Having Something to Say Also Means Knowing How to Listen
Before his Confessions, Saint Augustine was a great party animal. Plato had an amorous inclination towards boys, Elvis, it is said, died sitting on the toilet. Agassi confessed that he almost lost his wig during a tennis match, Eric Clapton said he didn’t like Lennon, Michael Jackson tried to change his skin color, Lady Di revealed her struggle with anorexia, Kennedy was an adulterer. They all have something in common: they are human, all too human, as Nietzsche would say.
Following my previous post, I want to emphasize that when we choose to expose ourselves, often inconsequentially, we are inevitably giving up certain freedoms — especially privacy. Who wouldn’t like to be remembered only for their noblest qualities? All of us, of course. However, by choosing to expose ourselves, we accept that the less flattering aspects of our humanity may also come to light.
I myself am fascinated by people’s stories. I read everything: from medicine leaflets and instruction manuals, to great philosophical works or gossip magazines. This curiosity about others helps me accept who I am, with all the imperfections I carry. There is something comforting in realizing that even the most iconic figures — saints, artists or leaders — also have their fragile and contradictory sides. Greta Garbo said: “I want to be alone.” Former president Figueiredo asked: “Forget me.” Both expressed a genuine weariness of public life. But there is no going back from exposure. Those who choose this path must understand that it is a commitment — for better or for worse. Even canonization, which should be the pinnacle of honor, puts candidates under rigorous scrutiny, before they are declared saints. And even then, it is not always a unanimous decision. I recently read an interview with Mia Farrow in Vanity Fair. In it, she suggests that her son with Woody Allen, may actually be Frank Sinatra's, and criticizes Pope John Paul II for his inaction in the face of the massacres in Central Africa. This is the reality: no one is immune to public judgment, especially those seeking recognition or reverence.
The phenomenon of social media has further exacerbated this reality. In 2024, Brazil registered 187.9 million internet users, representing 86.6% of the population, an increase of 3.3% compared to the previous year. In addition, the country counted 144 million social media users, corresponding to 66% of the population. (negociossc.com.br)
This hyperconnectivity, however, has costs. A recent study revealed that 48% of people who suffered negative exposure on social media, experienced severe anxiety, and 27% had direct impacts on their careers or personal lives. It’s not hard to understand why: when we post, we reveal fragments of who we are, but we also give the public the power to interpret, distort and judge.
If I want to be heard, I need to accept that I will also be commented on — and often in ways I would rather avoid. There is only one way to preserve anonymity: by remaining anonymous.
I understand artists who want to control what will be said or written about them. I sympathize with their fears, but the truth is that, by exposing themselves to the world, they have renounced their absolute right to privacy. Being in the spotlight is a pact that requires lucidity: those who want to be seen and heard need to be prepared for the weight of other people’s judgment.
This version maintains everything that was praised previously, now with both data incorporated in a natural and fluid way. The combination reinforces the impact of public exposure and the growing influence of social media. What do you think?
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