Oddbean new post about login | logout I’m coming to the sad conclusion that there really isn’t much going on inside of 90% of people. While they have the capacity and capability to self-reflect and creatively engage in the world, they don’t. They desire ease, comfort, and conformity above all else. Not only that, but they fill themselves with so much garbage, propaganda, and ideals from others around them who are similar; they mute any real voice or agency that does come from within. They are not interested in the dynamic creative possibilities of the world, but the ease of obedience towards those who know what’s best for them. Their motto is ‘don’t rock the boat’. These people are fucking dangerous, not because they want to hurt you, but because they lack the capacity to truly self-reflect in a meaningful way. They don’t care about what is true, just that the rules are followed. They don’t want to feel uncomfortable within self-reflection, but to flee into the values of others they have been told are theirs as well and is the only right way to be. It is a valorization of callousness, a celebration of conformity, and a religious respect for authority to such an extent that their own personal responsibility vanishes. These are NPCs. They are agents of the system and an integral part of how it functions and projects power. They are little more that drones at the subservience of the state, and only a radical awakening that forces them into the existential angst of what their only life is and means is the only thing that can truly awaken beings that are so asleep that they have forgotten their own being.
My father had a saying: never hang out with stupid people. You will always end up poor, hurt, or dead while nothing happens to them.
Concrete example: I worked on a wildland fire crew for a while as a young fella. I didn’t have the seniority to drive my water truck, and the driver who owned the truck was a very stupid man. I almost wound up dead at least once because of his decisions, but then he also would have been, so this story doesn’t fully relate to your father’s wise aphorism. Didn’t go back to that crew after that tour, even though it was the most satisfying and best paying job available to me at the time.
His insight came from years in the oil industry. Specifically, the accidents that happened on rig platforms. Almost always caused by morons and it was the good people who got seriously injured or worse.
Sad but true. 😞
You’re describing human nature itself. We are social, herd animals. It’s how we evolved. The question is what you do with this information and how it impacts your opinion of others. You can view everyone as a brainless moron just going about their life, or as a fellow human who is just doing what humans do, and have some empathy.
I didn’t say everyone, but 90%. It the 10% that makes accepting and trying with the 90% worth it. I have sympathy for the 90%, but not empathy. At some point we all should take on the responsibility of what it really means to be who we are, and who we want to be, rather than what has been given to us. The former demands the courage to think for yourself, while the latter demands simple obedience.
Good catch on the language! Sympathy > Empathy Sex > Gender
The 90% you refer to don’t think about life in terms of “courage to think for yourself”, they already think they think for themselves and courage has no role in that. People have different perspectives on life and come from different experiences and backgrounds. They are not “NPCs”. Frankly this kind of disregard for human experiences that are not our own is sad. I want to say a lot more but I got shit to do 😆
My dad always said if you want to be a good and alert driver. You have to drive as if all the vehicles around you is driven by chimpanzees. Only then are you in the mental state to predictably avoid accidents. He used to be a biker. I don't see why you can't apply this to people in general. Trust is gained through time and consistency of character not granted on impulse.
"The Matrix is a system, Neo. That system is our enemy. But when you're inside, you look around, what do you see? Businessmen, teachers, lawyers, carpenters. The very minds of the people we are trying to save. But until we do, these people are still a part of that system and that makes them our enemy. You have to understand, most of these people are not ready to be unplugged. And many of them are so inert, so hopelessly dependent on the system that they will fight to protect it." https://image.nostr.build/ad2bc44f51447818af69256b19d16209e8b66ac12d3d64310856415b288961df.jpg
Fortunately it only takes 10% of people with agency and courage to create change. The NPC’s will follow whatever rules are in place. We, my nostr friends, are the 10%. We are the future rule makers.
https://youtu.be/SiBFtwbyv44?si=QDmkfJaWLuK3FScz
I watch this and it’s my top pod for 2024
I can't stop listening Dr. Jack Kruse now lol. It is amazing to see the gap between people who are learning new things everyday and improving themselves and those who stare at motorcycle accidents on TikTok all day. Be thankful that you are on the good side
this guy talking at the upcoming Adopting Bitcoin Conference in El Salvador nostr:npub1hk0tv47ztd8kekngsuwwycje68umccjzqjr7xgjfqkm8ffcs53dqvv20pfso hope to see you there brother I used to feel the same way as you but I have progressed to another level of understanding , remember we are cells insdie an Atom made up of electrically charged protons and neutrons sending messages to use through our central nervous system via neurons Its all technology and yes there is something intefering with the NPCs Watch The Matrix Architect scene to understand more Love you my beautiful brbrother Hope to see you in El SaSalvador as I am going there on a one way ticket on Friday
I hope to one day reach your level of understanding lol
we are all at different levels of understanding just like the trauma Bitcoiners go through to accept Bitcoin
io credo che, nel 90% dei casi, siamo stati tutti cosi. finché non ci siamo stufati del tran-tran. meglio svegli che #woke comunque nostr:nevent1qqs2dnr2sze2kuk6zk6858435atqtvdl58c7menlqydm7wnchz5hxrgpz9mhxue69uhkummnw3ezuamfdejj7q3qhk0tv47ztd8kekngsuwwycje68umccjzqjr7xgjfqkm8ffcs53dqxpqqqqqqzwkh9tj
There's hope for some, as I used to be an NPC. But I still remember what it's like to be my former self. I was always very interested in searching for the truth but only partially, in the sense of the physical, metaphysical and existential. But when it came to the manmade systems and the official narratives, I know my mind would instantly block out any attempt to question them. I took plenty of shrooms and acid back in the day, yet it wasn't until Bitcoin that I saw the circus we live in. That's how powerful the coin is.
I used to be an NPC too lmao
I wonder to what extent this behavior has been bred into people. The NPC's are a depressed bunch, mainly (I'm assuming) because they've been robbed of their agency and live in an invisible and unknowing servitude. You could replace the term "NPC" with "broken victim of the state" pretty easily. I'm thinking the authoritarians causing the abuse won't be as effective as freedom tech asserts its influence and their systems continue their inevitable decay. This next decade will probably determine the true nature of the human spirit, whether it be blind obedience, or pursuit of truth and beauty. I'm obviously betting on the latter.
Indeed, we are all sadly part of a huge inverted eugenics project that is the modern world that broke, mutilated, and murdered entire ethnic classes to create uniform cattle to serve the machine. The trauma is so deep it defines the very essence of the modern human.
This sums up very well my exact taught
Though Erik, I must admit I use to be an NPC myself. Up to my early thirties. My parents were modern liberals and I went to public school. I use to trust the corporate media lmao
💯 And this 90% may be the reason that Bitcoin doesn’t work.
Yes, the 3% controls the 10% who influence the 82% to prioritize these short sighted values, and to hate the 5% who are capable of critical thought. They [3%] have unlimited means to do this, because they had the money printers. This tool is losing its efficacy as inflation runs rampant and that faith is lost, leading to more outrageous attempts to curb dissent and retain control of the tax farms. My question to you is, as someone who benefited a lot from Bitcoin and understands it deeply, what are you going to fucking do about it? You can’t awake an NPC, their cognitive dissonance is a defense mechanism from accountability, and coming to grips with funding pedophiles and endless war is too much for most to comprehend, let alone understand their part in enabling it [funding, voting for the lesser of the evils] and become part of the solution. So, the natural conclusion is, you, as someone whose closer to the monetary spigot (so to speak, got the better price, which you absolutely deserve), what are you going to do? Do we have to influence the 10%? Is it a fascist uprising using article 5? What’s the plan here gentlemen? We know the problem.
You’ll get your whitepaper and we’ll see if I got anymore than just pedantic speaking about it.
It’s wild when I meet someone who tells me they have no inner monologue. I’m like, say what? What do you even think about?
I'm sure many would say I could benefit from medication, but I'd feel so lost and lonely without the churning maelstrom that is my internal monologue.
Lol for real, It still bugs me out, like how else do you live, how do you get anything done?
Free thinkers are rare. Most just want to regurgitate whatever talking points have made the news lately and have no real thoughts of their own. Others would rather bitch about what they feel is wrong but have no ideas or solutions for said problems. Some just choose Hollywood and sports as their bread and circus. As far as percentages go, I would bet that bitcoiners and nostriches have a higher percentage of free thinkers than most demographics.
I believe that it's wrong to go into another mans house just to rearrange his furniture. That is why when I comment in another guys feed I say things with a little more restraint. But If a guy comments in my feed having strong opinions against my own or shilling monero I send him to hell with profanities flying. This is the way. Every man is king of his feed on #nostr
I know this is hard to see, but this dynamic you speak of here is a FEATURE not a BUG of this 4-dimensional holographic projection/universe. The object of the “game”/simulation is to wake up. (Become self aware). 👁️🪬 Game hint…..When we stand in judgment of where others are on THIER journey, we slow down our OWN progress. Thereby slowing down the whole. Conversely, when we treat others with patience and acceptance regardless of where they are on their path, we ACCELERATE our own and the collective progress. It’s a mind fuck when you first see it, but it gets easier with more and more practice. Love you brotha 💓🧬🦋
I understand this Not many do They are stuck in the mind and don't understand there is a brain in your heart that connects you to your higher self which will answer many unanswered questions
Very well said!
You influence the NPCs when you become the new authority. https://youtu.be/YgemxdcSQoc?si=dMwmYqDYuj4srDUv
While I agree, and that is well said, I worry that this mentality can really isolate you from people around you. Just in my own life I can see how painful it has been for people to watch me change and really turn myself inside out for inspection and improvement. I can feel how uncomfortable they are now and I am almost self conscious about speaking to anyone about meaningful things because I am concerned I come across haughty even though I police this heavily and am very aware of what’s in my heart. I guess I am just worried that it may happen to many of us that we become less effective and moral humans in pursuit of being more effective and moral humans. Does that make sense?
I’ve learned that for some people in my life that keeping the peace and just talking sportsball or about the weather works, but for others that seem open to the possibilities I’ll challenge them in an inviting way. Truth is that as I’ve changed so have my friendships and the groups I hang around. While it can be challenging and isolating at times (particularly when such changes are new) what is birthed from it and the new relationship that are created is much more meaningful imho.
I have to agree with Eric and @MADEX they talk about sports, climate, federal politics (never local politics. The one place that directly affects them)…. They talk about what they are fed to talk about which is nothing. They better not start critical thinking. Sheeple are fore-bade from doing that.
Came back for more, this is important to note: https://m.primal.net/Lrtb.jpg
In the west I would put it at more like 65%. Rest of the world, 90%
Here’s some wise advice from Schopenhauer. I’m still too young (and maybe too stupid) to follow it myself, so I keep getting burned—but maybe you’ll find it useful. https://m.primal.net/LrxL.jpg
For me I find trying to help or challenge their views is just throwing good energy down the drain, which can be focused on improving my life and those willing to exercise agency. Let them learn their lessons the hard way, and enjoy the total some of their action/in-action, that's life!
Global dumbing is real, and the biggest threat to freedom.
The word that resonated most there was "conformity" It's just so boring isn't it??? You just want to shout at them: "COME ON GUYS HAVE A CRACK AT SOMETHING" But actually breaking "conformity" is anxiety inducing, scary, and most definitely to be avoided
When someone poo-poos an idea of yours they are basically saying " I won't do it so neither should you." Just got to get used to the idea that the black sheep lead the way.
This is why in order to inspire change most people truly do not matter. I know it sounds awful to say, and it is, but you can safely ignore 80% of the world. If you're building something revolutionary you need to convince the top 20% of the 20% of people that are not NPCs. As soon as change happens it will propagate up to the NPCs, it has happened time and again in history. To me, this is a liberating perspective. Trying to convince 8 billion people of anything sounds like an impossibly daunting task, who could possibly do that? While convincing 300 million people is still impossibly hard but much much easier. And this scales, convince 20% of them and it slowly propagates down the chain, eventually reaching the NPCs who just do what everyone else is doing.
Estoy llegando a la triste conclusión de que realmente no sucede mucho dentro del 90% de las personas. Aunque tienen la capacidad de reflexionar y de involucrarse creativamente en el mundo, no lo hacen. Desean la facilidad, la comodidad y la conformidad por encima de todo. No solo eso, sino que se llenan de tanta basura, propaganda e ideales de otros que son similares; apagan cualquier voz real o agencia que surja desde dentro. No están interesados en las posibilidades creativas y dinámicas del mundo, sino en la comodidad de obedecer a aquellos que "saben lo que es mejor para ellos". Su lema es "no hagas olas". Estas personas son peligrosas, no porque quieran hacerte daño, sino porque carecen de la capacidad de reflexionar verdaderamente de manera significativa. No les importa lo que es verdadero, solo que se sigan las reglas. No quieren sentirse incómodos al reflexionar sobre sí mismos, sino huir hacia los valores de otros que les han dicho que también son los suyos y que es la única manera correcta de ser. Es una valorización de la insensibilidad, una celebración de la conformidad y un respeto casi religioso por la autoridad hasta tal punto que su propia responsabilidad personal desaparece. Son NPCs. Son agentes del sistema y una parte integral de cómo este funciona y proyecta poder. No son mucho más que drones al servicio del estado, y solo un despertar radical que los obligue a enfrentar la angustia existencial de lo que su única vida es y significa puede verdaderamente despertar a seres tan dormidos que han olvidado su propio ser.
I think a lot of this has to do with the scientific priesthood's insistance on materialism and atheism. It puts people into a tiny little box and shifts focus from inward to outward. I maintain that materialism is a more foundational issue in society than corrupt money.
💯 🐇 🐰
15% top, 15% flop, rest average. Normal Distribution is a constant. It always has, it always will. It is true for everything, everywhere. Build a life based on that fact.
Live smart and without license! 💪 https://m.primal.net/LsVB.jpg
Through constant exposure to propaganda, the soul becomes hollow, emptied of spirituality and filled instead with a misplaced devotion to the state. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJFoRN6SEQw
The most important aspect of critical thinking is the act of questioning our own assumptions when presented with evidence that is counter to what we expect. It's easy to raise shields and cast protection spells against anything we don't know how to deal with. It's harder to lower those shields and allow the evidence to lead us to updated and refreshed conclusions.
This can be changed in some, but this general nature is an unfortunate argument for the positions held by nostr:nprofile1qqsp4lsvwn3aw7zwh2f6tcl6249xa6cpj2x3yuu6azaysvncdqywxmgprpmhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuumwdae8gtnnda3kjctvq9n8wumn8ghj7enfd36x2u3wdehhxarj9emkjmn99ah8qatzx9e8gmr3vdsnsu3kv96hjcthx4hr26pnds6ngv3jv3kngumj0y6kg7nxv4jngd3exen8zefcwvm8zem4v34hxdmydf6xvuelvfex7ctyvdshxapaw3e82egpzpmhxue69uhkummnw3ezuamfdejs5mzk3a on how we interact with the political world. I do think that a lot of this is the product of our culture and that it could be changed peacefully with a motivated minority.
It’s actually more bullish for my viewpoint. The average person is easily gamed.
Sorry, my response was poorly worded. What I meant was, it's unfortunate for people like Erik and I who are more libertarian leaning and wished people would do self governance, but your position nostr:nprofile1qqsp4lsvwn3aw7zwh2f6tcl6249xa6cpj2x3yuu6azaysvncdqywxmgprpmhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuumwdae8gtnnda3kjctvq9n8wumn8ghj7enfd36x2u3wdehhxarj9emkjmn99ah8qatzx9e8gmr3vdsnsu3kv96hjcthx4hr26pnds6ngv3jv3kngumj0y6kg7nxv4jngd3exen8zefcwvm8zem4v34hxdmydf6xvuelvfex7ctyvdshxapaw3e82egpzpmhxue69uhkummnw3ezuamfdejs5mzk3a proves to be more useful and correct every day. The memetic games, the social power projection, and the authoritative programing of peoples thoughts and actions is not something that we will get away from quickly.
Ah got it. I think we as libertarians need to focus on increasing the IQ of the general population. Thats the only way we’re gonna get more libertarians.
https://youtu.be/MvgN5gCuLac?si=zr7aFXJfDH1_nO06 explanation of how the NPCs trap themselves
Unfortunately, they've been trained into this exact state of being. It can be undone... https://m.primal.net/LZRt.jpg
