You Can't Make Friends with the Rockstars

https://www.wheresyoured.at/rockstars/

by thunderbong • 2 years ago

25 2 2 years ago

dharmon• 2 years ago

People like Zuck, Altman, Musk, and I'll throw Trump in there as well, are high-level hackers. But instead of computers or technological systems, they are hackers of our social code. So much of our society revolves around codes and standards that are only enforced by ostracization from the collective group.

If you take a moment to observe you'll see just how many of these implicit social norms surround us and basically keep the world running. For example, it's kinda bizarre that we can order food in a restaurant, sit and enjoy it over an hour (or two), and only then actually pay for it. You don't even have to provide proof beforehand that you are capable of paying! What's to stop everyone from slipping out after enjoying a meal? Turns out not much really besides the embarrassment of getting caught, or the sense of shame in outright stealing.

Zuck, Altman, Musk, Trump, etc are high-level dine-and-ditchers. They feel no such shame that keeps us regular people in line. There's a reason the word sociopath is often thrown around with these people, as that is a defining characteristic, the lack of empathy or shame.

The thing that separates them from your run-of-the-mill sociopath, in my opinion, is they are aware of this and actively exploit it to their personal gain, at the highest levels. Basically using the leverage that makes tech amazing to multiply their own benefits from such social "hacking" to the highest degree. They've pushed the violation of social norms well past the extremes that I imagine even they could've predicted, with practically no backlash! I mean just look at how Musk initially just flirted with the line and now has pushed well past it, going further and further each time.

I have no conclusion besides agreeing with the article, that the least we can do is not provide them with the respectability they crave. They can keep the money if it was legally (if not immorally) obtained, but let them keep each other warm in their NZ bunkers; I've got no room for them around my fire.

teqsun• 2 years ago

I recommend reading the book "The 48 Laws of Power". Learning how the game of power is played on these sorts of stages was very elucidating to me.

You Can't Make Friends with the Rockstars

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