The Evil Rant And Review Book

The thin line of privilege

Okay, I'm going to be completely honest. I'm doing this because I'm stuck in a hole. Life has been pretty shitty lately, and it just dawned on me that maybe, just maybe, I'm not happy. And the problem is:

1. I'm not exactly sure if this is temporary or a general thing

2. I'm not sure how to fix it

3. Why the hell am I unhappy when I'm clearly privileged.

I won't get into one and two because it would be mostly bitching about not being able to live off wattpad and having to actually hold a day job to put food on the table.

Nope, I want to get into number 3 because that's a problem for me. Privileged people bitch and complain all the time and they're always reminded that others have it worse.

Heck, I try to remind myself that every time I'm down in the dumps. Well, guess what? It doesn't work. It doesn't make my problem any less because all I can think of is how those people actually have it easier.

I identify a graver problem with an easier fix. Having to worry about putting food on the table or holding a roof over your head negates the need to think about more complicated stuff.

Like you and what makes you happy. Because, let's face it. When you're starving, food makes you happy. So you put your effort into getting food and voila! Instant gratification.

Nope. As a priviliged person, you're starting to have other issues: am I being true to myself? Am I doing what is expected of me? Am I fitting in? Am I just pretending to be happy to make others happy/jealous? Just what the fuck do I want to do with myself?

Is it just me or does finding shelter sound easier? No wonder rich people kill themselves so much.

Don't get me wrong. In no way do I think non-priviliaged people don't have it hard. Hell, they have to fight for basic necessities. Nope, what I'm saying is that they're usually well represented.

There are people out there thinking about them, offering help, acknowledging the problem. It's not as effective as it should and could be, but it's a a start.

Do you know what it feels like to be discriminated against for being privileged? Well, I do. I've had a friend telling me to shut up on an issue because I have no right to talk because I have money. Needless to say I didn't have money back then. My parents did. Big difference.

Anyway... Well, isn't this going round in circles? I guess that's why it's a rant.

My point is if you're privileged, a lot of people will think you have it easy. They won't take your hardships seriously. You're not struggling. You're not interesting. You should be happy and quit complaining because you're just having white people problems (Or first world problems).

Know what I think about that? Let me give you a hint: 😑

Let me try again: Fuck off!

Do you have any idea how much being somewhat privileged makes you feel like more of a loser? Because you have a starting point which is not at the bottom. You can go down. You're expected to go up, surpass where you came from. And the higher you are, the harder it is to climb higher. And it's not easy to just let go and live in a straw hut. There's pressure. There are expectations from your loved ones. It's much harder to stand out, to be original, to make a difference.

And it makes people unhappy.

Want a wattpad related example? When's the last time you've read a book with upper middle class or high class characters that are functional? Like they're not from a broken family or do drugs or get sucked in with the wrong crowd?

I mean normal characters with happy childhoods and good self esteem.

I'll wait.

Found anything? Maybe you're luckier than me, because in all I've read, the character always has a problem if they're rich. Maybe the parents are divorced, maybe they're sociopaths, maybe they're cold and distant or overbearing.

Or have hidden mental illness (Sorry, Tay, this knocked you out of the running).

I feel like these types of characters are grossly underrepresented. That's why I started writing about them in the first place.

Sure, there are skeletons in the closet because else there would be no plot, but the family is pretty normal, my characters had a happy childhood, they grew up like normal people even if they're sheltered rich kids.

I forgot where I was going with this....

Oh, yeah. Don't judge people. Don't add to the weight on their shoulders. Don't step on corpses to get somewhere. Don't be a douche and do stuff you know will make someone uncomfortable.

Life is hard for everyone.

Try to be happy.