being frank

I’ve always had a smug appreciation for that phrase. We seem to use that colloquialism for all manner of conversation be it for fun, challenge or shock value. From comedians to political authorities, someone out there is always giving a shit about something – or nothing at all.

It’s a phrase that enjoys a familiar home in these strange times. Many believe that we’re experiencing a kind of upside-down world where good has become bad, enemies have become allies against our better judgement, and criminal intent has taken over the mantle of hero. It certainly appears to be a crazy world out there. It’s a genealogical gazpacho filled with every generational designation to include even a few Greatest Generation members still hanging in; a veritable patchwork of humanity. And regardless of the social box in which each of us is cast, I have no doubt that the vast majority have (at one point or another and in one idiom or another) given a shit.

Crude phrasing aside, I believe that most of us are hard-wired to care. Whether to satisfy a basic need for survival or protecting a valuable item, dogma or relationship, we are all generally inclined to care. It feeds into our support of the social collective; it creates connections that bring purpose and meaning into our lives. The act of caring is inextricably tied to our ability to feel empathy for others, creating interdependencies that strengthen our self-worth and our placement in the world. In the grand scheme of things, giving a shit is a type of instinctual reaction; we all give a shit about something. So why are there so many people that seemingly don’t give a shit? Is it because of disinterest? Is it because it doesn’t relate to them personally or there’s no perceived value in it? I may for example, not give a shit about a storm that occurs on the other side of the world. But the effects of such a weather disturbance could quite possibly affect local travel routes, global supply chains, or the cost of goods and services. So there exists a good chance that I may give a shit about one of those. In a roundabout way, I do give a shit about that storm. In more relatable terms, the same applies to people.

People. Nature’s creation that proves it has a sense of humor. That messy collection of protoplasm that alters everything it comes into contact with, from influencing sublime inspiration to devising appalling destruction. Some people give a shit because it suits their self-interests, while others do it because they truly care. And the act of caring (or the lack thereof) is one of those things that does not carry with it an assumed meaning or symbolism. You can care for an orphaned child or the eradication of an entire species; two similar gestures that reside on opposite ends of the human spectrum.

I believe that as sentient beings, there are those who attempt to unlearn the act of caring more so than just about any other living creature. As infants, we would have suffered or even died had we not been hard-wired to seek out food, comfort or protection. And in the vast majority of cases, it was our parents who came to our aid because they knew we were defenseless and needed help. In other words, they gave a shit. Yes, those actions may have been driven by instinct or love, but that’s the point; caring is instinctively wired into our DNA. As we mature, so does the complexity of caring. It reaches out to establish connections with those people, places and things that bring us a greater sense of security and comfort. But myriad influences can alter our sense of caring; some by choice, others through subterfuge. And as our sense of caring ebbs and flows with the passing of time, we need to remain vigilant of those forces that would seek to change how it impacts us personally and those around us. In a way, caring is like a river: It takes shape because of the force of the water that flows through it, which in turn helps to establish its path. With every obstruction it encounters comes a new direction of flow with the capacity to expand its reach or impede its strength and diminish its impact.

So why give a shit? Look around you. No matter where you happen to reside on this planet, there is something that requires your ability to give a shit, and without delay. Each generation starts out like a river flow. The unmistakable yet unavoidable changes in attitude, norms and energy bring the possibility to make it bend, break, pool or expand. The path it chooses rests on its strength and determination. Stagnation breeds apathy, indifference and the potential for loss. And in a world filled with growing despotism, self-centeredness, fear, grotesque racial inequality, and now the specter of ongoing global conflict, there has never been a greater time for us all to give a shit.