Tribalism on Steemit

The other day I was talking to a friend about the usual tribalistic behavior of most travelers. I live in a very touristic area and I have traveled quite a lot so I pretty much know what I am talking about. For the most part of my journey, I was housed by strangers, locals or anyone that is not necessarily part of my tribe. Because I don't really see the point of traveling if you just talk to the same people. I don't see the point of living in other countries if you just aim to be with your fellow expats. I see bars and places usually filled with white travelers in separate groups. And they are in a country with a big population of locals who can speak English. Travelers usually claim that they travel to get out of their comfort zone and all that usual shit, but seriously, I still see that they are within their bubble. I see groups of Australians, Canadians, French, and English talking to their own groups and nothing more. Proudly throwing the usual I've-been-there and I'm-from badges and all that. I'm not saying that everyone is like that but I can probably count on my fingers who the real travelers are in this world.

Most of us are culturally conditioned and systematically brainwashed to stay within our comfort zone. The illusion of security and all-too-comfortable. If we see someone who is physically not looking like from our tribe, we subconsciously get this red alert in our brains like a danger warning. Our environment taught us that the safe people to talk to or be with are those that look or speak like us. We have been taught to 'otherize' and behave like alpha males of our tribes. The reality is that it takes a lot of guts to open our minds and be with people outside our groups. We have formed this various labels and stereotypes based on the movies, books, news, and the usual government propaganda. Based on my observation these days, traveling cannot easily cure ignorance. Openness does not happen overnight. We bring ourselves wherever we go. We don't even acknowledge what is really there because we are taught to be blind to the inconvenient truth of inequality so can maintain our alpha male or underdog status in the society.

I choose traveling as a perfect example because this is how we can still see the apparent tribalistic nature of humans. It is something that we cannot just easily let go no matter how hard we try to preach. I know from my own experiences and observations that there are just things that will never be changed. People choose not to acknowledge that it is there right the whole time. But I admit that even I myself is usually more comfortable talking to people of my own tribe because they are usually the ones who really understand my sentiments. I tried hard to make other people aware but they just won't fully get my realities. I resigned to the fact that I cannot force other people to walk a thousand miles in my shoes just to be able to understand what I am talking about.

Here on Steemit, it still feels like I am traveling. These days I usually get more comments than big upvotes which is a very good thing. It can mean that there are many people out there who are dying to be heard. There are many people who want to see different perspectives or read issues they can really relate to. I get great engagement on my post, spam or not, but I appreciate that people are trying hard. People from all walks of life. People from all over the world. I am not only writing for the English-speakers, Americans or Europeans. I am not writing only for a specific tribe. I'm a child of the world and my words are for everyone.

Sadly though, I see a lot of people here who are only commenting on authors' posts who are from their own tribes or close to their tribe. People who are within their comfort zone. Did you know that there are many Steemians here who are trying their best to write in English? People who can actually speak and write in other languages. Surely, there is no excuse not to find them. It pays to read different perspectives. I admit that I just recently began digging dipper into Steemit tags to discover other authors. Steemit is not only for Americans, Canadians, Australians or other English writers. This is a world community. So why not let go this tribalistic nature for once. If you cannot travel, if you are scared to talk to other people in your own community, then Steemit at least can be a great openness practice for starters.

I am happy to have discovered other talented authors here because I get to read the social issues, realities, places and culture topics from their posts. I just want to learn more about the world. There's @jona12 from Uganda, @fivefiveeleven from Uruguay, @things from India, @bigdude from Venezuela, @kamchore from Pakistan, @klasanaj from Morocco, @helenril from Israel, @ambdavid from Nigeria and many others. And of course, those who are proud to specify their tribe names in their profiles simply because people have nothing bad to say against them, usually from the great tribes that dominate the world.

My point here is that don't let Steemit become another breeding ground for tribalism. We all know based on the dark history that tribalism can be a dangerous thing. Just to remind you, it already killed people on a massive scale. I know to each his own and I am not here to force everyone to get out of their comfortable bubble. What I'm only saying is that it is good for our own mental health and for the world to try to engage or interact with people other than from our own tribe, for it promotes happiness, diversity and greater understanding of the world and its cultures.