When you use a car to live dangerously, its really the car doing all the hard work. Same with trolling, theres a huge barrier thats *allowing* you to feel brave without actually having to be.
If you really want to know if youre brave, go get in a fist fight with someone bigger than you. And no drinking beforehand! Liquid courage is cheating.
But, you wont. Our modern lives are all about creating the sensation of something without actually doing the thing. Which is what youre doing with your car, or your phone, or whatever other ways you make yourself feel like a real man. Some would say thats kind of a gay thing to do(not me, i dont use gay as insult, even if my favorite rapper does).
Jk bro! Youre the tits, obviously!
I disagree with conflating primitive society with poverty. Its looking at life from a narrow view point, namely material wealth. But theres a big difference between living freely with little stuff and living with a boot on ones neck. That those primitive people are also susceptible to the lure of modern convenience says more about our brains and less about societal structures that promote happiness.
Youre obviously young, richie, and i cant blame someone for that. You wont always feel that endangering other peoples lives makes you somehow better than others. At some point youll realize its quite the opposite. I mean, come on, asshole drivers and trolls are a dime a dozen.
Cant wait to read that article about the fist fight! Remember, hes gotta be at least a little bigger than you
“I disagree with conflating primitive society with poverty”
Maybe I’m wrong, but I am under the impression that poverty is a defining characteristic of primitive society. And by poverty I mean hunger. One interesting thing about Mr. Lenin is he died a few decades before the time came where grain/dairy/meat/veggie production made hunger MUCH more rare worldwide.
The definition of poverty is somewhat interesting to me. Either the US (maybe Department of Labor?) definition or the United Nations one for not-rich countries.
My understanding of the USA definition of poverty is that a woman went about figuring the money one adult man would need to buy enough calories for a week. That became the FederalPovertyLevelTM. It’s changed from time to time over the years from there.
If not an affair, write pieces like this one but then let them sit on your desk for 3 days and then carefully reread them before deleting. Doing so allows you to learn things about yourself that you can work on to be a better person. You deserve a huge kick in the balls for endangering your child.
Therapy is also an option. Therapy allows one person to express their thoughts to a non-judgmental mental health professional. The idea seems to be that the person expressing their thoughts in this fashion will question and reevaluate them. This is why the best way to "move" a homophobic person's opinion on gay rights is to ask them, for instance, if they know a gay person. See:
I’ve never really understood arguments like this, which as you note have been around for decades. Were sports and the military abolished while I wasn’t looking? If you want a challenge, try starting with those things. Those are the normal ways men test and prove themselves when they’re young. (Yes, being middle aged means looking out for your wife and kids and taking less risks.)
Note, by the military I don’t mean signing up for a foreign country’s military in wartime. I mean try to pass the selection process for a combat arms unit like the Army Rangers. That’s pretty damn hard even in peacetime! Contrary to what you would expect based on crisis of meaning/comfort arguments, military recruitment is trending down, not up.
Fight Club (amazing movie) is a great example of this, because it’s not like training in combat sports is some sort of radical, novel, revolutionary idea. I’m pretty sure normal, semi-structured boxing gyms existed back in the 90s.
If anything, in some ways it has probably never been easier to be an adrenaline junkie. You can do BASE jumping, SCUBA diving, spelunking, mountaineering, etc. etc.
Again, children took all the time. But if I spent all my time boxing or something and didn't have kids that would feel even more meaningless. I guess the point is you can't do everything.
I think there’s meaning to be found in teaching people how to box (or something else athletic). I think that could be better than being an adjunct professor, but I could be wrong. Coaching is one of the most rewarding things I ever did. Especially after I got decent at it.
I also find the lack of participation / proactivity given the abundance of those opportunities pretty bizarre. I generally agree with the diagnosis in the article, but it’s never been easier to get involved in activities that can give you a sense of structured competition, controlled risk, pushing your limits, etc.
I got into boxing recently in my 30s, there really are affordable and quality gyms everywhere. I’ve been rock climbing since my mid 20s, gyms are everywhere and there’s never been more resources to get outside where you really do put yourself in truly life or death situations. Even lead climbing in a gym where you know you will be badly injured if you don’t perform well and make good decisions can be deeply satisfying.
There’s never been more opportunity to join competitive shooting leagues, defensive firearms classes and competitions.
There are countless things people can do to make meaning and find enrichment that have never been more affordable and accessible, and people don’t get off their ass and go do it.
The older guys in my rifle league once mentioned they try to coach high school kids shooting leagues and it usually tends to be all girls. The girls put in the work to improve skill, boys show up once, get smoked by girls with more experience and training, can’t handle losing to a girl, and never come back
I don’t get it. We live in a golden age of opportunity to test your mettle, apply yourself, cultivate mastery, and find meaning in that journey, but people would rather dick around on their phones at home and say the world sucks
Well, actually, all you really have to do in this current environment is admit that you are basically a liberal guy and — in your case, with a personality disorder. We liberals have, in a matter of months, gone from being effeminate snowflakes to Antifa terrorists. And all we had to do was wear a bunny suit for an afternoon or carry a sign for an hour that says “Defend Democracy” or “Hands off Science”! And believe me, suddenly, miraculously being turned into a scary liberal terrorist is very exciting! It’s life changing! Even we grandparents are now no longer just the old farts —‘Gramps.’ We’re members of Grantifa! Talk about wishing one was young and vigorous again — Presto chango! I’m a beast! You should try these things and see what happens!
There's a sense in which there are too few opportunities for courage in modern life.
Then again, Ukraine would probably welcome you as a volunteer. I don't say that to mock; I'm in the same boat. I feel like a chickenhawk for the second time in my life.
I think one of the profound truths of our times is that what I call "the information class," college educated people who work with their minds using computers, need to find ways to die in the land of duty sometimes. We're the best leaders of society, but we won't be inspiring enough for people to enjoy living under our rule, unless we make a habit of dramatic displays of courage.
JD Vance's point is that real meaning comes from close contact with family members and lifelong friendships that can only be fostered in stable communities. The creative destruction of capitalism may generate gains in material living standards but only at the cost of undermining the basis of human connections.
I’m reminded of Fukuyama’s idea of the Last Man, where people in society get so nostalgic for the struggles of the past that they then fight against their own freedom and comfort.
I wish Richard spent a couple more paragraphs musing on how when he drives recklessly to feel less gay, the consequence is that he messes up the life of a poor responsible man who's trying to do traditional manly work.
There is something sinister in peddling a worldview that eschews the possibility of a grassroots approach—where individuals take responsibility for organizing their own lives in a less wasteful, more self-sustaining manner that embodies old-fashioned virtue—and insists that we are slaves to the lower angels of our nature, setting up a false dichotomy, forcing us to choose between the lesser of two evils and rationalizing our collective stupidity and viciousness.
> Even if poverty plus ignorance does make people happy, the moment you know that air conditioning, convenient appliances, and incremental gains in one’s standard of living are possible, there’s no going back.
Yeah, right—living a disciplined, austere life as a sovereign, informed citizen is fucking impossible. Let's just drive recklessly instead to distract ourselves from how fucked everything is. Brilliant.
I’m glad if people do that. Traditional religious communities that want to be left alone are fine. My problem is protectionists and those who dislike free market economics, who try to find meaning by making other people poorer and less free.
When you use a car to live dangerously, its really the car doing all the hard work. Same with trolling, theres a huge barrier thats *allowing* you to feel brave without actually having to be.
If you really want to know if youre brave, go get in a fist fight with someone bigger than you. And no drinking beforehand! Liquid courage is cheating.
But, you wont. Our modern lives are all about creating the sensation of something without actually doing the thing. Which is what youre doing with your car, or your phone, or whatever other ways you make yourself feel like a real man. Some would say thats kind of a gay thing to do(not me, i dont use gay as insult, even if my favorite rapper does).
Jk bro! Youre the tits, obviously!
I disagree with conflating primitive society with poverty. Its looking at life from a narrow view point, namely material wealth. But theres a big difference between living freely with little stuff and living with a boot on ones neck. That those primitive people are also susceptible to the lure of modern convenience says more about our brains and less about societal structures that promote happiness.
Youre obviously young, richie, and i cant blame someone for that. You wont always feel that endangering other peoples lives makes you somehow better than others. At some point youll realize its quite the opposite. I mean, come on, asshole drivers and trolls are a dime a dozen.
Cant wait to read that article about the fist fight! Remember, hes gotta be at least a little bigger than you
“I disagree with conflating primitive society with poverty”
Maybe I’m wrong, but I am under the impression that poverty is a defining characteristic of primitive society. And by poverty I mean hunger. One interesting thing about Mr. Lenin is he died a few decades before the time came where grain/dairy/meat/veggie production made hunger MUCH more rare worldwide.
The definition of poverty is somewhat interesting to me. Either the US (maybe Department of Labor?) definition or the United Nations one for not-rich countries.
My understanding of the USA definition of poverty is that a woman went about figuring the money one adult man would need to buy enough calories for a week. That became the FederalPovertyLevelTM. It’s changed from time to time over the years from there.
If not an affair, write pieces like this one but then let them sit on your desk for 3 days and then carefully reread them before deleting. Doing so allows you to learn things about yourself that you can work on to be a better person. You deserve a huge kick in the balls for endangering your child.
Therapy is also an option. Therapy allows one person to express their thoughts to a non-judgmental mental health professional. The idea seems to be that the person expressing their thoughts in this fashion will question and reevaluate them. This is why the best way to "move" a homophobic person's opinion on gay rights is to ask them, for instance, if they know a gay person. See:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_canvassing
But therapy is gay.
I’ve never really understood arguments like this, which as you note have been around for decades. Were sports and the military abolished while I wasn’t looking? If you want a challenge, try starting with those things. Those are the normal ways men test and prove themselves when they’re young. (Yes, being middle aged means looking out for your wife and kids and taking less risks.)
Note, by the military I don’t mean signing up for a foreign country’s military in wartime. I mean try to pass the selection process for a combat arms unit like the Army Rangers. That’s pretty damn hard even in peacetime! Contrary to what you would expect based on crisis of meaning/comfort arguments, military recruitment is trending down, not up.
Fight Club (amazing movie) is a great example of this, because it’s not like training in combat sports is some sort of radical, novel, revolutionary idea. I’m pretty sure normal, semi-structured boxing gyms existed back in the 90s.
If anything, in some ways it has probably never been easier to be an adrenaline junkie. You can do BASE jumping, SCUBA diving, spelunking, mountaineering, etc. etc.
Again, children took all the time. But if I spent all my time boxing or something and didn't have kids that would feel even more meaningless. I guess the point is you can't do everything.
I think there’s meaning to be found in teaching people how to box (or something else athletic). I think that could be better than being an adjunct professor, but I could be wrong. Coaching is one of the most rewarding things I ever did. Especially after I got decent at it.
I also find the lack of participation / proactivity given the abundance of those opportunities pretty bizarre. I generally agree with the diagnosis in the article, but it’s never been easier to get involved in activities that can give you a sense of structured competition, controlled risk, pushing your limits, etc.
I got into boxing recently in my 30s, there really are affordable and quality gyms everywhere. I’ve been rock climbing since my mid 20s, gyms are everywhere and there’s never been more resources to get outside where you really do put yourself in truly life or death situations. Even lead climbing in a gym where you know you will be badly injured if you don’t perform well and make good decisions can be deeply satisfying.
There’s never been more opportunity to join competitive shooting leagues, defensive firearms classes and competitions.
There are countless things people can do to make meaning and find enrichment that have never been more affordable and accessible, and people don’t get off their ass and go do it.
The older guys in my rifle league once mentioned they try to coach high school kids shooting leagues and it usually tends to be all girls. The girls put in the work to improve skill, boys show up once, get smoked by girls with more experience and training, can’t handle losing to a girl, and never come back
I don’t get it. We live in a golden age of opportunity to test your mettle, apply yourself, cultivate mastery, and find meaning in that journey, but people would rather dick around on their phones at home and say the world sucks
Or become a volunteer firefighter or EMT
Great essay, although the bad driving is a dick move because you're endangering others.
What about be like the Swiss who make sure everyone has a gun and knows how to use it?
Well, actually, all you really have to do in this current environment is admit that you are basically a liberal guy and — in your case, with a personality disorder. We liberals have, in a matter of months, gone from being effeminate snowflakes to Antifa terrorists. And all we had to do was wear a bunny suit for an afternoon or carry a sign for an hour that says “Defend Democracy” or “Hands off Science”! And believe me, suddenly, miraculously being turned into a scary liberal terrorist is very exciting! It’s life changing! Even we grandparents are now no longer just the old farts —‘Gramps.’ We’re members of Grantifa! Talk about wishing one was young and vigorous again — Presto chango! I’m a beast! You should try these things and see what happens!
I love it, this is a great point.
There's a sense in which there are too few opportunities for courage in modern life.
Then again, Ukraine would probably welcome you as a volunteer. I don't say that to mock; I'm in the same boat. I feel like a chickenhawk for the second time in my life.
I think one of the profound truths of our times is that what I call "the information class," college educated people who work with their minds using computers, need to find ways to die in the land of duty sometimes. We're the best leaders of society, but we won't be inspiring enough for people to enjoy living under our rule, unless we make a habit of dramatic displays of courage.
JD Vance's point is that real meaning comes from close contact with family members and lifelong friendships that can only be fostered in stable communities. The creative destruction of capitalism may generate gains in material living standards but only at the cost of undermining the basis of human connections.
One kneejerk reaction to Mr. Vance’s point about finding real meaning might be: Ok zoomer, “join the Army Reserve or the Peace Corp.”
People find meaning in service to others.
Fighting in the Burmese civil war seems just as righteous as Ukraine, if someone wants to die for liberalism in a warmer setting.
This was so fun to read! Thank you
I’m reminded of Fukuyama’s idea of the Last Man, where people in society get so nostalgic for the struggles of the past that they then fight against their own freedom and comfort.
What would you know about being poor, Richard? Didn’t you grow up in an upper-middle class Chicago suburb?
You are an unrepentant asshole. Well thanks for the honesty. Usually, crooks and assholes pretend to have the moral high ground while being assholes.
You are the first one that transparently admits to it in my experience.
I wish Richard spent a couple more paragraphs musing on how when he drives recklessly to feel less gay, the consequence is that he messes up the life of a poor responsible man who's trying to do traditional manly work.
There is something sinister in peddling a worldview that eschews the possibility of a grassroots approach—where individuals take responsibility for organizing their own lives in a less wasteful, more self-sustaining manner that embodies old-fashioned virtue—and insists that we are slaves to the lower angels of our nature, setting up a false dichotomy, forcing us to choose between the lesser of two evils and rationalizing our collective stupidity and viciousness.
> Even if poverty plus ignorance does make people happy, the moment you know that air conditioning, convenient appliances, and incremental gains in one’s standard of living are possible, there’s no going back.
Yeah, right—living a disciplined, austere life as a sovereign, informed citizen is fucking impossible. Let's just drive recklessly instead to distract ourselves from how fucked everything is. Brilliant.
I’m glad if people do that. Traditional religious communities that want to be left alone are fine. My problem is protectionists and those who dislike free market economics, who try to find meaning by making other people poorer and less free.
Book recommendation: https://www.amazon.com/Professor-Cage-Fight-Like-Watch/dp/0143108050
One of the reasons I follow politics is for the absurd humor in it. This piece is a good example.