In this diverse society, Yang Li, as a stand-up comedian, has gained widespread attention with her sharp wit and unique perspective. Her phrase "He is so ordinary, yet so confident" not only quickly became popular among netizens but also attracted many businesses to invite her for endorsements, which sparked intense public discussions. People, from their respective standpoints, have expressed support or opposition to the act of businesses extending endorsement deals to her. However, in my view, this debate has been fraught with risks from the outset.
The risk lies in the fact that it simplifies a complex and multifaceted social issue into a slogan, thereby ignoring the diversity and complexity within individuals. Yang Li's statement, while possibly humorous satire on the stage of stand-up comedy, may be misinterpreted or exaggerated when it is removed from its original context and becomes a tool for advertising and marketing. This can not only lead to misunderstandings and prejudices against specific groups but may also make public discussions on important topics such as gender, confidence, and social expectations shallow and extreme.
When people are obsessed with fighting for their "interests," they may not realize that everyone involved is bound to fail.
My Understanding of "Ordinary yet Confident"
"Ordinary yet confident" could originally be a very beautiful concept. The message it conveys is that no matter how ordinary life is, everyone can discover self-worth within it and maintain firm confidence in their potential. In this world, everyone is an ordinary existence, but for every unique individual, self-awareness plays a crucial role. Confidence here does not only mean affirmation of one's abilities; it is more of a belief, a belief that one can have a positive impact in certain areas and bring about improvements to the world.
Pascal said, "Man is but a reed, the most fragile thing in nature, but he is a thinking reed." For every ordinary individual, what distinguishes them from reeds and rocks is not only self-knowledge but also the courage and confidence to change the world. This courage and confidence stem from a profound self-awareness, a deep understanding and trust in one's potential, and a determination to work tirelessly to realize self-worth and improve the world.
"Ordinary yet Confident" in Popular Phrases
When Yang Li playfully threw out the phrase "He is so ordinary, yet so confident," the originally positive concept of "ordinary yet confident" seemed to be redefined. In her expression, "ordinary yet confident" was depicted as an attitude of overestimating oneself without self-awareness, which can easily lead people to confuse confidence with blind arrogance.
When it is detached from the context of stand-up comedy and becomes a simple catchphrase, we find that in various situations, it may be used to disdain ordinary people who show confidence. This usage ignores the efforts and achievements behind confidence, overlooks the courage and determination everyone shows in pursuing self-worth and goals. It simplifies the connotation of confidence, reducing it to a display of overestimating oneself, which is extremely unfair to those who are truly striving to improve themselves and actively facing challenges.
When Concepts are Corrupted, Nobility Ceases to Exist
In the realm of feminism, we have also witnessed the distortion of an idea. The original intention of feminism is to promote gender equality and eliminate discrimination against women, which is undoubtedly a noble pursuit. However, when this movement is eroded by a zero-sum mentality, its essence and goals begin to become blurred. The zero-sum game, which simplifies the world into winners and losers, is contrary to the inclusiveness and win-win sought by feminism.
Pareto optimality, a concept from economics, advocates for the improvement of at least one party without harming any other party, with its core being the search for consensus and win-win. But when the zero-sum game becomes the dominant mindset of feminism, the ideal of Pareto optimality becomes difficult to achieve. In this process, the willingness to seek consensus is marginalized, and the noble ideal is simplified into confrontation, replaced by some simple and crude opposition.
When the zero-sum game becomes the dominant way of thinking, those ideas about win-win seem out of place, labeled as "inefficient" and "incompetent," and even seen as "surrenderism" or "flattery towards the other side" by radicals. This vulgar tendency not only weakens the true power of feminism but also makes the entire society's discussion on gender equality shallow and boring.
Finally
Confidence and self-awareness are the cornerstones of everyone's growth and development. Confidence allows us to face challenges, while self-awareness helps us understand our strengths and weaknesses, thus better leveraging our potential.
The real reason I dislike Yang Li is not her personal style or stage performance, but the distortion and corruption of the concept of "ordinary yet confident" that she spreads. This concept could have been a positive idea encouraging people to find and realize self-worth in ordinary life, but in some expressions, it has been transformed into a popular slogan-like satire and belittlement.
When "ordinary yet confident" becomes a mocking popular concept, all affirmation of self, all courage and enthusiasm can be doused with cold water. All pursuit of limits is simplified into an "incorrect" display of overestimating oneself. What a boring future this would be.
But unfortunately, with the encouragement of netizens and businesses, stand-up comedians are repeatedly encouraged to perform this kind of belittlement. Ideals will inevitably perish.
