cynicism is originally and usually directed towards those that hold the balance of power, because it is about questioning the general order/knowledge that undergirds that power. to be cynical of those with, in this context, the least power, albeit leaders themselves, is somewhat turning things on their head. it’s more like you want to believe/ are invested in hegemony, or the gravitational pull of power and privilege, and are bending the term to mean ‘doubtful about alternatives or any form of resistance’. But if this position was described as the position of a politician in the West, for example, rather than of an internet random, another way of putting this so-called cynicism would be ‘arrogance’.
This is a really good and fair post. I’m cynical of people in power, but fair comment when the relativity is taken into consideration it looks like I’m turning everything on its head.
cynicism is originally and usually directed towards those that hold the balance of power, because it is about questioning the general order/knowledge that undergirds that power. to be cynical of those with, in this context, the least power, albeit leaders themselves, is somewhat turning things on their head. it’s more like you want to believe/ are invested in hegemony, or the gravitational pull of power and privilege, and are bending the term to mean ‘doubtful about alternatives or any form of resistance’. But if this position was described as the position of a politician in the West, for example, rather than of an internet random, another way of putting this so-called cynicism would be ‘arrogance’.