A viral theory holds that boys whose names start with ‘J’ are bad people. According to the Urban Dictionary, you should never date a ‘J’, because there are very few that are worth it. When singer Taylor Swift and actor Joe Alwyn broke up, it was speculated that it could be because of his name. Influencer Kenzie Elizabeth claims her worst boyfriends were called J-something.
TikTok was filled with testimonies in which the ‘J’ had misbehaved with couples. They were cheaters, toxic, cheaters, unreliable. More and more people were encouraged to explain the bad experience with a ‘J’.
When reading the news, all of a sudden I thought of a ‘J’ that complicated my life. The theory was confirmed. Indeed, the ‘J’ were the worst. But then I thought about it: I’ve dated other lovely ‘J’s.’ My first automatic memory had made me ratify and feed the stigma. Refuting it required a little effort, a reflection, that gesture of awareness that makes it possible to know one’s own actions and thoughts, that questioning whether you must be wrong. That rethinking things.
What if it turns out that you are developing an idea from a fallacy and building an opinion without foundation? And if you rely on what others repeat because it’s more convenient than developing your own arguments? This is how superstitions and prejudices are created, when you always and only focus on what reinforces a shared belief. How many Georges, James, Johns, Javiers, Julià s, Joaquims, Jesus or Josephs are there? What was the probability that you would run into one and it didn’t go well?
Everything is designed for automatisms, especially politics. Some ‘J’s have defended themselves without reason, and have spent the same energy that we would save if the debates were not based on absurd viral theories about personal experiences. And those responsible should spend some time in reflection.
