A friend recently introduced me to this quote, and even though it generalises a little[1], I think it ring true:
> Hard times create strong men, strong men create good times, good times create weak men, and weak men create hard times.
I think we're entering that last cycle again, where people are inventing trivial hardships for themselves, because media teaches them that only a life with some type of adversity is worth living.
In other words, everyone is desperate to be a protagonist in what is an extremely comfortable world, so they invent villains. Then they post about their great protagonism on social media. In part, I think, this is due to the neurosis created by the fakeness of social media.
Also, since all achievements on social media are pixel-thin, it is also turning people into equally shallow reprobates.
The recent trend of unironically calling people "NPCs" and "bots" just reinforces these beliefs, IMO.
[1]: I also find it a bit funny we have to put these types of disclaimers everywhere, since everyone goes out of their way to be offended over trivialities
> Hard times create strong men, strong men create good times, good times create weak men, and weak men create hard times.
I think we're entering that last cycle again, where people are inventing trivial hardships for themselves, because media teaches them that only a life with some type of adversity is worth living.
In other words, everyone is desperate to be a protagonist in what is an extremely comfortable world, so they invent villains. Then they post about their great protagonism on social media. In part, I think, this is due to the neurosis created by the fakeness of social media.
Also, since all achievements on social media are pixel-thin, it is also turning people into equally shallow reprobates.
The recent trend of unironically calling people "NPCs" and "bots" just reinforces these beliefs, IMO.
[1]: I also find it a bit funny we have to put these types of disclaimers everywhere, since everyone goes out of their way to be offended over trivialities