I think it's a mix, with overlap, and the ratios are tough to determine. Opportunists and believers align in stroking their egos and celebrating class or human exceptionalism. I imagine the tip-top of the pyramid consists primarily of opportunists, but I'd not be surprised if they've crafted their own batshit philosophies that justify their imagined superiority. The more dogmatic, rigid, and traditional ideas are reserved for the plebs.

Also, I don't think that intelligence obviates belief/ego; in fact, I wager it can lead to an even more spurious web of justification, like epstein and the dark enlightenment bros. People are crazy and environmental chaos will amplify it.

Right. Productivity tools, like AI or bloated frameworks, can both lead to mountains of slop. I don't reactively take issue with AI, especially if it eventually produces better work, but I will always choose the more transparent approach. I take umbrage with deceit and will stay away from systems that seem to be careening toward manipulation and more hierarchical, gatekeeping bullshit.

We all need to contend with the possibility that these intelligent systems become far better than most people and adapt accordingly. It doesn't mean we have to sacrifice our FOSS ideals, if that applies to you.

Though, I completely understand the reactivity, as we watch many peoples' life trajectories become financially irrelevant, and the oligarch's prime the population for a return to manual labor, while dangling that utopian carrot.

Here's the fantasy I had during term 1:

We nab the fucker, re-open alcatraz, tar & feather him, toss him in a cell, make it a tourist attraction where citizens visit, jeer, and throw corn kernels at the piece of shit.

Then, he went and proposed we re-open alcatraz. It's fated.

He just wants another excuse to send individuals checks with his name on it. Could be a good opportunity to virtue signal as well if the plan winds up being exclusionary toward singles or other groups.

It's tragic, yes. But, don't underestimate the effects of propaganda, repeat exposures that dwarf my face time with the guy. He doesn't have my range of experience. He's just a lonely, 50-something man that's had more negative than positive experiences in life. He has tunnel vision.

In my mind, he's responsible for his choices and frame-of-mind. But that's not going to stop me from sharing my perspective without confronting or proselytizing. Insecurity is a mother fucker.

Heh, oh I do realize that. I'd not say I'm being strategic, but I am being intentional. One of the reasons I chose to live where I currently do is to expose myself to that subset of the population. I don't have a car, and one of the (internalized) benefits is creating opportunity to chat with a broad spectrum of people. I hope this doesn't sound like I'm tooting my own horn, but I consider myself to be a student of perspective. Many years ago, after university, I joined the Peace Corps. I have direct experience building relationships with folks whose beliefs blind them. I just find it tragic that we seem to be careening toward conflict when it's all so eminently avoidable. So, I try to spread a little grassroots goodwill.

I'd add, I wish that we in America had some form of compulsory or strongly-encouraged foreign service not related to war.

I frequently chat with my neighbor who is a Q-class Trumper. Over the past year, I've been able to observe the leopards licking his face as if I were filming a nature documentary in 4k. We actually get along great. I like having a window into whatever inane, batshit information he consumes, and he really enjoys my company, as I don't outwardly judge him, and I listen. Naturally, he's on disability and dependent upon the state. As such, he's running low on funds and needs to move in a couple months.

We had elections this past week in my state. I told him that I voted, and he offered up some excuses as to why he can't make it to the polls. We tend not to directly discuss politics, because I told him a long time back that I'm still salty about Bernie. Deep down, he knows that we don't align, but he doesn't want to rock the boat. I give his pets treats. I give him treats. He occasionally mentions various religion-based conspiracies and alludes to looming conflict and the criminality of the left, but he's become more mum on this front. I think, the gears may be turning in his head.

I don't have any grand insights with which to conclude my anecdote. I give the guy a 30-70 chance of rediscovering reality. But, by being nice to the dude, I do think his chances are much better than they would be had I ignored him the past few years.

Doublespeak has always been their bread and butter, like "trickle down". Add the mindrot of "faith", and bang, you have the reigns. My birth family ate that Reagan-era shit up.

edit: heh, I didn't notice your username until after

To any Americans who are bidet curious or even enthusiasts, I'd highly recommend this wand style bidet: https://rinseworks.com/shop/aquaus-360-hand-held-bidet-sprayer-for-toilet/

Personally, I find fancy features, like heat, to be superfluous. Seats or seat-mounted bidets are inevitably a pain in the ass to clean. This wand has a nice long hose. Not only can it clean your ass, but it can also help you to clean your bathroom. It should last a lifetime. And, of course, installation is a breeze not requiring electricity. If you are afraid of the cold, rest assured you will adapt. It will zap you awake.

And the leopards continue to gorge.

It's insulting toward, what I believe to be, a plurality of the population. Luigi was a gift of a wake-up call. They'd do well to listen. Though, only government could really remedy the situation, and that's not likely to happen. So we lurch forward toward instability. The powers at be seem more intent on transfixing the masses with fictions, distractions, and eventually: war.

Me too. Sadly, spears rarely get much love in RPGs. I've always wanted a) spears to qualify as finesse weapons and b) to make a dexterity build that dances about with a spear and takes advantage of distance. Just recently I started replaying neverwinter nights, with PRC (like every DND race/class combo) to experiment with builds.