Insightful. Interesting. Thought-provoking analysis of our collective decline. I believe in many ways our technology advances help enable the behaviors you so creatively describe. Feels a bit like a hamster wheel that no one can exit. Anger politics is a real thing. Our values and beliefs subverted amid chaos. I wonder if people will tire of the chaos and moral disconnect.
We also maddeningly ignore legitimate grievances. Like how Gen X and millennials scoffed at all admonitions against hardcore internet pornography. And now - they can’t figure out why their kids are so anxious. 🙄🤢🤮
Love this analysis but not sure about this: "The darkest irony here is that our culture of unrealistic personal ambition and consumption fuels the intensity of our personal grievances, as well as bizarre dreams lost and unfulfilled, and relationships sabotaged for largely personal reasons."
Higher SES predicted Harris voting in 2024 pretty strongly. She won college educated men by 1% while Trump won non-college educated men by 24%. It's not ambition or consumption -- or at least not by themselves. I think it's the maturity (or adult development) you mention that is the key factor. I think going to college is more likely to lead one into more sophisticated ways of thinking, make one more comfortable with therapeutic culture, and lead one into careers that demand personal growth.
My hypothesis: We can have plenty of ambition and consumption without grievance if there is also sufficient adult development.
Insightful. Interesting. Thought-provoking analysis of our collective decline. I believe in many ways our technology advances help enable the behaviors you so creatively describe. Feels a bit like a hamster wheel that no one can exit. Anger politics is a real thing. Our values and beliefs subverted amid chaos. I wonder if people will tire of the chaos and moral disconnect.
I’d like to see this as a political address. It’s badly needed.
another great one. thanks!
You’re welcome!
We also maddeningly ignore legitimate grievances. Like how Gen X and millennials scoffed at all admonitions against hardcore internet pornography. And now - they can’t figure out why their kids are so anxious. 🙄🤢🤮
Love this analysis but not sure about this: "The darkest irony here is that our culture of unrealistic personal ambition and consumption fuels the intensity of our personal grievances, as well as bizarre dreams lost and unfulfilled, and relationships sabotaged for largely personal reasons."
Higher SES predicted Harris voting in 2024 pretty strongly. She won college educated men by 1% while Trump won non-college educated men by 24%. It's not ambition or consumption -- or at least not by themselves. I think it's the maturity (or adult development) you mention that is the key factor. I think going to college is more likely to lead one into more sophisticated ways of thinking, make one more comfortable with therapeutic culture, and lead one into careers that demand personal growth.
My hypothesis: We can have plenty of ambition and consumption without grievance if there is also sufficient adult development.