Oddbean

It's not the case for everyone, but for a lot of people, participating in something that they perceive as bigger than themselves is really important. They want to leave a tiny mark that goes beyond their own life in some way in terms of reach or in terms of time. Sometimes it's religion, sometimes it's patriotism, sometimes it's a certain political/ideological movement, sometimes it's a professional guild, sometimes it is advancing technology, sometimes it is advancing art, etc. Could be any number of things. Mine is mixed, but it's basically the intersection of technology and human rights. I want to support technologies like Bitcoin and Nostr and others that empower individualism and human rights. People should be able to engage in transfers of information and commerce largely unrestricted. They should be able to protect themselves from currency dilution. They should be able to do this regardless of their race, religion, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, or whatever, as long as they are not actively trying to hurt others. It should require probable cause and the allocation of deliberate resources and time by authorities to prevent bad people from doing these things, rather than being automatically applied to everyone as a matter of course. And this can't really be asked for; the technology has to be built and shared so that the burden of difficulty is on those trying to make it otherwise. And for me, that means educating people about these technologies, providing capital or economic guidance to people these technologies, otherwise doing whatever small part I can to help improve the success or adoption of these technologies. Other than that, I just want to leave my little slice of the world better than I found it. I want to help rather than hurt. I want to beautify rather than destroy. I want to unify differing views through objectivity and open talk and help create collaboration and coexistence, rather than sow unnecessary division. This doesn't scale as well and can't win as decisively as technology can, so it's mainly just my side thing. What's yours? What is the thing(s) that you want to participate in that are bigger than yourself?

I think leaving your part of the world better than you found it is the best approach over which your integrity matters most, and it scales differently and unpredictably. You don’t know whose descendants you influence that way and how far their reach may go. Magister Ludi delves into this eloquently. #bookstr https://covers.openlibrary.org/w/id/7143886-L.jpg

I like your use of the term “bigger than yourself” as opposed to “greater than yourself”. The former permits mutually beneficial synergy between the individual and a system/group; thereby maintaining respect for individual rights whilst the latter suggests that a system/group takes moral precedence over the individual.

Oh, and to answer your question at the end, the bigger thing for me is my family and friends. My desire to defend them manifests politically as libertarian activism focused on fighting for the same freedom of association for white people that other peoples already enjoy.

Im with you Lynn! But above all else: my two kids is what i leave behind. Two new human beings moving into a very different society than the one i grew up in. I hope I get to be with themfor a long time to see they build their lives in this new world.

I dream of changing my own small world in ways that align with my principles(pragmatism, humanity and logic). I try to invest my energy and time on ideas that have a clear effect on a human or a group of humans in the most humane way possible. I get turned off by ideas that end up in logical contradictions (i.e coerced experimental vaccinations, mandated pronouns, communism, etc). I create buildings in properties that allow humans feel protected and independent so they can project themselves into a better future. One day, without much coordination, without much distraction from my work. I hope to wake up and find out that millions of others have also been doing the same at their own corner of the world. Bitcoin has brought me hope that this will indeed happen.

Well, I can honestly say that you have left your mark in the hearts & minds of many, myself included 😄 As for myself? (Skip to the bottom for the meat & potatoes 😅) I did 20yrs in the military to protect the nation & people I love & thought that was all I could/would ever do as far as “leaving a mark” anywhere. My family could count me as the family’s 3rd generation of Soldiers keeping the U.S. safe. Then, on my last deployment, I opened my eyes to many of the harsh realities & untruths of our nation & its role in geopolitics. I learned more & more about inflation, fiat currency & realized if I didn’t “spend” I couldn’t live because it was impossible to try saving in the traditional sense. [THE POINT 😅] Then I learned about #Bitcoin & how I could pass my efforts, energy, my love down to my descendants. I may not be able to make them Megamillions Lotto ticket winners rich; but, they’ll be able to live off of ONE job only vs. working 2 or more like most others will have to. And so long as they follow proper judgment in increasing their #BTC holdings, the next generations will prosper. But it’ll all start with “Grandpa Shango” who got the ball rolling 😂

Working for a fairer and greener world that promotes the well-being for all living things. I have been kind of obsessed with this purpose for 14 years now. Been studying, and reading a lot to find truth and solutions. Had several green jobs, and started companies offering green solutions. Exhausted myself which also gave me time to reflect and learn. Realized I had to understand how the economy works. Did that for several years, while working (still do). Found bitcoin, and then learned about the Austrian school. Now work in the recycling industry, and writing in my spare time. Currently 33 word pages into a text with the tentative title «the most important solution for a fairer and greener world that you’ve never thought of». Hoping to one day send you the text.

Learning neat and useful stuff and teaching it to others. I experienced the brain and soul-crushing realities of a daily commute and corporate job, working hard for the goals of others with unclear results, then drowned in mindless television and alcohol. Managing to break free about 15 years ago, I live a self-directed life, with no alarm clock, trying to learn and teach and always be kind. It sounds hokey but the Beatles got it right: All you need is Love, for yourself as much as for others.

Beautifully said, Lyn. I'm with you in that I want my life to contribute to leaving the world incrementally better than it was before me. For now, I do that by hosting a local, in-person bitcoin class, I do lots of different odd jobs (mostly handyman stuff) for widows and elderly people, and I try to be the best wife/daughter/person I can be in the meantime. I am trying to stay up to date on freedom tech both so I can use it myself as well as to be a resource for those around me. I'm in school, I'm learning to code, and I'm learning about 3D printing software; I'm hoping to eventually be able to contribute to building on Nostr and Bitcoin and whatever freedom tech that emerges next. I want to be skilled and ready to play my part in our generation's fight against totalitarianism.

Educating people and building on free open source tech, bitcoin nostr mostly. And most of all just take care of my loved ones and raise my kid to be a good intelligent human, network effects of good humans.