The Trope Antidote

Walter McKenzie
Sep 24
3 min read

People are unique, individual powder kegs of potential. Society is a system of power, position, money and privilege. And as people try to reconcile wherever they land in this world, they can easily lose themselves pursuing society’s advantages. The farther we get away from who we truly are, the more we are in danger of becoming caricatures of ourselves.

We all recognize these familiar tropes:

The inept male boss who makes a career of arbitrary decisions based on his own personal agenda, jumping from one leadership role to another, keeping just ahead of the consequences for his actions, leaving it for others to clean up the messes long after he’s gone.

The self-proclaimed award-winning expert who claims to have all the answers for what plagues the world, even though their resume is a patchwork of disconnected roles where they’ve never stayed anywhere long enough to actually demonstrate real verifiable success.

The high-minded meme-warrior who gladly takes potshots at the outrage of the day while sitting in the comfort of their favorite armchair demanding action but never actually taking any risk themselves to confront the people or address the injustices they cite.

The adult operating as a child, overwhelmed by all the demands of life, seeking someone to explain why things are the way they are, fix their problems, and provide for their needs, making everyone else responsible from neighbors to colleagues to institutions.

The data-champion so fixated on numbers and research that they lack the insight (never mind the empathy) to understand how the real-world application of facts and knowledge personally impacts children and families and communities in positive and negative ways.

We’re all at risk of becoming caricatures of the people we started out to be, with good intentions that become twisted and contorted to the point we become mere cartoon versions of our genuine selves.

What’s the prevention? Or for all of us already in process, what’s the cure?

Be aware of how you relate to others. It’s not all about you. Your legacy is written in the words of what others have to say about you.

Be authentic in how you respond to people and situations. Saying and doing what others expect of you, is the easiest way to lose your sense of self.

Be dignified in what you choose and don’t choose for yourself. This is not a game and there are few do-overs. Show that you respect yourself and others.