Don't Be A Snowflake

A few years ago, conservative commentators in America began using a term for young college students--mostly liberal--who insisted on #noplatforming speakers they disagreed with: Snowflakes. It was said with both a sneer and well-meaning wisdom because the world just isn’t going to work if you think you can block out or censure everything you find objectionable. But here’s the problem. It’s totally hypocritical. Because on all sides of the political debate we have this snowflake tendency. Conservatives freak out now when people question or criticize the president (indeed, the president himself loves to dish it out, but complains constantly about having to take it). You’d be amazed at the number of Donald Trump supporters--the same ones who accuse liberals of Trump Derangement Syndrome--who send in angry notes to DailyStoic.com that illustrate not just their inability to deal with views they disagree with, but also exhibit what ought to be called Clinton Derangement Syndrome. Why point this out? Because the whole aim of Stoicism is to reduce the amount of offense we take from things that are outside our control. Remember, Epictetus says we are complicit when we allow someone to make us angry, when their words produce a disproportionate reaction from us. Intellectually, a philosopher has to be someone who can calmly entertain, consider, and engage with views and ideas different from their own. The notion that you would love listening to a band and then turn them off because they “brought politics into it” is positively infantile, whatever those politics are. Or that you’d turn away from a friend or a parent because they are on their own intellectual or social journey. (Or unsubscribe from a free email you otherwise liked!)Snowflakes, whether they are on the left or the right, are miserable because they need the world to be a certain way--their way. They are constantly at risk of being upset and disturbed because someone else--someone with views different than their own--has the power to say or do or think for themselves. A Stoic, on the other hand, is open-minded and content to let others live and think as they wish. Not only that, but they relish the opportunity to have their own views challenged, because they know they grow stronger for it. Don’t be a snowflake. Be a Stoic. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. 📢 Share | ⚙️ Manage Subscription

Speaker names marked ? are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.

• 0:06Ryan Holiday?

  Welcome to The Daily Stoic, where each day we read a short passage designed to help you cultivate the strength, insight, wisdom necessary for living the good life. Each one of these passages is based on the 2,000-year-old philosophy that has guided some of history's greatest men and women. For more, you can visit us at dailystoic.com.

• 0:29Ryan Holiday?

  Don't be a snowflake. A few years ago, conservative commentators in America began using a term for young college students, mostly liberal, who insisted on no platforming speakers they disagreed with. They called them "snowflakes." It was said with both a sneer and well-meaning wisdom, because the world just isn't going to work if you think you can block out or censor everything you find objectionable. But here's the problem: it's totally hypocritical, because on all sides of the political debate, we have the "snowflake" tendency. Conservatives freak out now when people question or criticize the president. Indeed, the president himself loves to dish it out, but complains constantly

• 1:13Ryan Holiday?

  about having to take it. You'd be amazed at the number of Donald Trump supporters, the same ones who accuse liberals of "Trump Derangement Syndrome," who send in angry notes to Daily Stoic that illustrate not just their inability to deal with views they disagree with, but also exhibit what ought to be called "Clinton Derangement Syndrome." Why point this out? Because the whole aim of Stoicism is to reduce the amount of offense we take from things that are outside our control. Remember, Epictetus says we are "complicit" when we allow someone to make us angry, when their words produce a disproportionate reaction from us. Intellectually, a philosopher has to be someone who can calmly entertain,

• 1:57Ryan Holiday?

  consider, and engage with views and ideas different from their own. The notion that you would love listening to a band and then turn them off because they brought politics into it is positively infantile, whatever those politics are. Or that you'd turn away from a friend or a parent because they are on their own intellectual or social journey. Or unsubscribe from a free email or podcast you otherwise liked. Snowflakes, whether they are on the right or the left, are miserable because they need the world to be a certain way, their way. They are constantly at risk of being upset and disturbed because someone else, someone with views different than their own, has the power to say or do or think for themselves.

• 2:40Ryan Holiday?

  A stoic, on the other hand, is open-minded and content to let others live and think as they wish. Not only that, but they relish the opportunity to have their own views challenged because they know that they grow stronger for it. Don't be a snowflake, be a stoic. If you're liking this podcast, we would love for you to subscribe. Please leave us a review on iTunes or any of your favorite podcast listening apps. It really helps. And tell a friend.