Tag Archives: Tribes

Are You Playing The “Game”?

It is said, life is a game.

The pieces on a chessboard are people maneuvering themselves into strategic positions to win.

The “game” is played on the streets as well as on the internet.

Courtesy of Creative Commons

I’ve worked in Corporate America for almost 30 years, and there are unspoken rules there too.

You play the “game” right, you win.

You play it wrong, you lose.

Truth be told, I hate playing games.

I’ve always had a difficult time following a crowd or being part of a clique. I’ve never participated, and still don’t.

I’m not antisocial. I’m just not into pretenses.

Which is probably why I frown upon words like, “community” and “tribe”. It reminds me of a gang mentality.

Gangs are racist and discriminatory. They only accept people who are like them.

If you follow, you are accepted. If you say and do all the right things, you are in. If you don’t, you are cut off.

Social media is a slippery slope.

Most try to climb the ranks like a gangster.

They become friends with you on Facebook or follow you on Twitter, with an agenda. In the hopes that you will help them, but never with the intention of getting to know you.

It’s all about what you can do for them. How you can help them succeed or get ahead.

You see, it’s hardly about “community”.

Everyone follows and joins the bandwagon. They jump in head first to climb the ladder of fame.

The second you say “no” to something they want, you can best believe, they will unfriend or unfollow you in a heartbeat.

You no longer have any use for them, because you were just a “tool” to begin with.

Eventually, word gets around in the so-called “community” and you are exiled.

I don’t know about you, but I am not interested in following the sheep or rather, herd mentality.

I don’t need people’s favors to get ahead. If God has something for me, then it’s for me.

As with everything in my life, nothing was handed to me on a silver platter. I had to work hard and earn the right to have whatever I have today.

There are no political hand-outs or favors in my world.

I’m glad because I don’t have an “entitlement” mentality that most people have. I don’t walk around looking for ways on how people can help me or ask for favors.

Half of these people, who are in the same “community”, are landing positions they aren’t even qualified for. They got it by playing the “game”, rubbing elbows and doing favors.

When it comes to art, homie don’t play that.

My creativity came from God and I won’t be exploiting it any time soon.

I don’t subscribe to the “I’ll scratch your back, if you’ll scratch mine” mentality.

You can call it pride if you’d like, but I’m not stooping that low to get ahead, even if it means walking alone.

If I get anywhere with anything I pursue, it will be by the grace of God mixed with my sacrifice, effort and hard work.

Where do you stand on this matter? Are you buying into the dream their selling you?

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