Thought 570: Ideals

Ideals are pleasing

to the extent that

truths are horrible.

Ideals are ordeals 

because they insult 

reality, i.e. the black

comedy that is life.

But they constitute

an essential temporary

medicine.

Art 39: Puppetmonst Plays Video Games

Thought 569: Conflict

In so far as we all impose orderings on the world

for the sake of our preservation and growth,

and that these orderings will inevitably

be incompatible with other orderings

which are also conditioned by

preservation and growth,

conflict appears to be 

hardwired in the 

human condition.

Thought 568: Kicking Upwards v Kicking Downwards

Kicking downwards = right-wing = privilege-narcissism

Kicking upwards = left-wing = revenge-idealism

Thought 567: Why the Wicked Win

While the refined-intelligent are busy disagreeing with

each other (and themselves) on rarefied points, the

coarse-stupid are unified in tropes and hatreds, 

such that the wicked who manipulate them 

come to power.

In addition, 

as a wisdom-lover

you need only open your mouth

to be ignored, disagreed with, 

and ridiculed,

whereas, as a power-monger,

you need only open your mouth

to be heeded, agreed with, 

and admired.

Thought 566: Conformity and Pathology

The more conformist a culture,

the more it needs to pathologise

that which is non-conformist.

Thought 565: Ethos for Saving Money

If everyone wants it

—and they do—

then it must be too 

valuable to spend.

Thought 564: Diversity Includes Uniformity

The paradox about diversity is that it must

include non-diversity as part of that diversity.

Thought 563: Individual v Societal Maladjustment

Individual maladjustment:

let us blame the individual.

Societal maladjustment:

let us blame society.

Thought 562: More Cynical = Fairer?

Sometimes, the fully cynical statement

(e.g. 'humans use humans') is fairer

than the partially cynical statement

(e.g 'men use women' or 'women use men')

for being more inclusive and less sided.