Thanks! Just had a quick browse, this stuff scares the crap out of me because it’s everywhere, in the most unsuspecting places. I studied Journalism at Uni and it completely changed how I viewed the world. We’re all products of it! Do you think Bernay is right? Some of us need to be shaped? Is a world possible where we all have agency? This is why I can’t wrap my head around how Bitcoin frees us, I feel like there will always be slaves and masters because that’s just how we’re wired? I know that’s dark but to break free of that, I feel like we need to be re-wired…maybe Bitcoin is that powerful? I don’t see many Bitcoiners who aren’t fiat minded, I’m still very much in that mindset as much as I try to fight it, it’s all I’ve known until Bitcoin.
Discussion
It’s not that some of us need to be shaped but rather some of us would be non-functional without it. We tend to project our own capabilities and assume others are the same but it’s just not true, the % of people who can’t picture an apple in their mind or who have no inner monologue for example is just scary. We are surrounded by NPCs.
I love the concept of rules without rulers but find it impossible to reconcile with what I know of humans. With what I’ve learned from studying elite theory. From history. From the practicalities of power vacuums.
A lot of my attention in 2025 is on this topic, including the last book I just reviewed: nostr:note1m7y5yuadapca87tx995funu4th56kr5p2yz2gu5ayydv7fs8uvjqsgsdht
Bitcoin doesnt fix this. You can’t drop hard money into a fiat system and expect fiat to change; Bitcoiners will have to build a whole new system in its place to realise the full potential of Satoshi’s gift.
Yes, I believe you’re right when it comes to rules without rulers. Are these NPC’s just illiterate? I can’t comprehend not having an inner monologue? I’m a believer in the parallels systems model with Bitcoin as a base layer, a lot of work ahead of us. Will definitely take a deeper look at both these books to help improve my vocabulary and understanding, thank you very much the recommendations! 🙏🧡⚡️