Comment by mmooss | Hacker News Reader

Comment by mmooss | Hacker News Reader

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> Things that I have no control over.

The problem is thinking that you have no control, an awful meme that is depressing - almost the definition of depressing - and self-fulfillingly self-defeating.

The most powerful force in the world is public opinion in Western countries, especially in the US - that's why so many powerful parties invest so much to manipulate it. There are many entire news organizations, endless opinion writers/etc., influence campaigns run by everyone from corporations to political organizations to state intelligence agencies, etc. What are they all working so hard at, investing so much in, if it doesn't matter?

Public opinion is formed by you acquiring information (including mis-info or dis-info), analyzing it, and communicating socially with others about it. Because many others don't do that, and most who do just repeat from received narratives, if you do it - if you form narratives - you have even more power.

No single person ever accomplished anything - everything worthwhile has been done by humans in groups. We are social creatures, not lone wolves - that's how we operate; if you act like a lone wolf then yes, you will be mostly powerless. But if you act within a group, and especially if you act intentionally and intelligently, you have significant power.

To support you, I will provide an example. Canada's health care system was started by just one person. His activism and relentlessness is what forced Canada to adopt it.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." — Margaret Mead

Most people don't find a small measure of indirect control equally reassuring as a large measure of direct control. For example I can directly control my water usage but have very little indirect control over the world's water usage. So psychologically things out of direct control tend to be felt like outside of control.

As for the exceptional people who managed to wrestle that small indirect control into direct control and an actual result, there's also the likelihood to consider. Most people aren't exceptional and they realize it, it's right there in the word. Trying and failing to be the exception can lead to at least as much but probably more psychological pressure and suffering as just feeling out of control.

I'm happy that those people exist but for almost everyone else, direct control is the only thing that gives them mental relief. If you follow negative content it just amplifies the initially almost inconsequential realization that you have close to no control into a very consequential bad state of mind.

The short of it is: don't go chasing the things that push your buttons the wrong way, and don't make unrealistic expectations especially about fixing the aforementioned things.

> Most people don't find a small measure of indirect control equally reassuring as a large measure of direct control. For example I can directly control my water usage but have very little indirect control over the world's water usage. So psychologically things out of direct control tend to be felt like outside of control.

I think the evidence is overwhelmingly otherwise. Most people in many, many cultures embrace democracy, for example; they mass protest - a seemingly universal human behavior; they organize themselves to achieve political ends - including over water usage.

As I said, this powerlessness is a meme. I think it's not only self-defeating, it's dangerous to society - it's irresponsible, because we are all responsible and we need the mass participation we have historically had.

You are right about the theoretical capabilities of the populace, but in practice the psychological profile is such that there isn't much weight to your words. Many people could each think no one else cares because collective action is nothing if a collective doesn't form. And to some extent, they're not wrong. If I devote my life to fighting oil pipeline activity, here and now, how much can I achieve? Am I going to be able to reach the critical mass of allies to push against one bill or event? How about n bills? So you're right, but you would be a lot more right if humans could act like unfeeling automatons when necessary.

> As I said, this powerlessness is a meme.

Exactly. And because it is, it has made us powerless. Funny how that works, genuinely.

> You are right about the theoretical capabilities of the populace, but in practice the psychological profile is such that there isn't much weight to your words. Many people could each think no one else cares because collective action is nothing if a collective doesn't form.

It's not theoretical. Collective action happens all the time - it's fundamental human behavior.

> Exactly. And because it is, it has made us powerless. Funny how that works, genuinely.

You can change it, starting now.

Metaphor I would use is "using seed crystals to start crystallization process".

I am perfectly aware. But if I thought it was easy, I would've done it already. It's not a matter of whether we can achieve something, but whether we will. As it is, I and probably many others find it hard to devote mental and physical energy to causes that are fairly intractable and require sustained, collective willpower that is unlikely to manifest in practice.

> that are fairly intractable and require sustained, collective willpower that is unlikely to manifest in practice.

> if I thought it was easy

Your premises are false; that's the problem. Nothing is stopping you in reality.

You can easily do something about that.

We never will if we don't attempt. So the discussion ends before it starts.

I think the point is that whilst we do have some control, we don't have control over the 10, 20, 30 global issues we are fed in our feeds.

There's an issue and communicate around almost every single geopolitical or global issue and it can make people feel like they can't fix everything.

Too bad the rich pulling the "more percentage of homeless" is 1000 time easier than any of us improving anything

"Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference".

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