Keep Your Identity Small

Paul - a good point about identity: much of the flameage in political/religious discussions stems from people feeling threatened by beliefs different from their own: taking these beliefs as personal attacks (which they too often degenerate into).

Rather than letting as few things into one's identity as possible (which might prohibit growth), why not actively absorb the opposite viewpoints? Keep your identity balanced, not necessarily small.

Doing so intentionally and temporarily can be a good way to expose viewpoints you may not realize you've internalized. (Meditation helps, too.)

Also, think about what stuff in your mental surroundings (things you read regularly, etc.) tend to reinforce certain beliefs you already have.

I think I concur that in educated discussions Identity does not help, but I have been thinking through the importance of identity for a while.

I think in many situations identity gives you strength. I have an identity within Y Combinator, with my family, with people that went to my University, in the countries I have lived in etc. These fragments of my identity all give me strength, it means I would help people out that have similar identity to me and I know people in those groups would help me. Beyond aid, it also give me purpose and meaning.

This balance between the good and the part parts of having Identity are important. I don't think one should just try to blindly minimize identity. Maybe just try to keep an open mind in discussions about Identity.

I think this is a good argument for minimising one's identity.

But there can be good reasons in particular cases for taking on some identity. For example, oppression is often begun to be fought by the oppressed joining together under a shared identity.

In general, people typically take on an identity — or keep one that they find themselves with (upbringing) — to feel that they belong in some group of people. But I don't think that sticking some big label on oneself is necessary for belonging. One can belong in the group of one's friends and family just by being one anothers' nearest and dearest, not through being fellow x-ists or y-arians. And being partial to one's nearest and dearest as such isn't in itself harmful, only mutually beneficial to those involved, and beneficial to others since a group of mutually supportive individuals reduces the demands those individuals might make against those outwith that group.