However, the “rules” in this book are often excuses to talk about something else. Girls suffer in today`s world, but so do boys. On average, boys are less pleasant than women – they are less empathetic and less emotional. Such qualities complicate their educational life. Like many of Jordan Peterson`s rules, this goes beyond literally leaving skateboarding kids alone. Learn the true meaning of Jordan Peterson`s Rule 11. Isn`t Rule 5 primarily concerned with the proper socialization of children, which I believe was the case at age 4? Humans are wired for certain risks. That`s why we`re looking for adrenaline, whether it`s drag racing, bungee jumping, or eating a pack of Doritos roulette. Without risk, life is boring.
We become careless. When something dangerous, unexpected and full of possibilities emerges, we inevitably fail. When we take risks, we feel alive. Adrenaline flows through our bloodstream and our heart beats a little faster. We live on the margins. And Rule 5 encourages intervention for actions that make you dislike them, and taking risks should be something you approve of if your children take them within reason. The subject of this rule is much more important than the title seems. Peterson says that while the physical act of skating is a rather dangerous act, the danger children desire is of greater importance. Children are able to turn these potentially dangerous games into experiences where they can develop their character and resilience. As we know from evolution, difficult situations force individuals to adapt in beneficial ways.
Peterson alludes to this fact in the statement: “Men impose a code of conduct on each other when they work together. Do you work? Pull your weight. Stay awake and be careful. Don`t whine or be sensitive. Defend your friends. Do not suck or snitch. Don`t be a slave to stupid rules. There is a sense in which Peterson advises men not to choose the normally simple or sweet things in life. Only through this approach will people be equipped with the right mentality of life. Last weekend I was in town, two teenagers skated down a flight of stairs. One guy stumbled and flew quite far. He stood up and tried again. My mind said, “Woah, Rule 11 in practice” This is Rule 11 in Jordan Peterson`s bestseller 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos.
Peterson explores how skateboarding is a way for boys to test danger and learn how to manage risk and pain, and as such is a valuable source of socialization and mental health. For Peterson, buzzkills that suppress skateboarders suffer from acute resentment; They are bitter about the freedom, courage and style of the riders: “Under the creation of rules that prevent skaters from doing highly skilled, courageous and dangerous things, I see the work of an insidious and deeply anti-human spirit.” Peterson then discusses views on patriarchy and whether it has facilitated or hindered society. It is obvious that “culture is an oppressive structure.” What for? Because every structure that includes a rule creates winners and losers. So we have to negotiate. He says that men did not create a culture, but are symbolically interpreted as “patriarchy.” Rather, the suppression of patriarchy was a collective effort of women and men trying to put their lives in order. While men struggled to put bread on the table, women also struggled with the “high probability of unwanted pregnancy, the likelihood of death or serious harm during childbirth, and the burden of too many young children.” Am I going to hell? Intersectionality can be reduced to a “ranking” where a white heterosexual man is at the bottom, and the more “oppressed” groups one claims to be, means that person ranks higher in intersectionality. This means that blacks have a victim status that whites obviously do not have. Half of me believe this is only true from our own individual perception of black people and the history of oppression in a form of police brutality.
However, half of me also believe that categorizing people into their marginalized groups robs them of individuality and immediately devalues their ability to “succeed” in life or to be equal to a white person. Boys are less likely to follow the rules, which will inevitably affect their academic performance. After all, these boys are less educated and enter the workforce with few prospects and little self-confidence. I don`t find this rule as controversial as the content I`ve read in this chapter. Peterson discusses children and how parenting affects how they react to danger in the future. When kids skateboard, bike, or engage in dangerous activity, parents want their kids to do something safer out of goodwill. Peterson suggests that this is dangerous in itself, because the child must ultimately face the dangers of the world, live independently, and find their own meaning in life. The shelter will not teach children to assert themselves.
This rule seems somewhat contradictory with the number five. Rule 11 defends the general principle of a non-interventionist parenting style “children will be children” and contradicts what Number Five says in promoting intervention. I think Peterson says intervention is justified in some cases, but if they are overprotective, children will be woefully ill-equipped to face the world as adults. The hardest part is knowing when to intervene and balancing rules 11 and 5. Peterson wants society to be receptive to the idea that boys and men want to prove their competence to their romantic friends and partners. Boys want to get around on the edge of danger, where life is hard enough to grow up. That`s why friends tease each other and have murky rituals, expose newcomers to social stress – they evaluate character and determine who to trust, who has a strong backbone, who is entertaining. This is where the color blind theory of racism comes into play, where not all people are considered equal. My point is that there are privileged people in marginalized groups and non-privileged people in white groups per se, and I believe that victim status applies both to people who believe they are victims and to people who have had parents who have been victims of prejudice. I define myself superficially as a minority, but I need to stop believing that I am marginalized and empower myself. I am equal to all other men and women. At what level can I decide that my life is better or worse than someone else`s? And if I meet with those who want to use my minority card, I will certainly act accordingly.
I want everyone to judge people by the content of their character, not by the status of their marginality. Modern parental care deprives men of this possibility. Don`t eliminate life`s risks – let children optimize it and improve their skills. Let guys go against authority and get tougher and do seemingly dangerous things. Hence his rule: “Don`t disturb children when they skateboard.” I would only slightly adjust Peterson`s rule: “Don`t disturb children or adults when they skateboard. If someone could explain what needs to be said in this article, that would be great, I would rather be informed than misinterpret. This rule is the only one I have trouble understanding. I think my interpretation is wrong, does this rule say to leave things as they are? How can we not change things because some things are natural and have yet to happen? Once you reach a certain level of wealth, accumulating more wealth will not significantly improve your life. But hypercompetitive and very unpleasant people want to win at all costs.
The only way for an individual to grow is to face dangerous situations where they can develop resilience to life`s challenges. Many social norms and codes of life require people to have a certain attitude and personality. Without developing these attitudes and characteristics, it can become incredibly difficult to meet the demands of the world. In a world characterized by hierarchies, many individuals are driven to aspire to high-ranking positions and status in their society. However, those aspiring to these positions face a plethora of challenges to reach the top of the hierarchy. The ability to emerge unscathed from chaos defines those at the top of the ladder. Culture is also good, it has given us freedom, technology, life, experience and opportunities. On the one hand, culture takes away some of our freedom, but on the other, it gives us another kind of freedom. One of my favorite driving routes is at both ends of the main roads to and from Washington, DC, and the different reactions I get there tell a story.