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Comment by maybemaybenots | Hacker News Reader

"for almost all human beings on this planet, the goal of life continues to revolve around gaining wealth, recognition and power."

This is a really broad and very specific statement. Genuinely curious what you base this on.

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Basing it on observation of primary motivators behind the actions of people wherever I see. money, status and power - these are the things our society has been obsessed with for long. Only few people are able to break out of these shackles but they may end up living fugitive life (though a contented one) - society won't celebrate them - won't consider them a truly worthy example to base one's life upon.

The actions of literally almost every group of elites and high-level government officials in the last 100 years?

Are you not exposed to this behavior/news somehow?

The original comment said this was true of "almost all human beings", the vast majority of whom are neither elites nor high-level government officials.

Right, but....if we "all" didn't value these things, how did these people gain their power and status over us?

By seeking it in the first place. Another word for power is responsibilities. And many people don't want those.

I think it is a bit different with status without power. It seems to me that this type is a more "popular" goal now.

Likely because those specific people value it, rather than everyone on earth.

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