I read this post a few days ago and keep thinking about it so I’m back lol. It’s a good comparison and sticks, would be interesting to get data on this. Just overall feels like everyone is resigned to there not being another great thing in our future (like an industrial, tech, etc revolution) and has just resigned to bleeding what’s left of this society to try to make 10% more money than the next person.
banger post Ock and thanks to the substack algorithm for showing it to me.
you've hit on a very long-term trend. from margaret mead in the 1940s:
It is this cynicism which could well form the basis for American fascism, a fascism bowing down before any character strong enough and amoral enough to get away with it, to get his....There are very few Americans who can identify with Hitler in his cold destructiveness, but they can identify with his success in getting away with it, in the way in which he has made monkeys of his opponents. The belief that all of life is a racket and the strongest racketeer gets the loot is the bastard brother of the belief that life is real and life is earnest...it stands as a terrible warning of what may come from any concerted attack on our success creed...
Good read. Although I would argue it’s more “scam AND be scammed” since that world takes advantage of each other as much or more as they take advantage of the general public. I’m exposed to a lot of marketing that essentially promises to teach you how to do to others what it’s doing to you. “Learn how to build and monetize an email subscriber list! Just enter your email to get started.” At the end of the day, Covid forced everyone to create and or beef up their online identity, which often times can be a lot different from one’s real life identity (keyboard warriors, etc). Trump’s win was a win for the online identities and it’s going to be interesting to see what that means for a lot of his supporters’ real life, especially those who can’t really afford to actually be what they claim to be online.
great piece. I recognize the zynternet type in gen z men I know & while I’m heartened that they could potentially be more politically malleable, I worry in the immediate term for their health & finances re: all the gambling, fad diets, and nicotine.
I think this configuration feels like it's going to be permanent because the pit bosses and casino owners have everything rigged - and have the media and propaganda arms fully entrenched now, and that's not going to change any time soon (few things make me laugh more than hear progressives hope and wish for "our billionaires buy media companies!" Like they didn't have that chance two decades ago!).
All that said, given the fact that the election was ridiculously close despite the fascist media complex creating complete fictions and 8 years of Trump sanewashing, nd a backlash usually follows complete horror shows like it did after Trump 1.0. Remains hopeful and won't quit.
I read this post a few days ago and keep thinking about it so I’m back lol. It’s a good comparison and sticks, would be interesting to get data on this. Just overall feels like everyone is resigned to there not being another great thing in our future (like an industrial, tech, etc revolution) and has just resigned to bleeding what’s left of this society to try to make 10% more money than the next person.
great piece!! the casino metaphor is so spot on.
banger post Ock and thanks to the substack algorithm for showing it to me.
you've hit on a very long-term trend. from margaret mead in the 1940s:
It is this cynicism which could well form the basis for American fascism, a fascism bowing down before any character strong enough and amoral enough to get away with it, to get his....There are very few Americans who can identify with Hitler in his cold destructiveness, but they can identify with his success in getting away with it, in the way in which he has made monkeys of his opponents. The belief that all of life is a racket and the strongest racketeer gets the loot is the bastard brother of the belief that life is real and life is earnest...it stands as a terrible warning of what may come from any concerted attack on our success creed...
https://kevinmunger.substack.com/p/margaret-mead-explains-american-culture
Good read. Although I would argue it’s more “scam AND be scammed” since that world takes advantage of each other as much or more as they take advantage of the general public. I’m exposed to a lot of marketing that essentially promises to teach you how to do to others what it’s doing to you. “Learn how to build and monetize an email subscriber list! Just enter your email to get started.” At the end of the day, Covid forced everyone to create and or beef up their online identity, which often times can be a lot different from one’s real life identity (keyboard warriors, etc). Trump’s win was a win for the online identities and it’s going to be interesting to see what that means for a lot of his supporters’ real life, especially those who can’t really afford to actually be what they claim to be online.
great piece. I recognize the zynternet type in gen z men I know & while I’m heartened that they could potentially be more politically malleable, I worry in the immediate term for their health & finances re: all the gambling, fad diets, and nicotine.
I think this configuration feels like it's going to be permanent because the pit bosses and casino owners have everything rigged - and have the media and propaganda arms fully entrenched now, and that's not going to change any time soon (few things make me laugh more than hear progressives hope and wish for "our billionaires buy media companies!" Like they didn't have that chance two decades ago!).
All that said, given the fact that the election was ridiculously close despite the fascist media complex creating complete fictions and 8 years of Trump sanewashing, nd a backlash usually follows complete horror shows like it did after Trump 1.0. Remains hopeful and won't quit.