Notes

Identity. it's the definition of who we are, in terms of what groups we belong in. Like I'm a British white Male child. However, that doesn't really tell you anything about me. So I'm a child. Nearly 20% of the Australian population are children - I'm nothing like the 2 year olds, or the 17 year olds. And there might not be as many British people in Australia, but that still doesn't tell you anything about me - British people come in all shapes and sizes, there are all kinds of people from Britain - again, it tells you nothing about what I'm like.

Imagine you're a kid in a new town and you decide before you start your new school, you'll use a 'Find a Friend' app. The results come up with things like Christian, male, white, black hair, size 6 shoes, has freckles... These are completely meaningless labels in terms of who we actually are. In terms of helping the kid find a friend, it may as well say 'eats food, breathes oxygen, drinks water'!!!! Or just 'Human'... ...in case there are any cows using the app!

I like comedy and I have much more in common, and will feel more at home, with all the other people here who like making jokes, and watching funny people, than with, say, all the people with curly hair. Or an 'x' in their name. Or even just all the boys.

So is identity a real thing?

It is, but it should be about 'personality'. What KIND of person we are. If we're choosing friends. Or husbands and wives. Or employees, it matters what you're like - what things you like doing, what you think is important, how serious or funny you are, how hard you work, are you brave and determined? Confident or shy? bossy? calm? thoughtful? caring? flexible?... those things matter. They are the things which make us who we are.

But of course, that all gets more complicated. Age is a bit important -

We're all human.
You also need to know their interests because otherwise you may be making friends
Age is therefore still relevant - but only as a guide...
males and females being friends
But this is all complicated. It doesn't work for statistics...