[projektir]

The danger factor with "be yourself" seems to be similar to the danger factor of "what do you want". These are meant to be interpreted deeply, not shallowly.

Most people are neither themselves nor know what they want, in the sense that both concepts are frequently constructed for them and not actually derived from the knowledge or best interest of the person. The first order of business when implementing either is to make sure they actually belong to you in the first place.

I.e., if your parents have pushed you to be an artist your whole life and you're actually meh on it, and if you go through social motions without seeing much value in them, neither of these is "you". Which is not to say that either of these things is somehow wrong or bad, but you should reexamine them for yourself to either see their value and keep them or identify them as of low value and discard them.

This is all completely orthogonal to the idea that other people should tolerate your behavior merely on the basis of it being authentic. That simply doesn't follow.

[devoply]

It's also very important to completely understand the implications of "be yourself". Which is often impossible. All of this is canon fodder for the narcissistic individualism which can easily make you into a curmudgeon that no one wants to be around... which will make you socially isolated and ill.

[projektir]

What are those implications from your perspective?

[devoply]

To tone down those tendencies in yourself that are likely to cause you to get into bad situations. For instance perhaps you love to argue, often that leads people to dislike you. Find a way to be yourself and do the things that you enjoy doing without getting contempt from other individuals and society... However, there are professions where this is impossible such as porn star for instance. If you choose such a path as I said know the implications and be willing to live with them. Recently Mia Khalifa got very angry for being called a porn star, something she did for 3 months, she claims. There is someone who was trying to discover who they were and trying things and now their entire self is based on something that they regret doing.

[projektir]

As I've already said others don't have to approve or tolerate whatever it is you do or are by nature of being authentic. That is not related, why would it be? Being authentic is an end to itself, but it makes no guarantees, and the clash between the individual and society is often the point.

[nostrademons]

> perhaps you love to argue

Or go on HN, where everybody loves to argue.

More generally, the world is broad enough that there's usually a tribe for everyone. You may not find them in your local area. That's an impetus to go beyond your local area and seek them out.

[maxerickson]

Arguing without literacy is shouting.