I was watching the latest SpaceX launch, which I always find pretty amazing from an engineering standpoint, as well as with all the cool stuff we can do as humans, we bicker and fight over the most irrelevant and inane things.
Normally in crypto, we talk about FUD, Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt and of course, FOMO, the Fear of Missing Out. But in rocket launches in recent years RUD has been the expression for failure.
Rapid Unplanned Disassembly
A euphemism for "it exploded".
While everyone knows exactly what it means, I wonder if it is a useful way to reframe the failure in the mind so that it is easier to manage expectations and limit disappointment, so it is easier to get back into work mode and find out what happened. Or does the euphemism that softens the blow, make people more complacent and accepting of the failure to the point that they don't take it seriously enough. Does it desensitize them to failure?
I think the terms FUD and FOMO have become so watered down these days, that people don't really spend time on what they actually mean, or the severe impacts they can have on us as traders and humans in many aspects of life. The implications of being affected by fear, uncertainty and doubt, as well as the fear of missing out, is very high and I think the terms that have been used to encapsulate all of it, have ended up with people not considering how they are affected. The softening blow, takes away the potential in the lesson.
E=mc²
Everyone recognises the equation, but how many really knows what it means and can apply it into some kind of practical situation? Yeah, I can Google too. However, when it comes to how we react emotionally to circumstances, having a Google answer isn't going to help us much. Even if we have step-by-step instructions.
Knowledge doesn't indicate ability.
What I think happens though is we keep finding convenient shortcuts to life to neatly package our experience into a story, without thinking about what we are actually doing at a practical level. We talk about "fear" for instance and often react to it, without thinking about the reality of the circumstances and what is causing the fear. Is it even real? Most of the time, no, it is not. Instead, it is an emotional reaction using a part of our brain that interprets what we are experiencing as an existential threat of some kind - even if it is just going to bruise our imaginary ego.
A lot of people seem to be reacting as if their life is threatened by situations that are not life-threatening at all. Like on the anger directed at someone who stole a parking space at Walmart. It is an overreaction to the situation, but it feels real because feelings feel that way. But instead of diving deep and understanding what is actually going on, we find convenient ways to make excuses for our behaviours, including softening our reactions to events, with abbreviations and euphemisms.
Like children looking away and covering their mouth whilst telling a lie.
Of course, we all do things to protect our ego against hurt, but we also have to recognise that our ego itself is a fantasy that we have built to represent us. As a result, we have also given two targets to aim for - the physical self, and the metaphysical self we have created to protect us.
But it doesn't do a very good job, does it?
Taraz
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In 1969 a rocket went to the moon, landed, they did a parade and the men came back alive. Now its tough to send an unmanned rocket up without it blowing up..
What gives?
Since 1969 things have changed. The earth was round then, but now it might be flat.
Ah yes, I had not thought of that.. 😀..
Perhaps the “political component” that rockets had in 1969 made them safer. Now money is what rules. It seems there is plenty to spend.
I'd definitely agree with this. People over react quite a bit and they also take things way too personally. I've actually been getting better at that second bit over the years. I'm starting to realize it just isn't worth it to carry all that outrage.
Certainly, my friend, years of experience and accumulation of experience do not make one react in a more appropriate and suitable manner.
Reactions don't change, especially if they are rewarded in society -in the short term.
For many, outrage is an addiction. It feels good to be uncontrolled and feel "passionate" about something.
I have difficulty understanding people who have disproportionate emotional reactions to unimportant situations. It probably stems from their mood. Some people react abnormally to certain situations because their hormones are not secreted enough. If they knew why they react abnormally, all the problems would disappear.
That's human nature. For many years, the system has tried to suppress human traits it deems unsuitable for social coexistence; I call it "control for passive slavery." You reminded me of a film called "Balance (2002)," where the system forced citizens to inject themselves with a serum to suppress feelings, a dystopian future where society is maintained in balance thanks to a drug that eliminates negative emotions.
Didn't A Brave New World have something similar?
It is funny. I learned recently that emotions are only meant to last about 90 seconds, but it is because we hold onto the thoughts of events and don't let go that they turn into moods.
Your reflection is spot on. The use of euphemisms like "RUD" or the trivialization of FUD/FOMO seeks, as you point out, to protect a fragile ego. However, this "softening" of language and experience prevents us from analyzing the real causes of our mistakes or overreactions, limiting deep learning and true resilience. But be warned, this happens in all languages.
All languages have it for sure. I think one of the points of the development of language was to be able to make sense of our experience. I often wonder what the internal dialogue was like for a caveman.
I admire how you draw parallel between engineering marvel of SpaceX launches and the psychological difficulty of human behavior. Your ability to merge such as seemingly different topic into a cohesive narrative is really impressive, that's why readers like me engaged so much.
Thanks. I try to weave my experience into things that are relatable, and interesting to you guys :)
I wonder if these RUDs are the result of too much cost cutting by Elon in his SpaceX? Government run space program may have been slower, but I think they did more testing and making sure stuff actually works...
I have been thinking the same about it.
Never heard od RUD, but planned or unplanned, failure is failure :) It is a chance to take a lesson from it.
Some people are blind in our own cause.
"succeed or Learn" should be the paradigm. Failure is only a perspective. Though, living that line is hard.
Very true. In the very fast-paced society we currently live in, introspection isn't a reality for most of us.
If there should be one lesson taught at school and reinforced through life - it is reflecting on experience and private journaling.
I couldn't agree more. Unfortunately we live in a society where the preference is always looking on the outside rather than on the inside.
I wont really say a convenient shortcut is convenient because in achieving something you have to work for it in putting in effort and hardwork. Those who seek that aim for shortcut are probably fed up with situation they feel isn't bringing out anything profitable.
I support your thesis, but I've seen over the past 20 years that "taking the shortcut" is becoming the universal watchword, because the new generation doesn't want to make the effort due to immediacy.
This however have left those kind of people who are desperate to do things that is beyond risk taking.
Sounds like my bank account and crypto funds after the release of Conclave Arcana!
FOMO definitely gets me more than FUD. I can rationalize my way out of FUD. I can't tell you how many of these EDM shows I've been to late night cuz my girl didn't want to miss a set from a favorite artist. FOMO has cost me a lot of sleep!