We are nothing (and that is beautiful): Alok Vaid-Menon at TEDxMiddlebury
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 ธ.ค. 2013
- Alok Vaid-Menon discusses the relationship between success and the status quo in this TEDxMiddlebury talk. They draw upon experiences at Stanford and beyond and perform spoken word poetry.
Alok performs with DARKMATTER, a queer South Asian spoken word duo and organizes with the Audre Lorde Project, a queer people of color organizing center in Brooklyn. Alok's body, gender, history, and trajectory are in a constant state of flux, hypocrisy, and contradiction. Alok identifies as an interruption, will you allow them to proceed? To read their poetry visit returnthegayze.tumblr.com
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)
This is incredible!! Alok came to my university tonight to deliver an epic comedy show/deep talk and I was truly moved and engaged the whole time!! And now to come across this is amazing 👏👏👏
Ps, I posted this publicly at facebook and only one real friend liked it. VERY DISAPPOINTING AND TELLING. So once more I feel quite alone, thus I embrace all of you who get this message.
❤
BRILLIANT, BRILLIANT, BRILLIANT.
There is nothing more to add. He has said it all and I am in love with him. His energy and brilliance are magnetic. He spoke from my heart words that I could never articulate but lived in me since childhood in NYC. Everything seemed wrong in that culture. The 60's and my generation failed to bring about the change therefore succeeded in perpetuating everything that Alok Vaid-Menon speaks about. I opted out of it all so personally I succeeded as a failure to validate the agenda of my country which has spread like a cancer over the planet.
I ultimately left my country and avoided the full brainwashing/ indoctrination that has taken place. Easily observable from outside.
But there was and is a price to pay and I have paid it and am paying it as I seemed not to have done it perfectly, leaving myself vulnerable with the possibility of not being able to survive.. But that is another topic.
I am comforted to see here a few comments of people who even in part comprehend the message and information in this video.
Thank you for posting this TedX and I thank Alok Vaid-Menon for being the only voice of truth and real reason that I have heard in my long lifetime.
Not sure if you know by now, but Alok is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns
you just solved my problems with why I want to be successful and not wanting to be successful at the same time.Morals and instinct was always the most important things in order to actually feel successful.Therefore I am nothing and I should start loving it more.YOU are brilliant my friend!!!!
I love Alok and I see where they're coming from. This talk was from almost 2 years ago -- and it's really wonderful to see how much Alok has grown into themselves and followed the blueprint that they laid in this TedTalk. Thank you, Alok, for having the vulnerability to share your stories in a way that most people do not have the opportunity to do so...Or (like some of the people commenting on this TH-cam video) are way too afraid to if they are given any access to understanding and sharing their voice in a way that departs from American values of greed, individuality, hate, hierarchy, and competition.
nosefalltree after reading a lot of the comments on here it's clear that the vast majority of viewers are so brain washed into thinking the way the system has raised them to think that they can not even comprehend what this speaker actually said... there are tons of comments talking about "well if i failed i wouldn't be able to survive!"... when clearly he's saying, and even stated in his talk that he's not saying to not earn a living but to redefine what it means to succeed... to have in-depth introspection is not something that is taught to westernized civilization and as such the masses are clueless as to what this speaker is actually saying because to think in the way that he describes means that you have to actually analyze in detail what is truly happening when action and consequences of those actions happen, and not just in terms of finances as we are programmed to think. i for one think he did an incredible job and i am very proud of this person for having taken the time to understand the inner workings of society and himself to come to the conclusion that he has. unfortunately this will not be seen in the masses in our life time, but it would appear that you have that insight as well. congratulations on being successful :)
Halemore haha, for sure. thank you for sharing your perspective -- i agree with it as well. hope there is another world being built for the future that isn't so messed up like this one, even if it's after our lifetimes. peace.
Stop, please stop this nonsense. "Grown into themselves". Sorry but mental illness will no longer be excused, and societies shared lexicon for descriptive pronouns will not change when it's been the same for millenia. Can't even believe this kid is on TedTalks to begin with after seeing that bizarre video of him looking like Mugatu from Zoolander.
This didn’t age well
Alok is a creep. He likes little girls in improper ways.
It's insane how a celebrity cussing out the paparazzi will get a billion views in under 48 hours, and a slot on every news and talk show... But this discussion barely has 3 and a half thousand views, and could easily change the way people perceive the world and it definition of success. I don't want that kind of success...
This guy has become a freak
I read an article about you earlier and snorted in derision. Pointed out your aesthetic to my friend and we laughed. Then we listened to this. Well done mate. Respect.
Powerful words that are needed in this world ✨
Alok- you may have saved my life.
Muchas gracias, Alok.
This is some powerful shit. The pull of assimilation is strong, thanks for this needed reminder to disrupt the way things have always been done in favor of creating something new.
I haven't watched this yet, but I trust you and I will, as soon as I have 18 minutes.
Beautiful. Thank you.
This is now one of my favorite TED talks. Kudos for speaking truth.
phenomenal.
"Change falls from heart to pocket." I love it.
The ending of the last piece was worth every cent that I used paying attention to this. This whole thing was amazing though.
Anyone else here after listening to "Man Enough"?
I really loved this.
woww! We are successful at making these injustices!
I am a straight woman in her 50s, and I think Alok is marvelous. The freedom of gender non-conformity is incredibly appealing to me. As a woman, I spent much of my life feeling wrong. Not the wrong gender, but wrong IN my gender. Even though I was a lovely young woman, I struggled CONSTANTLY with my appearance. My body shape. All I ever wanted was to be seen as myself FIRST, and a woman second.
This is the whole struggle of resistance to the gender binary. To be able to be celebrated for oneself. Simple, and yet so threatening to so many... Yet I believe that in this way of thinking lies the potential for true personal freedom and happiness. So I celebrate Alok.
Thank you for existing, Alok Vaid-Menon. ❤️
Wow. Wowowowowoww. This is EVERYTHING!!
so young could thinking of that,,,..great guy !!
Thank you.
Excellent - maa sha Allaah Honorable Son Alok Vaid-Menon !
thank you alok the first ted talk I had to listen rewinding and rewinding for the view and I appreciate and support u. We are always afraid of failure but that is a success in another way be become bold to face more stronger challenges. You are right. I have been using my knowledge where I can make poor people rich by using business concepts and techniques and in collaboration rather then competition I believe in blue ocean not red ocean and continuous change. I also think the way you think. we are in this earth for our own purpose but we are compelled to obey others rules. I just love to break the system for a better tomarrow. I say I am nothing and I have no thing I know I will go empty handed only what I leave is the legacy for the future generation.
Wow....such brilliance!
this is a very interesting watch as someone who had discovered alok through their postings on instagram (both their fashion and opinions) quite recently, seeing how their style and identity has changed.
OMG! Alok, I am so full of emotions and clarity after listening to this talk. I have a lot to say, but I am nowhere as articulate as you are, so I will just say - THANK YOU.
Visited Vassar and had the pleasure of meeting him. The coolest.
Vassar, Michigan?
Taliya Snead Vassar College in New York!
Just keep children away from him
Truely inspiring!
gesticulation overdrive. Sick kung-fu moves, I'm learning a lot.
If this doesn't go viral within the week, the Internet as a project has failed.
Mind blowing! I can't believe I witnessed their awesome capabilities just this week! What a brilliant human! The system indeed is broken and humans like Alok are waking us up to this reality. We love you so much Alok! ❤️
@@advikdeshmukh805 I can't believe these people
Thank you Alok for #RedefiningRealness on what it means to be successful and for looking so damn good while doing it! The future is indeed looking bright for #FolksLikeUs
THIS IS SO BEAUTIFUL!!!!!
So crazy to see this vs 2019 him.
I know
*them
*them*
Kaylen Furr
*him he is a man male huMAN
Roshard Ali
Bish that’s man unless HE transitions he is still a male man
Oh my god I have chills. This is so intelligent and such a revolutionary idea in the realm of education. Thank you so much for this.
preach, preach!
so inspiring
Just love it, It is a great human being. God bless you
Mindblowingly awesome
Thank you Alok.
Alok is wise beyond the years. Profound truths are uttered here. It's almost a Buddhist teacher talking about observations of humanity and how humanity fails every day and how it could succeed. To be honest, Alok is one of the very few queer/trans persons I like to listen too, because this person has something to say WAY beyond their own person. This is not some vain vanity, some superficial "Look what I have been through". We all have been trough so much. You dont need to be trans to experience not to fit in, not doing the right thing, not healing yourself and others but hurt them in the name of success and fitting in. Alok is about what WE could be, all of us, together. What a great human.
Thanks, Alok
BRAVO!!!!
I love your ideas and views so much. And I wish I am able to have people like you in real life, instead of just coming across and admiring them online.
This is my favorite video
this is amazing
Alok has shown more courage in this talk alone than I have in my entire life.
You still got time.
You go, Alok.
Very very smart talk indeed, it really resonated with me and now I feel good about my "failures"!
Connecting well with his own creativity....is successful. Thank you.
They*
*their
Marvelous
So much truth.
I think this is one of the most encaptivating Ted talks I've watched! Thank you.
Just discovered them* today and I’m already so changed. Thank you alok!!!
@sonoki82 Nobody care about your opinion, because you're a nobody.. but look at them, successful and happy
Him
@@BoereViking them* :)
those poems had me electrified. A wonderful talk by someone whom I hope has as much soul as he professes. Brilliant and moving
*they
true wisdom! finally! great! great! great speech!
I think I've watched this like 10 times in a week. Thank you so much Alok.
so powerful, speechless
Now this was a good TED Talk
Damn. Beautiful.
this has left me in tears. amazing
Hahahahahaha
Phenomenal.
Awesome to see them at 2020 and notice all the growth this human could bring to earth
Alok ❤️
Love them
Amazing person
Great speech
RICA CHOWDHURY
*him. Enough of this nb bs
@@WideBad get a life and respect people’s pronouns.
Him..
He is a dude!Chromosones dont lie
@@alex-jp3tp nope Chromosone dont lie...
Omg yes!!!
they speak so poetically.
Some really good insight here !
one of the best Tedtalks ever!!
Firyal Al-Balushi lies
jananni123456789 we are liars in away or another..
alok I love you
Wow, this is incredibly powerful. Also has like a 1% dislike rate? About as supportive a reception as I've ever seen on youtube.
WOW !
I saw his poems on unerase poetry Nd loved it and then this video popped up in my feed
Great video.
I've been failing my whole life boiiiiiiii love this Alok the goat♥️🌈
Man you're amazing! Love your poetry! So much. So much emotion. Love hearing you say it. Love the energy behind it. Love it!
8:30 Woooohoooo! So true!
wow !!!
this is beautiful!!! there need to be more amazing minds like this in the world...
I effing love this channel... It's so much better to watch these videos and actually realise some of the great things that we might have lost the opportunity to think on and act on rather than watching the videos about how someone has their day or about how they do their morning routine or about their daily makeup routine... It's so much more productive.. So much more informative and so much helpful.. I just love it... Great videos..
Isn't this the same guy who said little girls are kinky
Yep
Wow u go bro
Hell yes! Blessed are the queers!
Wow! Spellbound. This is tremendous. Thank you, Alok. Thank you very much for putting this out into our universe. 🙏😊
He's so beautiful.
what is the name of the beginning poem?
Slam poetry is the death or art and literature.
SNAPS SNAPS SNAPS SNAPSSSS
I love you.
I love this so fucking much.
Is there a transcript for this talk?
stylelikeu brought me here
This is absolutely great. I love this talk!
Amazing talk and insights, Alok ! Thank you for being YOU
where is Janani? where is Janani's ted talk?
Brilliant. Thank you
🥺❤️😭
brilliant!! compassionate and real
BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!