72
submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by Confidant6198@lemmy.ml to c/askchapo@hexbear.net

Like you might think that abstract intelligence and social intelligence might carry over solidarity instead of making people more shitty in that regard. How does that even work? Why does people like that coast in life while those who they seem lesser than them suffer?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] RindoGang@lemmygrad.ml 32 points 1 month ago

As someone who studies STEM the only reason I can think of is money.

Of course it is

Technology has always been a tool of power for the state, and those who control it also control the narrative and the politics

[-] Evilsandwichman@hexbear.net 16 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

As someone who studies STEM the only reason I can think of is money.

Yes, but also racism and elitism.

The smartest people from wealthy backgrounds can still absolutely despise the poor (there are people who are so ridiculously rich they can't imagine how difficult it is to struggle with poverty; sometimes they do a challenge to see if they can survive on low wages and find out the hard way that no, no they cannot); also you have people who hear about atrocities committed against the global South and are fine with it because they identify with some Western identity.

Sometimes these people can have a struggle with their conscience (apparently Churchill said something about feeling guilt at a young age about the wars in Africa he was involved and the things he was doing, but then got over it), which is where propaganda can patch over the holes.

[-] RindoGang@lemmygrad.ml 12 points 1 month ago

Racism is part of elite power structures. Those in power want to preserve it for themselves, not hand it over to non white or non cis people

[-] Confidant6198@lemmy.ml 9 points 1 month ago

Also, in those spaces you also have the non-white people who hate other non-white people (generally hate black people) and want to keep the rest down.

[-] Confidant6198@lemmy.ml 15 points 1 month ago

Many times when people like that surpass me at test scores or job positions or are fitter than me or have friends while I am friendless, it makes me feel terrible.

[-] RindoGang@lemmygrad.ml 10 points 1 month ago

It’s not you, those environments encourage constant comparison and that can make anyone feel awful. I’m sorry you’re dealing with that

[-] KuroXppi@hexbear.net 4 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I console myself (cold comfort) that chuds don't make friends. Their close acquaintances are measuring sticks for their success in life, when they get together they essentially flex and dick measure, see who's pulling ahead/falling behind, who knows more about x topic or show, who's going to nicer brunches or whose rennos are almost complete.

I have never walked away from a conversation or catchup with chud friends and felt like I connected on anything other than the most superficial levels, and it actively discourages against it. Pathos is seen as weakness or pretentiousness.

It's tiring, it's constant macro and micro comparison and triangulation so that every individual can walk away and say they're superior in something. It's all the trappings and motions of friendship without any of the motive and it is as hollow as a job interview with mimosas

this post was submitted on 21 Dec 2025
72 points (100.0% liked)

askchapo

23217 readers
177 users here now

Ask Hexbear is the place to ask and answer ~~thought-provoking~~ questions.

Rules:

  1. Posts must ask a question.

  2. If the question asked is serious, answer seriously.

  3. Questions where you want to learn more about socialism are allowed, but questions in bad faith are not.

  4. Try !feedback@hexbear.net if you're having questions about regarding moderation, site policy, the site itself, development, volunteering or the mod team.

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS