What it means to be a man is a question that’s been butchered over the course of generations. The real question men should ask is what is the raison d’etre of men? The ideas are almost always garbage and if you choose to listen to them, you find out the hard way just how terrible they are. The psychological warfare done on men and boys today is so utterly successful that few even reach the question at all.
This reminded me of quote by Heraclitus: "The best prefer one thing, immortal fame, to all mortal things; but the multitude is satisfied with gorging themselves like cattle."
Another great piece, thank you. A related idea I've been toying with is how there's a survivorship bias amongst our geriatric men. The men that live long lives are those that likely have missed their opportunity at a sacrificial death - and perhaps there's a sense of guilt or regret associated to that. In a noble society, these older men use this pain as an opportunity to teach young men; in a corrupt society, these older men continue to selfishly cling to life bitterly. This corruption is certainly evident with boomers and the continued increase in the age of our elected 'leaders'.
Most old timers I end up talking to do try to part off some wisdom. Sometimes the best conversations you can get from them is stories from their past.
Tbh, I think our geriatric leaders stick around for a couple reasons. Like all in power, the shadow men have dirt on them and force them to carry out their will. In another sense, power corrupts and they don’t want to let go of that power.
This reminded me of quote by Heraclitus: "The best prefer one thing, immortal fame, to all mortal things; but the multitude is satisfied with gorging themselves like cattle."
Great piece.
Another great piece, thank you. A related idea I've been toying with is how there's a survivorship bias amongst our geriatric men. The men that live long lives are those that likely have missed their opportunity at a sacrificial death - and perhaps there's a sense of guilt or regret associated to that. In a noble society, these older men use this pain as an opportunity to teach young men; in a corrupt society, these older men continue to selfishly cling to life bitterly. This corruption is certainly evident with boomers and the continued increase in the age of our elected 'leaders'.
Most old timers I end up talking to do try to part off some wisdom. Sometimes the best conversations you can get from them is stories from their past.
Tbh, I think our geriatric leaders stick around for a couple reasons. Like all in power, the shadow men have dirt on them and force them to carry out their will. In another sense, power corrupts and they don’t want to let go of that power.