Modern Problems, Quick Fixes
Life is easier than it has ever been – that is not to say that life is now easy for it is not. Life is hard work, unfair and unforgiving. We never compare our lives to those that have gone before, but to those standing right in front of us. Our lives today are those of kings and emperors compared to our ancestors living three hundred years ago. I appreciate this gives us no comfort for we are narrow-minded and self-centred creatures.
Everyone has problems. They are not solely the reserve of the poor or specifically created for your ownership. Millionaires get cancer and die. Celebrities usually have a string of failed relationships. Kings get divorced and lose the love of their spare heir.
Having problems is not the real issue for this is perpetual. It is how we act and deal with them that is the issue. There are no new problems, only successful old ones. Many people have experienced the exact problem, walked the same path and overcome – or not.
In our modern society, we expect quick fixes for our problems because we are living fast lives. Our throw-away culture does not value self-sufficiency or self-control.
I do not want to work on my marriage so I walk away from my children. I do not like my job so I quit and claim benefits. I see people more successful around me so I become bitter and vengeful.
Men are designed to be protectors and providers for their families and community. The reward for success is an increase in social status that places them above others and attracts female attention.
Historically, high social status was reserved for men who were the best hunters or warriors for this benefited the tribe. Today, we award status to men who have power and money for this is the modern-day equivalence that provides sustenance and security.
Achieving high social status requires hard work over decades in a field that is respected and financially beneficial. Only a few men have the dedication and commitment to neglect decades of their personal life to achieve this goal in the future. Of course, there are always those who stumble into success, inherit it, fluke it, or simply win the lottery. But these are happenstances and cannot be planned. It is like running across a busy road blindfolded, someone will eventually make it to the other side.
Men today want quick fixes to gain success and a higher social status. This can be as simple as taking steroids to enhance their physical physique – instead of spending more time in the gym. Faking success is also popular with men through wearing the regalia of high-status individuals. Such as replica Rolex watches, clone Creed aftershaves, and counterfeit designer clothing. In Manchester, we have a whole neighbourhood dedicated to such dodgy items – Bury New Road - also known as Counterfeit Alley.
A more serious way some men seek status is through direct criminality. To either gain money as their sole aim or to gain a reputation that impresses their peers. Many of the violent stabbings on the streets across the country are down to acquiring or securing social status. It has little to do with fighting over streets to sell drugs – which are ordered and delivered right to your front door like Amazon's one-hour delivery.
Men involved in such lifestyles understand the dangers involved. But like many of us, they ignore potential consequences and hope disaster passes them by. A phrase has emerged in these circles to explain such behaviour: 'Get rich, or die trying'.
This is a classic fast life strategy that predicts those with nothing to lose will risk failure and death to gain what they need and want. Why plan for old age when you may not survive next week? Why work hard over decades if you may not be around to enjoy the fruits of your labour? Fast life theory predicts that these individuals die earlier, have worst health or are predisposed to disease, and start reproducing earlier than average. They live their life in a condensed time frame with not much thought for a tomorrow that may not come.
Women gain their social status through beauty and fertility. Men do not care about a woman's money or power, thus most women do not waste their energy trying to obtain them. In fact, the more money and power a woman has the less likely she will be married or in a relationship.
Women do not criticise other women for having great jobs, but will if it gives them the resources to make themselves more attractive. Just like men, women compete for social status that places them higher and attracts more male attention.
Females know they must compete on a beauty scale. This has created a multi-billion pound beauty industry where women will buy whatever makes them prettier, slimmer, or look younger. Because I’m worth it!
Some women spend their lives at the gym to ensure the best figure they can with what they have. Others go to the McDonald's drive-through as much and wonder why they are not slim. Keeping slim is hard work in modern society for we have an abundance of cheap, tasty, high-calorie food. The answer to this problem is to misdirect the eyes away from the fat to another part of the body. Low cleavage. Tattoos. Piercings. Red hair.
Women are judged on fertility. This information is gleaned through general health signals, such as long hair, fingernails, and full breasts. All such signals can now be faked with hair extensions, false nails and breast implants.
Men and women both have the same societal problem – they do not want to do the hard work to better themselves. They want to click their fingers, wave a magic wand or recite a mystical spell. A three-course meal takes hours to prepare, cook and serve, or you can stick something in the microwave for 30 seconds and wait for the ping. It may be technically the same food, but everyone tastes the difference – even if they are too polite to say it to your face.
Let us take a look at society for we have the same fast life strategy taking place. Our politicians work on a 4-year cycle for anything longer may be worthless to them as elected officials. This is why we have an energy crisis today, no politicians wanted to make decisions twenty years ago to benefit us today. Why would a politician give up virtue signalling today for a better country decades later when they will not be in office and cannot reap the rewards? They are not fully to blame for in a democracy the real blame lies with the people.
Many of our woke problems are a direct attempt to find quick solutions to problems we all want to combat – there is no evidence all problems can be solved. Who does not want a fairer society, less crime, better public services, and an end to war? I do. And to give the woke some credit, they also want a better world – an honourable quest.
My problem with the woke is how they intend to achieve such a utopia. It is not through hard work, self-sacrifice or embracing technology, but rather through simplistic quick fixes.
Kids do worse in life if they are not raised with their biological father in the home. Solution? Give mothers more money and incentivise them not to have men in the home.
Historical figures were not perfect. Solution? Pull down their statue, graffiti their buildings, and throw tins of soup on their art.
Knife crime is a problem but searching young black men is racist. Solution? Reduce Stop & Search and allow young black men to die on the streets.
Real problems require real solutions that make a tangible difference and can be repeated with the same results. Wearing a badge that informs others that you are not in favour of evil may make you feel pink and fluffy inside, but it does nothing to combat evil.
Life is hard and unfair. We can overcome the trials and tribulations of life but only if we do the work – the hard, sweaty toil which is required. There are no shortcuts for if they existed we would already be using them.
"There are no shortcuts to any place worth going." - Beverly Sills
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