Macro vs. Micro

A few months ago I was talking with someone about social issues in the United States. The conversation got intense. I was looking at the topic from the lens of a segment of the population that is frequently discriminated against. His perspective was that individuals should do their own thing, mind their own business, and not be offended by what other individuals do.

As we calmed down and were respectfully ending the discussion, I said I was looking at it from a macro lens and he was looking at it from a micro lens. He responded, “there can be a lot of macro in the micro.”

I thought that was an interesting point, although probably not the way he intended it. On the one hand, if everybody stayed silent, there would be no movement to reform social injustices. On the other hand, sometimes the biggest problems are right in front of us and if we don’t take care of them we’re not doing the larger world any good anyway.

In a work context, it is easy to complain about what is wrong with large institutions like corporations and public sectors. Issues of inequality should be addressed, and I’ve been encouraged by seeing more and more people speak up in public forums like LinkedIn.

But what about the micro level? When a slur is spoken in our presence we can do the safe thing and mind our own business. Or we can speak up.

There can be a lot of macro in the micro.