We are nothing (and that is beautiful): Alok Vaid-Menon at TEDxMiddlebury

[@globalman]

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.

[@sixgilled]

❤

[@globalman]

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.

[@Delaneyisbraindead]

Not sure if you know by now, but Alok is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns

[@MArtistForLife]

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 👏👏👏

[@mitchellregan198]

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...

[@astaroth282]

This guy has become a freak

[@AnOuRieL85]

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!!!!

[@thisisbgm]

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.

[@MattBeams]

I haven't watched this yet, but I trust you and I will, as soon as I have 18 minutes.

[@gulabjirani]

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 KZbin 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.

[@Halemore]

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 :)

[@gulabjirani]

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.

[@jaygio]

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.

[@ItachiUchiha-bt1mx]

This didn’t age well

[@PepsiMagt]

Alok is a creep. He likes little girls in improper ways.

[@asokemaurya9261]

Muchas gracias, Alok.

[@aeharbom]

Alok- you may have saved my life.

[@alexapocalypseb.1305]

This is now one of my favorite TED talks. Kudos for speaking truth.

[@ofthedarknessthemoonlight5412]

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.

[@davidcyrax]

So crazy to see this vs 2019 him.

[@bobsonbobbybobson6888]

I know

[@roali5836]

*them

[@kaylenfurr6125]

*them*

[@WideBad]

Kaylen Furr *him he is a man male huMAN

[@WideBad]

Roshard Ali Bish that’s man unless HE transitions he is still a male man

[@clairepod1]

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.

[@todkington6656]

Beautiful. Thank you.

[@Darmachakra]

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.

[@muhammadrafiqakhtar4566]

Excellent - maa sha Allaah Honorable Son Alok Vaid-Menon !

[@aravindagarimella4638]

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.

[@gshaw55661]

Wow....such brilliance!

[@kerronR]

Visited Vassar and had the pleasure of meeting him. The coolest.

[@taliyasnead9907]

Vassar, Michigan?

[@loveanelle]

Taliya Snead Vassar College in New York!

[@PepsiMagt]

Just keep children away from him

[@balchandrapaudel2730]

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.

[@rafieragu5831]

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.

[@dayday8194]

The ending of the last piece was worth every cent that I used paying attention to this. This whole thing was amazing though.

[@hallervik5604]

so powerful, speechless

[@meganfowler1090]

Thank you.

[@saint_mau]

Powerful words that are needed in this world ✨

[@Luke-us4zk]

phenomenal.

[@sangeeta94ish]

"Change falls from heart to pocket." I love it.

[@rachnasingh5121]

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.

[@kwesi14]

I think this is one of the most encaptivating Ted talks I've watched! Thank you.

[@ReneeOdusami]

Wow. Wowowowowoww. This is EVERYTHING!!

[@fauzy7278]

so young could thinking of that,,,..great guy !!

[@StardomSpace]

Anyone else here after listening to "Man Enough"?

[@numinousnihil3804]

I really loved this.

[@adishigupta7650]

Thank you for existing, Alok Vaid-Menon. ❤️

[@shrutibajpai2180]

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! ❤️

[@Mimi-ce5ug]

@@advikdeshmukh805 I can't believe these people

[@anmahek]

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!

[@dianecheshire4750]

What a beautiful mind...

[@treebendsinthewind]

This is my favorite video

[@georgette1725]

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.

[@firyalal-balushi6966]

one of the best Tedtalks ever!!

[@jananni123456789]

Firyal Al-Balushi lies

[@firyalal-balushi6966]

jananni123456789 we are liars in away or another..

[@ChernoBiko]

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

[@maryammohaghegh4297]

woww! We are successful at making these injustices!

[@coexistordontexist]

If this doesn't go viral within the week, the Internet as a project has failed.

[@asokemaurya9261]

Thanks, Alok

[@EastBurningRed]

Alok has shown more courage in this talk alone than I have in my entire life.

[@anmahek]

You still got time.

[@smc574]

Wow, this is incredibly powerful. Also has like a 1% dislike rate? About as supportive a reception as I've ever seen on youtube.

[@dbsk06]

Just discovered them* today and I’m already so changed. Thank you alok!!!

[@mehdirajabpour3031]

@sonoki82 Nobody care about your opinion, because you're a nobody.. but look at them, successful and happy

[@BoereViking]

Him

[@materialgworl8555]

​@@BoereViking them* :)

[@loretoaltamirano9978]

Just love it, It is a great human being. God bless you

[@BeatriceConsolataChannel]

Thank you Alok.

[@rubinslapsbass]

I've been failing my whole life boiiiiiiii love this Alok the goat♥️🌈

[@norcaldeemichaels]

“The supposed “purity “ of abuse victims has remained stagnant. There are no princesses. Little girls are also Kinky. Your kids aren’t as straight and narrow as you think” Alok in his own words on his own Twitter.

[@Delaneyisbraindead]

*their

[@rebeccalin9436]

true wisdom! finally! great! great! great speech!

[@swiftset]

preach, preach!

[@ricachowdhury5502]

Alok ❤️ Love them Amazing person Great speech

[@WideBad]

RICA CHOWDHURY *him. Enough of this nb bs

[@alex-jp3tp]

@@WideBad get a life and respect people’s pronouns.

[@BoereViking]

Him.. He is a dude!Chromosones dont lie

[@BoereViking]

@@alex-jp3tp nope Chromosone dont lie...

[@nigelsimon8865]

THIS IS SO BEAUTIFUL!!!!!

[@manups]

Awesome to see them at 2020 and notice all the growth this human could bring to earth

[@secret1995]

You go, Alok.

[@lindseymedeiros2112]

Hell yes! Blessed are the queers!

[@lokeshsoni101]

those poems had me electrified. A wonderful talk by someone whom I hope has as much soul as he professes. Brilliant and moving

[@Delaneyisbraindead]

*they

[@eeeeee7307]

gesticulation overdrive. Sick kung-fu moves, I'm learning a lot.

[@BambiPunch]

Mindblowingly awesome

[@divyanshi1996]

alok I love you

[@scottgiannotti5480]

We are not NOTHING this is what ALL cults do - standard operating procedure. 1. Convince people life is empty and meaningless. 2. Make people believe they can start their life over in a world of 'possibilities' 3. Obliterate the person's prior identity 4. Feed them a whole new identity and make them dependent on the cult for their new identity

[@fashupora5487]

What did this person say that is wrong? Everything said is completely true

[@thesuburbanelectric]

Am I at the NewYorican cafe?

[@sumtourist9406]

they speak so poetically.

[@thomasstack4119]

So much truth.

[@itsjenisha]

so inspiring

[@sengchhuon2133]

Connecting well with his own creativity....is successful. Thank you.

[@ananyamenon8839]

They*

[@Delaneyisbraindead]

*their

[@bababuba]

Very very smart talk indeed, it really resonated with me and now I feel good about my "failures"!

[@tiddlewink101]

Interesting perspective and some well made points; we can't change the past but we can learn from it. To vision and prepare for a better tomorrow, first let go of anger.

[@thomaslikesmusic]

Damn. Beautiful.

[@usernamesalltakenify]

this has left me in tears. amazing

[@BoereViking]

Hahahahahaha

[@vinzetti22]

Isn't this the same guy who said little girls are kinky

[@jacobblackard2574]

Yep

[@krutindevesh1363]

Now this was a good TED Talk

[@MsNohita]

Phenomenal.

[@lsanjuanable]

I think I've watched this like 10 times in a week. Thank you so much Alok.

[@BrandonFer]

Marvelous

[@shushinyi]

濃濃的口音加上模糊不清的主題概念反覆不清的說詞和寶來屋一樣的動作表情及無數的自嗨...... 我剛剛的時間軸有一片空白.....

[@shannonhezakiahgroves3614]

Hsu Hsin Yi

[@miloemily4277]

stop misgendering this person. their pronouns are stated clearly in the description.

[@hurianakopeke-teaho945]

+cross fit No they are very openly Non-binary, their gender matters because their poetry and politics centre around their brown-ess and their non-binary-ness, and also you should respect peoples pronouns anyway if you don't want to be a fucking awful person lol

[@Gem.C.15]

I'm gonna call him either a "he" or "it"

[@XRZ350]

milo emily Please! He's a guy. We as a society aren't going to ignore reality to indulge this man's delusions....🙄

[@vincent-jeremiahgoodyear7003]

Dipayan Degtyarev nicht mal das Ein Affe

[@james-1110]

milo emily He’s a man

[@JeroenManders]

Truely inspiring!

[@deborahferguson1163]

Some really good insight here !

[@shashankgogoi5871]

Great video.

[@jonathan4831]

This is absolutely great. I love this talk!

[@alishawarsi285]

I saw his poems on unerase poetry Nd loved it and then this video popped up in my feed

[@SXHQQSSS]

BRAVO!!!!

[@foofixers5938]

This man is so powerful, so moving, so inspiring, and so right. Music to my ears, and a song to sing along - Peace tezzo

[@kylehill9981]

this is amazing

[@b55855]

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..

[@holytrashify]

Brilliant. Thank you

[@SudeepMakwana]

I think this man can Beat Emmène .... thats awesome to listen this man +Alok vaid Menon

[@coreyrush9806]

ninjadude971 gender and sex aren't necessarily the same thing...

[@ninjadude971]

Yeah, I'm referring to their gender, not their sex.

[@bethanyforest]

where is Janani? where is Janani's ted talk?

[@Kawa11g1rl]

stylelikeu brought me here

[@victorialloyd9308]

SNAPS SNAPS SNAPS SNAPSSSS

[@KeenaButtah]

BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!

[@oneeyednation7739]

I love this so fucking much.

[@PejNazari]

Wow u go bro

[@cumiral]

Amazing talk and insights, Alok ! Thank you for being YOU

[@amouralatif]

brilliant!! compassionate and real

[@1HUMANIT1NATION]

I THINK THIS GUY IS HEART BROKEN BUT CONSCIOUS DUE TO MAY BE SOME FAILURE FAILURES IN HIS LIFE. BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS GUYS EMANCIPATION REGARDING OUR SOCIETY.

[@Augfordpdoggie]

it gave me the impression he was atypical selfish, narcissist, and he felt guilty. So in typical narcissist fashion, he looked for a way to make it "ok:, that he was selfish= ted talk

[@tothestars101]

***** You completely missed the point of the entire talk.

[@schroeder666]

No, I think that pretty well summarizes most ted talks

[@Delaneyisbraindead]

1. Completely missed the whole point what? Were you even listening to them? 2. Alok is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns

[@vijaynair2403]

Slam poetry is the death or art and literature.