Breaking Out of a Category

Breaking Out of a Category

“Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen and thinking what no one else has thought.”

Albert Szent-Gyorgi

Bernie Sanders appeared on Joe Rogan’s podcast two weeks ago, 6/24/25. At first glance, it would be easy to wonder why Joe would invite a “socialist” and why Bernie would agree to go on a tattooed,-martial arts fighter-gym-bro’s show. In fact, they agreed on most of the issues they discussed. Before I listened, I didn’t agree with them on everything, yet I came away respecting them both more than I expected. One liberal person I told about this was shocked I’d ever give Joe the time of day.

A few years back when I heard Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s interview on one of my favorite podcasts, I was prepared to hear validation of the medical establishment’s criticisms. In fact, I agreed with him on his critique of most issues. And, as much as I dislike Trump (and Biden, and the Clintons, and Obama, and…), I’m glad RFK is throwing a wrench into the medical/Big Food/Big Ag/Big Pharma/FDA/NIH industrial complex (you know, the sources of our health crises). I don’t agree with everything he says or does, but at least there’s an opportunity for real change when, prior to 2025, there was little to none.

The pushback against RFK is over-the-top and full of dis- or mis-information. The establishment is just beside themselves and just as reactionary as their political or policy enemies. The new Democratic Party’s candidate for mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, who just beat the establishment candidate, Andrew Cuomo, two weeks ago, is also getting massive pushback by the establishment political world and the mainstream media (God forbid a Muslim and socialist should hold office in our country!).

“I’m using art as a means of changing myself, as a means of breaking out of a category.“

Vito Acconci

I’ve started to get pushback on a few things such as my opinions on…you guessed it, the establishment medical perspectives and practices and the slightest indication I’m not on board with someone’s favorite influencer, no matter how innocuous or tongue-in-cheek my comments are intended. Or about my criticisms of the mental health field and my use of “The Un-Dr.” pseudonym. Reactionaries read into what a perceived enemy says or writes, then they tend to exaggerate, ignore inquiry, put forth a straw man,” and/or make direct or indirect ad hominem attacks.

Of course, it’s to be expected. Joe, Bernie, and RFK expect it and didn’t get to where they are today avoiding controversy at all costs.

“The crisis consists precisely in the fact that the old is dying and the new cannot be born; in this interregnum, a great variety of morbid symptoms appear.”

Antonio Gramsci (1891-1937)

“Reformers should take warning from that Austrian general who had great contempt for Napoleon. While it was true that Napoleon consistently defeated him, it was done counter to the laws of military strategy!“

Stuart Chase, The Tyranny of Words, 1938

I don’t think you have to agree with everything I write to find value in following my work here. I don’t think I have to avoid or automatically dismiss your criticisms to find value in your presence or contributions here, either.

I do invite you to see people, opinions, and perspectives very different from your own as an opportunity instead of a threat. As a source of hormetic stress that can help us grow and change. We might still disagree with someone and even fight what they represent, but at least we’ll be better prepared if we know their arguments well.

“The challenge of modernity is to live life without illusions and without becoming disillusioned… I’m a pessimist because of intelligence, but am an optimist because of will.”

Antonio Gramsci (1891- 1937)

For example, in graduate school, the faculty put us through a wonderful exercise. They had around 40 or so students identify as 1. supporters of the biomedical approach to mental health (e.g., such as using drugs for mental health challenges), 2. neither for or against that approach, and 3. against the biomedical approach that predominates the field. Then the students in category #2 were assigned to be the judges of a debate. Then came the twist: Categories #1 and #3 had to argue the other side! We had some time to prepare and then debate. (As you might guess, I was in group #3.) Group #3 demonstrated superior knowledge of Group #1’s perspectives and won the debate. Group #1’s statements showed an embarrassing stereotype of Group #3’s; they used cliches, generalizations, and lacked substance.

“You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.”

Buckminster Fuller

I don’t mean to spend all my time criticizing the “existing reality” here at Formal Rhubarb (although, obviously, I’m going to do some of that); I want to help you consider new models and perspectives on many things in order to assist you and be successful in…wait for it….”making it up as you go along.” And maybe you’ll occasionally find some of it entertaining!