We are in an era of mediocrity and dumbness. It’s pathetic. I’m going to be a right boomer here and say how great the 90s were. Influencers weren’t a thing and people were still shit but at least we didn’t know about it. They say oblivious is bliss?
This is so on point. I think all the time about how our culture’s singular celebration of useless celebrity, people who are famous for being famous, paved the way to Trump. We watch as he turns on his own tv, points to people saying nice things about him, and commands his underlings to appoint them to his cabinet. Perhaps Paul will have a place there too. Why not? If it’s a joke, it’s a very dark one because a lot of people are going to be hurt and many will die because of all of this. It’s so exhausting I cannot express it. Has there ever been a more sick joke of a nation or culture?
It’s so, so dark right now. I’d say we are getting what we deserve but I’ve met too many innocent people here who aren’t complicit with any of it.
So well written, it makes me angry but it was such a good read. And very interesting comments too here and I wish this would be read by millions of people because it explains so well why so many people suffer and so much goes to hell at the moment.
Urggh…this really sums up the state of our current culture. Social media platforms have so much to answer for, as have influencers who can peddle as much shit as they like with zero consequences. I feel so sad that our younger generations are now so exposed to all this dark and uncensored content, and our so called ‘leaders’ are being influenced/absorbed by it too. Hard times ahead. A disturbing yet great read, thank you.
Apologies for the incoming discussion of politics but I see it intertwined with your post so I have to. I’ve been thinking a LOT lately about how we got here (to trump. Again.) Any time an event like this happens lately I think “yup. I guess that’s how we got here.” It’s a bigger dismantling of our values and culture. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a prude by any means, but the vulgarity that these types of people display (excusing rape, ear biting, selling your soul for a buck, dismantling every pillar of democracy while grabbing women by the pussy, influencer culture, etc etc) ain’t it.
And let’s pull back a bit. I’ve been reading that more than half our population can only read at a sixth grade level or lower and another 20 percent are functionally illiterate. Critical thinking (like maybe I shouldn’t support a rapist? Or maybe a million dollar pair of shorts is nothing to celebrate while there are genocides and starvation happening in the world) has gone out the window.
So you combine all of this and yeah, I’m not surprised at how we got here but I’m really very sad these days.
What a shit show! I don’t think I’m qualified to discuss US politics - a. I’m not sure I understand it (except I have seen / heard lots from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who seems like she is switched on and maybe a hope for the future) and b. I live in a country that’s probably equally as fucked when it comes to politics.
Not a boxing fan - don’t know or care about a (so called) influencer - he doesn’t influence me nor do I care about a rapist who should be in jail. That being said, Carre your prose is on 🔥 and I love this post - very eloquent and of the time and a sad indictment of society. As Rich said, nothing to add - well said!
Oh my god Carre I couldn’t read a single thing about this stupid ‘event’ for exactly every basic ugly reason you just set out. Collective amnesia and wilful ignorance take a bow. Knockout writing as always.
We are in an era of mediocrity and dumbness. It’s pathetic. I’m going to be a right boomer here and say how great the 90s were. Influencers weren’t a thing and people were still shit but at least we didn’t know about it. They say oblivious is bliss?
The Society of the Spectacle
This is so on point. I think all the time about how our culture’s singular celebration of useless celebrity, people who are famous for being famous, paved the way to Trump. We watch as he turns on his own tv, points to people saying nice things about him, and commands his underlings to appoint them to his cabinet. Perhaps Paul will have a place there too. Why not? If it’s a joke, it’s a very dark one because a lot of people are going to be hurt and many will die because of all of this. It’s so exhausting I cannot express it. Has there ever been a more sick joke of a nation or culture?
It’s so, so dark right now. I’d say we are getting what we deserve but I’ve met too many innocent people here who aren’t complicit with any of it.
This is one of my favorite Substack posts you’ve written so far. Thank you.
I have nothing to add. Other than exactly what you said Carre. It fucking stinks
So well written, it makes me angry but it was such a good read. And very interesting comments too here and I wish this would be read by millions of people because it explains so well why so many people suffer and so much goes to hell at the moment.
Urggh…this really sums up the state of our current culture. Social media platforms have so much to answer for, as have influencers who can peddle as much shit as they like with zero consequences. I feel so sad that our younger generations are now so exposed to all this dark and uncensored content, and our so called ‘leaders’ are being influenced/absorbed by it too. Hard times ahead. A disturbing yet great read, thank you.
Apologies for the incoming discussion of politics but I see it intertwined with your post so I have to. I’ve been thinking a LOT lately about how we got here (to trump. Again.) Any time an event like this happens lately I think “yup. I guess that’s how we got here.” It’s a bigger dismantling of our values and culture. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a prude by any means, but the vulgarity that these types of people display (excusing rape, ear biting, selling your soul for a buck, dismantling every pillar of democracy while grabbing women by the pussy, influencer culture, etc etc) ain’t it.
And let’s pull back a bit. I’ve been reading that more than half our population can only read at a sixth grade level or lower and another 20 percent are functionally illiterate. Critical thinking (like maybe I shouldn’t support a rapist? Or maybe a million dollar pair of shorts is nothing to celebrate while there are genocides and starvation happening in the world) has gone out the window.
So you combine all of this and yeah, I’m not surprised at how we got here but I’m really very sad these days.
What a shit show! I don’t think I’m qualified to discuss US politics - a. I’m not sure I understand it (except I have seen / heard lots from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who seems like she is switched on and maybe a hope for the future) and b. I live in a country that’s probably equally as fucked when it comes to politics.
Not a boxing fan - don’t know or care about a (so called) influencer - he doesn’t influence me nor do I care about a rapist who should be in jail. That being said, Carre your prose is on 🔥 and I love this post - very eloquent and of the time and a sad indictment of society. As Rich said, nothing to add - well said!
Oh my god Carre I couldn’t read a single thing about this stupid ‘event’ for exactly every basic ugly reason you just set out. Collective amnesia and wilful ignorance take a bow. Knockout writing as always.
I always thought USA has been swallowed by its biggest invention: Hollywood. Another thing is, we need to start taxing the rich.
Fuck yeah.
🎯💯
You are so astute. It’s agonizingly true.
No idea Tyson was a rapist, THANK YOU for enlightening me…and writing this piece, very well done🙌🙌
If you make this one a “freebie,” I really hope it goes viral.