If you think YouTube only attracts attention-seeking outcasts, think twice. Canadian psychiatrist & lecturer, Jordan B. Peterson who taught in Harvard and University of Toronto, is a huge phenomenon over the red platform with millions of followers. Seemingly, Jordan holds the image of an independent thinker who speaks his mind, challenging the status quo at times.
Peterson is also a writer. His authorship exceeds the academic form to self-help selection named "12 Rules for Life". Larger-than-life sounding! Although the word choice 'rule' seems odd coming from a man who deems himself the caged beast of free thought [you would think he would allow for its expression]. J. B P. fills pages with plethora of religious references and glittery words so you wouldn’t think you stumbled upon an ordinary book by author-wannabe housewife but rather a self-help prophecy by someone who knows his stuff – Peterson embracing fans' medal as Christ of Internet.
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Despite George Carlin's "if you need self-help, why would you read a book written by someone else?!", let's give those principles the benefit of the doubt, shall we? I mean, they are after all FOR LIFE. I don't want to miss out on living. Rule 1: "Stand up straight!". As opposed to what? Standing like Quasimodo of Notre Dame? It's like dated grandma wisdom, "Don't step into mud, you get your shoes filthy".
That's not it. Peterson has a surprising theory under his belt involving lobsters. He claims lobsters are behaviorally hierarchical – just like humans. And if you consider the fact lobsters pee on each other as means of communication, we see how close we are to the lob. community. "Do not let your children do anything that makes you dislike them", Rule 5 reads. I've never heard of such superpower before!
Rule 8: "Tell the truth – or at least don't lie". Knowing the truth, not telling the truth, plus not lying – that right there is the best formula for being screwed. Then comes Rule 11: "Do not bother children while they are skateboarding". What's the matter, Jordan? You have history bothering skateboarding kids?!
One major event in Jordan Peterson's life was his wife's illness – a rare incurable type of cancer. Jordan admitted he was downing antidepressants at the time to tackle the shock & awe. However, Jordan felt he was becoming too dependent on the substance that he checked himself into a rehab center. Some deem that as hypocrite since Jordan preaches day and night about 'healing from within' (stand up, Jordan! Ehh… straighter please). Miraculously though, Mrs. Peterson made it. According to daughter Mikhaila, there was a woman visiting mom regularly and they started praying (originally mistyped "prying" but no puns intended) together, then one day mom announced she was going to be okay by her & Jordan's coming wedding anniversary. And bam, there she was fine and kicking. That experience paved the way for daughter (perhaps parents too) to see God and become a believer.
Mikhaila herself is an influencer, a self-proclaimed "mindset healer" – though I'm not sure what that means. Following in dad's steps, she finds herself a spotlight through controversy by introducing a carnivore diet called "Lion Diet". "So, you wanna be a lion? Or a sheep?", the promo video concluded. Jordan himself embraced the meat-only program and praised it on few occasions. Nepotistic stunt, perhaps.
Mikhaila stepped in with her own podcast. Mom started to show up. Even the less known sibling, Julian appeared in an interview, not to discuss his software engineering skills but 'how it feels to be Jordan B. Peterson's son. To quench your curiosity, yes, Julian does take papa's advice seriously.
Whether you choose to question this behavioral pattern with moral subjectivity or not, it is admirably apparent the Petersons are pulling it together well.
Despite Jordan preaching there shouldn't be too many rules in life, he published 12 more rules titled "Beyond Order". I will be generous not to go through the second set. It would seem like a spoiler alert to a Marvel sequel.
Peterson started a podcast recently where he interviews various experts and discusses themes out of his expertise – Christianity, climate, religious conflicts, even COVID-19. Jordan seems quite assertive here compared to the usual beat-around-the-bush technique he does. Following the Abraham Accords, he posted "Message to Muslims" where he urges Allah worshippers to reach out to Christians and Jews. And if that wasn't enough, Jordan hosted Benjamin Netanyahu on the podcast. Contrary to his argumentative nature, Jordan let Netanyahu do his political monologue without interruption, turning Benjamin the snake charmer into a misconstrued dove.
The -P- brand is ripening. Jordan is launching an online academy for bachelor's degrees that cost 4 grand each. So far, we've got "Lobster" and "Lion" under "L". Llama or Leopard could make as nice addition. Plus 25 letters remaining. You reach anywhere you wish through this wrongly loose market-thyself field in the name of intellectualism.
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