We went out for hot wings with a friend tonight, and they were playing the hockey semi-finals, featuring one of the two local city teams. The place was full. By the start of the final period, "our team" was down 1-4, and it wasn't looking good. However, after getting one back to be two down, new life got breathed into the game, and in the last handful of minutes, three goals were scored to take it to 5-4, for a pretty decent comeback to go 2-0 up in the best of seven series.
It is never over, until it is over.
While I am not a huge fan of supporting teams that much, there is value in both playing sports and watching some sports from time to time, as they can be a good reminder for us to what it takes to be good at something. The amount and breadth of effort and practice required to be very good at something, as well as the ability to like tonight, not give up in the face of near certain defeat, are good lessons to learn.
I don't think there are very good role models in public society anymore, however there are still lessons that can be gleaned from multiple sources. While we have built a culture of celebrating celebrity, with "fame" weighting heavily in our evaluation of a personality. So much so, that around half of kids "want to be a YouTuber" when they grow up.
Is that the new Neil Armstrong?
In the past, people based their admiration of role models in what someone did well outside of the ordinary, not what they did in their personal lives. The focus was on what made them special, not what made them normal. And, while it might be good at times to have "relatable" role models, I think that what we have done is lowered the bar to make celebrities people who don't have to do much special to be admired. And, as a result, it means that we don't have to do much either.
I think this leads to a shrinking of the pool of positive outliers, those who go above and beyond, and push the boundary of skill and possibility. And as a result, the average person is not looking to be any better than average. There is nothing wrong with being average, but I believe there is something wrong with people who are content not to improve themselves, so they are more valuable for the world in which they live. We have taken away the need to improve to be the best version of ourselves, by lowering the bar so the best version is whoever we are right now.
The saying is "children are our future" with the sense that this meant we had to invest into them, to support them to be their best, and improve the conditions so they can excel and make a positive difference in the world. But, the fact is, children are always our future, even if the conditions are terrible and we have raised them to be spoiled, entitled, demanding, and selfish.
Each child and at larger group level, each generation is a chance to invest into the future, as they are the seeds that will grow to inhabit the world and make the decisions that will shape it for the next generation. From my perspective at least, I can't help but wonder if the seeds we have planted are those of weeds. They will grow, but they won't make the garden better, they won't bear edible fruit, they will just consume resources, strangling, suffocating crowding out anything that dares to be a positive force in the world.
Consumer class.
We have created a clear class system in the economy, that used to have more diversity. In the past, there used to be trade between people where one skill consumed the skills of others, and vice versa. Now, there are groups of people who pretty much only consume, but don't have any skills of value to trade with. For now, there are still jobs for enough, but with the rising AI, what can they offer?
All of these kids who want to be "social influencers", what are they going to bring to the table? They really don't have much of value, with it being a race to the bottom as they seek attention, not a race to the top. To be famous in the past, you had to be good at something. Now, you have to be the one who grab the most attention, like all these celebrities who are walking the red carpet near naked, then complaining about having their bodies looked at and being objectified. Do all you can for attention, and then play the victim to get more attention.
Role models.
Fame and fortune used to be tied to being able to deliver value, but what we value has shifted so that very little of practical value need be delivered, and still fame and fortune is possible. No need to spend a couple decades honing skills, just make a sex tape. No need to work hard, just perform stupid pranks on strangers in the street. No need to be a good person, be popular for being bad.
I am not fit for this world, because I just don't fit in. No matter how popular or wealthy someone becomes by doing nothing, I just don't see value in it. I don't see how it leads to a better world. I don't see how it inspires us, the normal people to try and improve and becomes the best versions of ourselves.
I hope I am wrong.
In the past, we looked up to exceptional people. Now, we have created a landscape where we want people to look up to who are like us, normal, flawed, broken - so that the person who we are inspired by, is the one who doesn't have to change, because they are perfect exactly the way they are - the person in the mirror. And I guess this is the outcome of driving individualism and disconnection from community. We are selfish and only care about how we feel, shamelessly making ourselves feel good, no matter how many people suffer.
We are always planting seeds the future.
What are we going to reap?
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]
I think that being average is sometimes good. Just live as it goes, no need to fuck your mind upon things much.
The problem is that I have a child who will grow into this world of ridiculousness.
Children are truly the future, because when we are gone, they will still be. It is at best we do our very best to give them what they need and still in the process not allowing them getting spoilt.
Thanks for share
Happy weekend
What is best for them, isn't necessarily what they are going to enjoy the most. At the moment, we just seem to keep them entertained.
Kids want to be YouTubers and TikTokers and influencer cause they have examples of people doing so, getting loads of money with little effort and without a boss, working 8h a day...can you really blame them for wanting a good life? At our times it was the football player the dream, now it's this, it's all about what society shows
No. But, have you ever done the research into what they are earning on average? There is only a fraction who are actually making anything significant.
True, same as actors, football players, singers and so on, 1 out of 1000 MAYBE breaks into that world and get rich, but it's enough to make people think it's a possibility to happen, a life changing... It's like a bait
Yeehaw! This here blog post is like a wild bronco ride of truth and reflection, partner. It's mighty fine to see someone raisin' awareness 'bout the importance of strive and growth in a world full of distractions. Keep on keepin' on!
Weapons of mass distraction, right?
I was reading Charlie and the Chocolate factory to my daughter last night, and there was a bit talking about the scourge of television on kids. It was highly accurate - and that book was written in 1964.
Sounds like you and your daughter are explorin' some timeless tales together. Good on you for sharin' those moments of connection and wisdom with her. Keep spinnin' those stories like a campfire yarn, friend.
Absolutely. Mary Poppins series. Narnia Series. Roald Dahl collection. Dr Seuss collection. My wife is reading old Finnish series to her every other night also. Creativity doesn't come through consumption, it comes through using the imagination.
Howdy, friend! Sounds like you and your family are soaking in stories like spring rain on fresh grass. Keep those tales flowin' and let your imaginations roam free as wild horses on the prairie!
I think it is definitely a generational thing. I have a feeling most people our age don't see the value that many of these influencers are bringing (or not). Clearly there is something that appeals to the younger generation though. Who knows what...
I think it's their role models. Today it's Mr Beast whereas for us it was Mick Jagger (or whoever). I think it's the same situation too, people don't realise who much unpaid work goes into getting those influencer roles that actually make enough to live off.
As far as I understand, more kids are going into trade jobs to learn to be plumbers and sparkies - which is good because there is multitudes more work to be done in the renewable energy sector than skilled workers currently qualified to do it.
I think 'social influencer' is pretty much the same as kids who wanted to be 'famous musicians' when we were younger... before they realise that it's only possible for 1 in a million, I'm sure for the majority of kids reality will set in as they're getting ready to leave high school.
Of course... the big irony is that Mr Bigshot Hive Influencer over here who gets paid for his posts is bagging out other social media influencers. Look in the mirror Taraz! We look up to you now.
The thing is, the people of the past literally idolized famous people back then. But eventually they realized that those people are still like us, normal, flawed, broken. They are all human too. I think you're focusing too much on the flaws of other. Everyone is flawed. What people want to show the youth now is that hard work, perseverance, and being a good person is important. That you don't have to be gifted, talented, or exceptional to be someone in this world.
Dear my bro @tarazkp !
I assumed you were always worried about smallsteps's future.
The sentences above are what I love the most! I hope you remember those sentences!
I pray that you will have faith!
Reminds me a quote from anime One Outs:
I will never understand art like Banana on the wall and similar. Or more importantly why it is taken seriously.
The sad thing is that most of these influencers are not portraying reasonable things or actions in the society but our kids want to be like them when they know that they only put little effort to earn a lot of money
I think most kids want to be Youtubers because they think it looks easy (you just make videos gaming or whatever your favourite thing is, easy).
and you don't even have to wait til you grow up
We've been "cutting down tall poppies" long enough for there to be several sayings about it. Doing better is way too much hard work after all XD
At least not all the kids are dumb if the ones I overhear are anything to go by.