The Problem of Anthropocentricism

I know its been a while since your favourite Unseelie messenger shared any snarky commentary but let's face it the human world has been more than usually hectic for many people in the past year. I have a moment now between other Otherworldly projects and shenanigans so let's jump right in...

You may have noticed a theme to several of the previous articles here and indeed to much of my (our?) complaining. And this theme revolves around the idea that many humans have that they are, in fact, the centre of all things and the most important being in existence. Or put another way, a lot of humans out there really believe they are the main character in the story of reality. 
So, to be blunt - you aren't. 
No one human is the centre of all things, or the most important individual in all of existence. And humanity in general is 100% definitely not. 

Now I know, I know, you're saying "But Unseelie Messenger I am the most important person in my life and I do need to centre myself in my interactions with other humans." And alright that's a fair point when it comes to specifically your daily life and dealing with other equally egocentirc humans. And yes, also a fair point that you may need to put yourself first in your interactions with other beings around you, for example if you eat meat then obviously you are prioritizing yourself over the animal you are eating. And hey we'd be the last ones to discourage carnivorous behaviour, or hedonism, or even some well earned selfishness.
But here's the thing that gets lost, the nuance so many humans miss - there is a line between healthy egocentricism and destructive anthropentricism. Because yes, you as an individual need to put yourself first in certain ways to live a fulfilling, safe life but putting yourself first in all things and worse assuming your entire species is somehow central to everything is both untrue and obnoxious.  Also the root cause of the massive destruction humans are wreaking on themselves and their world in my opinion. 

Now I'm guessing this idea that humans are the ultimate creation or the golden child of the universe is rooted in some religious ideas somewhere, probably in more than one place, and I certainly see it reinforced all over everywhere. Even people who claim to channel the sidhe or other fair folk forward this idea with material that says the Good Neighbours are very concerned in helping humans, in toto, be the best humans possible or helping humans evolve into better versions of humans. 
Funny how no one forwarding these ideas ever seems to ask why an entire species of Other beings* would be dedicated to helping better humanity. Its like arguing that all humans are dedicated to helping chimpanzees be better chimpanzees and evolve into their higher selves, which I think is pretty blatantly not the case. And don't give us the old 'its to save the earth' bit because its just as egocentric to think that all spirit beings would care about humans wiping themselves out when life in various forms would adapt and go on without humans. Life, et al, is a lot more resilient than humanity. 

Of course there are some fair folk who are interested in rehabbing humans just like some humans rehab injured wild animals. People have their personal interests and hobbies, whether they are Otherworldly or earthly. But the idea that all of the Good Folk are focused on improving humanity is just hubris. Or anthropocentricism if you will which is just a fancy word for thinking humans matter most. 

They don't. 

Humans are just one of many, many different beautiful, fascinating expressions of life and humans aren't inherently better than any of the others just because they like to think they are and created the internet. 

The Good Folk are independent beings with their own agendas and agency, and with a dizzying amount of diversity. Some may help an individual human, for various reasons, or form close relationships, or become invested in the welfare of family lines. But there are others who consider humans yummy appetizers, or a plague on the earth, or amusing toys that can be replaced when broken. 

Its very important for individual humans to get the idea of the universal importance of humanity out of their heads. Its dangerous for you and its also, honestly, just profoundly rude to the Otherworldly beings you deal with. You know how so many other countries joke about how rude and entitled US tourists are when they visit other places? Well, bad news humans are basically the US tourists of sentient beings - assuming everything exists for them in one way or another. Its not a good look. 

*don't start on about angles here. The Good Folk were not created and don't exist to serve a higher power who tasked them with watching over humans, and quite frankly while we don't really grok angels (outside our bailiwick) we're suspicious that even they weren't created to cater to and protect humanity despite what some humans like to say.