I think a lot about how to reach people who are most comfortable in 'fuck it' mode. I spent a long time in that default mode myself, not even realizing I was there. And I might still be there, just in a different corner.
The attitude is never purely external--how people choose to relate to the world and others--you can't say "fuck it" without first ignoring a conscientious, curious, or doubting part of yourself.
In America there are so many ways to crush that part of a person. Our public school generally seems designed for that purpose. Suburban car-based culture helps: the more time one spends alone, atomized, or with a nuclear family all in the same boat, the fewer opportunities one has to question their impulsive "fuck it" default, or experience the reward of seeking novelty. Add in a dash of sheer terror--and as a suburbs-bred American woman I can tell you, that ethos thrives on inculcating in women the terror that abduction or assault lies around any unfamiliar corner--and you can start to see how people get in the habit of ignoring the part of themselves that is routinely punished, denied, neglected, ignored, and associated with danger.
It's not "stupid power". It's "trauma power". This is one of those rare cases where political correctness overlaps with real empathy. I think our way out of this default mode has to start with that empathy.
When I hear people say that America was founded as a Christian Nation, my response is that I could never imagine Jesus Christ coming over here and massacring all of those native people.
Unpacking all of the myths I’ve been told about American history as a child was an eye-opener and revealing to me, and I think other people have felt that way too. But those myths are still ingrained in so many people, and confronting that as a society would be a monumental task.
Thank you a thousand times for this. I want to print it out and roll it up and smack all the smug, misguided blue-no-matter-who liberals in my various social feeds with it, then smack myself in my smug, anarchist face with it when I need to be reminded that I am certainly no exception.
On "explain Trump", I'm afraid I keep circling back to racism; I don't think almost anybody wants to look at it (conservatives out of guilt, liberals because its so depressing). I circle back to it every time the news pops up a story where the racism is so thick and obvious. Last one: I won't bother the link, just search on "bonham texas" and racism, school, police; it's just from last week.
You write that he validates and reassures "stupidity", but above all racism; "The Cruelty" is the point, no? Racism is stupidity and cruelty, of course, just a great example of both.
But I'm sure those folks in Bonham, TX, that all thought they had a right to treat a black kid terribly, indeed an obligation to public order and decency to keep him down, will vote for Trump absolutely no matter what he is accused of; some dead spies, Russian success in Europe, a few billion skimmed off the economy into silk pockets - none of these things hurt their lives as much as validation of racism and cruelty, improve their spirits.
As painful as it is to admit, Hamiltons article is right on. And, as I read it, I saw similarities in our other American institutions. It can happen in otherwise normal faith groups, in business and, most unfortunately, in unions too. When it happens in those places it’s disappointing, even debilitating. When it happens in Congress and the White House it’s terrifying.
It's not just an American problem, it's a human problem. Half the people in the world are stupider than the median person, and the median person isn't that smart.
When I was in high school, I was sitting in a friend's basement. His friend (later one of mine as well) were talking about...something, I forget what. His friend commented after a pause - "what a shitty country."
I was stunned.
It's only as I've gotten older and seen how we treat each other and the world that I've really come to agree. I've said many times over the last few years that we live in the most viciously stupid timeline, and I find vindication in your post. Thank you.
"People came here and murdered all the natives and stole their land and got rich by using slaves and then got rich by exploiting the hell out of wage earners, a practice that continues to this day." Yes, indeed. A complimentary perspective: the nation was (basically) founded by two groups: 1) Puritans from New England and 2) Planters from Virginia. Both were exterminators of indigenous peoples; Puritans were religious fanatics; Planters were slavers; both were greedy land-speculators. And, finally, both were equally devoted to raping the natural world. And so...here we are today, proud heirs of Our Founding Fathers.
Thank you, finally time someone said this! I recall Steve Jobs being famous for his "reality distortion field". That condition seems inherent in the American psyche. Lived in the US 23y. Now back in DK.
Hamilton, this essay sums things up as well as anything I’ve read from you since your classic “Dumb Hicks are America’s Greatest Threat” at Gawker, which I would re-read periodically, at least until Gawker nuked its archive. Also, thanks for coming to Columbus! Enjoyed meeting you.
Hamilton. As usual, a clear and brave article. Who else can express how stupids are there?
"The people have the governments they deserve" = trump.
It is a very strange combination in america, stupids and bloody s.o.b. Killing, invading, promoting wars, silence assange, cia, fbi, disneyland, trump, mcdonald.
How such stupid people can be so powerful, deserves a special analysis.
Perhaps the few powerful people are just s.o.b and the followers are stupids.
Hamilton, dont forget to mention assange. America want to kill this poor guy.
I think a lot about how to reach people who are most comfortable in 'fuck it' mode. I spent a long time in that default mode myself, not even realizing I was there. And I might still be there, just in a different corner.
The attitude is never purely external--how people choose to relate to the world and others--you can't say "fuck it" without first ignoring a conscientious, curious, or doubting part of yourself.
In America there are so many ways to crush that part of a person. Our public school generally seems designed for that purpose. Suburban car-based culture helps: the more time one spends alone, atomized, or with a nuclear family all in the same boat, the fewer opportunities one has to question their impulsive "fuck it" default, or experience the reward of seeking novelty. Add in a dash of sheer terror--and as a suburbs-bred American woman I can tell you, that ethos thrives on inculcating in women the terror that abduction or assault lies around any unfamiliar corner--and you can start to see how people get in the habit of ignoring the part of themselves that is routinely punished, denied, neglected, ignored, and associated with danger.
It's not "stupid power". It's "trauma power". This is one of those rare cases where political correctness overlaps with real empathy. I think our way out of this default mode has to start with that empathy.
When I hear people say that America was founded as a Christian Nation, my response is that I could never imagine Jesus Christ coming over here and massacring all of those native people.
Unpacking all of the myths I’ve been told about American history as a child was an eye-opener and revealing to me, and I think other people have felt that way too. But those myths are still ingrained in so many people, and confronting that as a society would be a monumental task.
Thank you a thousand times for this. I want to print it out and roll it up and smack all the smug, misguided blue-no-matter-who liberals in my various social feeds with it, then smack myself in my smug, anarchist face with it when I need to be reminded that I am certainly no exception.
Love the writing, must get The Hammer.
On "explain Trump", I'm afraid I keep circling back to racism; I don't think almost anybody wants to look at it (conservatives out of guilt, liberals because its so depressing). I circle back to it every time the news pops up a story where the racism is so thick and obvious. Last one: I won't bother the link, just search on "bonham texas" and racism, school, police; it's just from last week.
You write that he validates and reassures "stupidity", but above all racism; "The Cruelty" is the point, no? Racism is stupidity and cruelty, of course, just a great example of both.
But I'm sure those folks in Bonham, TX, that all thought they had a right to treat a black kid terribly, indeed an obligation to public order and decency to keep him down, will vote for Trump absolutely no matter what he is accused of; some dead spies, Russian success in Europe, a few billion skimmed off the economy into silk pockets - none of these things hurt their lives as much as validation of racism and cruelty, improve their spirits.
That's what "vibes" means.
As painful as it is to admit, Hamiltons article is right on. And, as I read it, I saw similarities in our other American institutions. It can happen in otherwise normal faith groups, in business and, most unfortunately, in unions too. When it happens in those places it’s disappointing, even debilitating. When it happens in Congress and the White House it’s terrifying.
It's not just an American problem, it's a human problem. Half the people in the world are stupider than the median person, and the median person isn't that smart.
When I was in high school, I was sitting in a friend's basement. His friend (later one of mine as well) were talking about...something, I forget what. His friend commented after a pause - "what a shitty country."
I was stunned.
It's only as I've gotten older and seen how we treat each other and the world that I've really come to agree. I've said many times over the last few years that we live in the most viciously stupid timeline, and I find vindication in your post. Thank you.
Unfortunately, that seems like a pretty accurate analysis. I'm so tired of stupid.
Thank you. The truth of truths.
"People came here and murdered all the natives and stole their land and got rich by using slaves and then got rich by exploiting the hell out of wage earners, a practice that continues to this day." Yes, indeed. A complimentary perspective: the nation was (basically) founded by two groups: 1) Puritans from New England and 2) Planters from Virginia. Both were exterminators of indigenous peoples; Puritans were religious fanatics; Planters were slavers; both were greedy land-speculators. And, finally, both were equally devoted to raping the natural world. And so...here we are today, proud heirs of Our Founding Fathers.
Thank you, finally time someone said this! I recall Steve Jobs being famous for his "reality distortion field". That condition seems inherent in the American psyche. Lived in the US 23y. Now back in DK.
Hamilton, this essay sums things up as well as anything I’ve read from you since your classic “Dumb Hicks are America’s Greatest Threat” at Gawker, which I would re-read periodically, at least until Gawker nuked its archive. Also, thanks for coming to Columbus! Enjoyed meeting you.
Can't we find a pleasant euphemism for "Stupid"? Something like "Stable Genius"?
Can't argue with any of that.
Hamilton. As usual, a clear and brave article. Who else can express how stupids are there?
"The people have the governments they deserve" = trump.
It is a very strange combination in america, stupids and bloody s.o.b. Killing, invading, promoting wars, silence assange, cia, fbi, disneyland, trump, mcdonald.
How such stupid people can be so powerful, deserves a special analysis.
Perhaps the few powerful people are just s.o.b and the followers are stupids.
Hamilton, dont forget to mention assange. America want to kill this poor guy.
Solidarity to him.
Keep on fighting mate.