that’s roughhousing with another dog at the park.
You think they’re playing, whereas another person thinks. So again, that’s a real look at this from a macro, or even at granular you can look at both look at it from an outside view and look at from an inside view. When you see things happening around you when you see objects or things you’re perceiving them as your reality. One of the best ways I’ve noticed, to really live in the moment and see reality for what it is: a social construct, or a beautiful planet. You know, you can look at it from a different perspective and say okay fine, everything is made up, everyone told me what to believe. You know there’s information out there on social media and the news media press, you know, TV, everyone telling you what to believe, right, there’s a lot of misinformation, so that that goes into a completely different type of social construct, or you’re being fed lies or truths you don’t know what’s true, what’s fake. All of it is a social construct: your perception of the information that you’re receiving is your reality.
Tell you tomorrow. That, you know, cars are illegal to have, you can’t own cars anymore or you can’t own cats anymore ads are now illegal. That is a social construct. That is not reality. That is your perceived reality because you have to accept this new law. But if tomorrow all of a sudden they say, Well, how Coca Cola is going to be the new drink of the world we’re going to put Coca Cola into the faucets, more water, just like it did in Idiocracy where Gatorade became the drink right. That was a social construct, they decided to make Gatorade the drink. That wasn’t real , that wasn’t real, that wasn’t reality. That was the perceived reality because it was forced upon people because of a social construct or social decision that was made. So what I like to do is, and I’m not trying to become like a woowoo kind of Guru here so or what, nothing like that but if you’ve listened to my podcast or watch my YouTube videos, you’ve heard me talk a lot about mindfulness, which includes yoga, meditation, just being in the moment, breathing techniques, things like that, walking in nature, exercising, I do all of those things on a daily basis because it does help ground me. It does help me remove myself from the social constructs that I am bombarded by every single day that I have to accept or perceive as my reality. So when you wake up in the morning instead of rushing through your day.
Take a few minutes to simply sit with your eyes closed, and breathe deeply. I’m going to do it now for a couple seconds, through the nose. When you open your eyes, you’ll feel calmer, you’ll feel more peace. Now when you look at your reality. You’ll perceive it a little differently, because you’ll be able to take a breath, and enjoy the moment and not focus on the social constructs because when you are mindful and you meditate or do yoga or free blacks, you break down those social constructs you break down the barriers and that are out there. And that’s the only way you can live in reality. Hopefully this wasn’t too, you know, mystical for you or whatnot. I hope that you learned something from my opinion based on those social constructs. And as always, like I said, leave me some comments, I want to hear what you think about social constructs, tell me your silliest social constructs, what you think is crazy. Why, why do you think that is a certain social construct? I should believe it’s real, why are we forced to believe certain things are real, whether it’s gender politics, no family stuff, friend stuff obviously anything. Even with the comments, I will respond. I’m curious to hear what you think. And as always I will see everyone in next week’s episode.
