I learned of a new concept today; I’m fairly concerned.
The faintly depressing human tendency to seek out and spend time with those most similar to us is known in social science as “homophily”, and it shapes our views, and our lives, in ways we’re barely aware of.
He goes on
The unspoken assumption here is that you know what you like – that satisfying your existing preferences, and maybe expanding them a little around the edges, is the path to fulfilment. But if happiness research has taught us anything, it’s that we’re terrible at predicting what will bring us pleasure. Might we end up happier by exposing ourselves more often to serendipity, or even, specifically, to the people and things we don’t think we’d like?
Thank you for the kind advice, sir, but “no”, I think not. I’d rather not.
I can only tell you that I wish I could choose otherness. But this choice is dependent upon an already pre-existing and stable foundation. Likeness of mind, shared values, and the pursuit of common goals are life-enhancing things. It’s a predicament that ostracised selves can only long for, an unattainable luxury. Perhaps University has done too much good.
