One of my friends is a bit of a hypochondriac and whenever a health issue comes up, his mind automatically goes to the worst possible outcome it can be, until he has it checked out and is satisfied it isn't that bad. Rationally, he knows that this isn't a good response, but it is his response and he fears an early death. He is mid-forties.
You only live once.
He was visiting us last night and was saying that the poor state of the world has actually lessened his health anxieties, and his fear of flying has disappeared completely. This might seem like a strange response to what is creating more anxiety for a lot of people, but he puts it down to - he doesn't mind dying as much now, because this world sucks. Checking out early mightn't be such a bad thing.
He is not depressed or suicidal.
And I get it.
As much as this world does suck and looks to be getting increasingly worse, it is becoming like living with the belief that we are in a simulation, where nothing really matters, so you can try anything. This world is in such a bad shape, that people are behaving in ways that they wouldn't normally, and those ways are increasingly violent.
While there is definitely a selection and confirmation bias through the media reports from the US, nearly every story I read is about how insane the place has become. San Francisco is descending into some kind of Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome hellhole, people are shooting each other in the street, Nazi militia groups are forming, crazies are killing children in schools, men dressed as women are punching women and it is acceptable and the list goes on...
It sounds like the latest release of Grand Theft Auto.
But, only one life, right?
I was thinking about what my friend was saying and while so many people seem to be going in the direction of, "Fuck it! - I will feed the chaos" - I think that those who break the trend and go the other way instead, will again be the ones who are the best off. While people are occupied protesting the latest social movement driven by Twitter and TikTok, those who buckle down and get shit done, have the best chance of pulling through the other side well in front. As I have always said,
While people shelter to wait out the rain, work in the mud.
It is an investment strategy as old as time. Buy low, sell high. And in the case of society at the moment, it is crashing into a dip. Those who are making the investments into building their life portfolio are going to benefit.
For example, while everyone is jumping on AI bandwagons to make their lives easier, those who shirk convenience in favor of taking responsibility and taking ownership, will be a scarce resource. Most will hold no practical skills themselves and what they can offer is the same as the 99%, but the rare bird is going to be one who has skills that no AI can provide, which comes through experience and, intentional growth.
And, what is interesting is that while the masses are hyper-focused on whatever they have had their attention drawn to, those who are actually building skills and taking a step back from the shite of the world, will see opportunities to invest further.
Aim small, miss small.
And this is what so many people are doing now, where they are aiming very small, a narrow sliver of their interest of the moment - but they are missing big. Few people these days have a truly broad understanding of circumstances, yet most feel that they do, because they have picked up snippets and headlines here and there. But, none of that headline information adds skill or changes behavior, it is valueless - other than for having a conversation or an argument with similarly narrow people.
There is so much opportunity out there, but people are spending the most valuable resource they have, their attention, on building nothing. There are personal consequences to this and the impact on society is enormous, but all this spent energy isn't lost, it is converted into value for the very people they are railing against. Yet, they don't see that they are empowering the very groups they are trying to disband.
Pay attention.
It says pay. Using attention is a cost. Spend it poorly and it is going to be very costly indeed, because it is not going to give any kind of return on the investment. And billions of people are investing more of their attention into supporting the divide and conquer approach that is being taken by those who benefit from the division. Take a step back and see some of the opportunities that are opening up instead, and things look very different down the road.
What are those opportunities?
Build a career.
It doesn't matter what it is really, but try to be great at something and monetize it. Create a following, build a demand, sell your product or service - build trust. Trust might be the single most valuable resource in the future, because while the data streams keep increasing, they are getting far less trustworthy and in time, all of these AIs are going to be used to ensure accuracy of information and that is going to include, track-record of people - like it or not. If you are deemed untrustworthy, you will be excluded from opportunity, physically and digitally.
Sounds like fun.
No wonder people are taking to the streets and forming militias, because what else can they do? They have backed themselves into a corner where they are increasingly irrelevant in this economic society, but don't have any alternative framework set up - no alternative economy. Oh, there is?
But, people don't support it, because they want to stay in the prison of what they know, but with a better view.
So many people look narrow on their life and base the future on what they know, which is the only thing that we can do. However, when we are narrowly focused and spending the majority of our attention on irrelevancies in the grand scheme, "what we know" isn't very predictive of the future - and our "skillset" isn't likely going to be suitable for it either.
Everyone is free to behave as they choose, but that behavior is going to have implications and, most people seem to be taking a path that is not only going to be worse for them, but worse for us all. Maybe we will come out the other side better off for it or, maybe we will all die in the tunnel.
At the moment, I look at the meta of this world and nearly all I see is illness.
I might be a hypochondriac too.
There is no pill to take.
Only work to do.
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]
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As this world has been getting worse than ever for the last three years, I suggest him living the moment so long as he breathes.
Fear does not prevent death.
It is a strange thing to know it is irrational, yet still feel it.
At first reading, I thought your friend was crazy, but as I have read on, I agree with him. Am I crazy too? In the last few months there have been so many developments with A.I. that they have had to make a document to put a pause on it. I think this is now inevitable. If you walk through the comments of young people, they have the same pessimism as your friend. That is, if young people think the world is not worth living in, we don't have much of a future. These days I was reading an article that talked about the number of Latin women who resort to plastic surgery to shape their bodies and that in a few years it will be rare to find a woman without operations. What destiny awaits us? It's a little scary to say, but the horizon may be a little blurry. Beautiful Sunday, @tarazkp
Depression is up, as are suicides. This is indicative of everyone moving toward the negative, even though only a few go that extreme.
The same women spend their days on Instagram looking at filtered images and using the filters for their own images too. It is a fantasy world.
You know, the people forming militias and causing these riots and all that
If it comes down to the governments wanting to control everybody the world will never be at peace.. Always some sort of civil unrest will occur somewhere...
(when I say the governments controlling people I am referring to all these conspiracy theories of course 😂)
Also the friend... Afraid of dying early ..
Laughs the way you just blurted out... He is in his mid 40's... Somewhat hilarious.
You could steo outside tomorrow and slip on a patch of ice and be done for.
It is a response to poor governance - which in the form of governments, will always be poor. Centralization always fails.
His family have a history of heart issues and even though he is fit, he knows it is very likely to get him. Ticking time bomb in his head.
Great post.. My plan is to take some backward steps that I believe are going to move me forwad. I think having a little hobby farm and working every inch of it is going to be my answer. I'll make sure I have enough silver to pay the taxes so they can't just walk in and take it and I'll trade as much as possible. The best way to make your World less depressing is to turn off the TV and take responsibility in your community.
We're all going to kick the bucket at some point. May as well enjoy the time we have.
Going off grid only works for some, because if everyone did it, it wouldn't work - especially since very few people can actually provide all they need for themselves. Still, it would be nice to be one of the people who can do it and live out the days :)
Are you getting your news straight from Tucker?
Tucker?
You know, this guy... he's been shouting for a while that cities are just the most terrifying places ever... even if the stats don't back that up in the slightest...
Oh, I know the name, but I don't think I have ever heard him speak.
I can't tell you how many times I've been in a hotel lobby or hotel gym to hear him "just asking questions" in order to provide Boomers all the rage-porn their hearts can handle.
People have stopped thinking and they just follow the crowd. In a way, I think mental health has declined due to the lockdowns and I think it has ruined people socially. Then we have things like Twitter or Tiktok feeding people ideas and I agree that there is a lot of illness out there. The politicians don't want to fix anything either and people are following the people causing the issues.
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Why fix it, when you can make money from it instead?
It is all about power and control, and that can be bought.
Yea. I don't see people trying to solve problems most of the time because they benefit more by leaving it open.
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I'm actually less likely to fly now. I just don't like the way they herd you in like cattle. It's annoying and clearly driven by greed.
It is definitely cattle-ish these days. I hate having to walk through the maze of roped off fences - for no reason.
I just look at how much space there was in the sixties and how they cram you in like sardines now. It's ridiculous.
I wonder what the relative price difference to travel is? I was looking for tickets to Australia recently for a family trip.... we can't afford it.
They are ridiculous here. Totally not worth the comfort level.
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I Qualify for Medicare in Four Months I will be just Fine............. @tarazkp
LMAO
Happy Easter to my Guild Brother !
I think unless AI gets settled properly, it is kind of hard to say how we can make sure to build a career around and also settle our attention onto something. However if we choose the route to become creator, product builder, service builder, we just have to adapt to changes either way, with or without AI. It's not same for all the people considering I suppose some people always want security in with everything they do but with AI around, there is no assurance to anything.
My mother's friend called crypto a scam, compared it to buying lottery tickets and was sure that it will fall.
It amazes me that people can believe in god but not in crypto. how can their be so
short sightedstupid...Having been isolated from others, I have kept track of things on TV and through other media. It is becoming a madhouse for sure. I sometimes think I should just stay in this hole I have dug. However, I am not going to stay isolated as I think my isolation has given me time to reflect, become a better person,, and contribute to making things better. Once I dig out of this hole completely, I just need to figure out how to leverage what I have learned about myself and others to do just that. I might not be able to change the world, but I can at least change things around my little world.
Without children to take care of, I am definitely focused on enjoying my present time as much as possible. I take frequent breaks from employment when finances allow and try to love life with a small impact to the health of the planet. I try to be mindful with my choices and be considerate of my fellow humans. I find this behavior in short supply. I want to surround myself with like-minded people but I'm having an increasingly hard time doing it.
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