“Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? Fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer, as a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh?”
Welcome to the inside of my mind. This is one part an exercise in mental vomiting and one part search for meaning. By very definition most people end up on the losing end of the Pareto Distribution. I am a middle aged, middle income married white man living in a mid-sized city in the Midwest. I’m smart enough to know that the world is passing me by, but sure if I’m smart enough to do anything about it. I’m certain that I am privileged, in a position of power, and dealt a very fortunate hand. BUT…all of this means very little when I am sitting by myself feeling full of anxiety, uncertainty, and self loathing. In a phrase, I’m like everyone and I’m like no one.
If you haven’t already closed this tab and gone back to your private Pornhub tab in your browser, then I invite you to stick around because it means that you might be one of us. This is a secret society like no other. This is a secret society for the countless hordes of middle aged men who play by the rules. We love our families. We may love our work. We are attempting to fight (or we aren’t) a loosing battle against physical entropy.
Join us. I’m not saying we will change the world, but maybe you will be a little less of an asshole.
Join us. I’m not saying we will get to take part in any secret rituals or wear funny hat, but maybe you’ll find connection.
Join us. I’m not saying we will solve any of your issues, but maybe you’ll realize you can solve them yourself.
Most of us are one the losing end of the Pareto Distribution. The best predictors of life success are IQ and conscientiousness. Most of us are not in the top 10 percent of either. I’m going to share the first S.E.M.E.N secret with you.
The truth will set you free. Don’t you feel more free? Welcome to the club, or should I say welcome to the Society of Extraordinary Men for Excellence and Nobility.