Hacker News Reader

> Does this speak to some sort of weakness in these kinds of people or the addictiveness of social media?

They're online because their followers are online. Social media may be the actual lead pipes to our empire [1].

So yes, they are absolutely weaker than leaders with digital hygiene. But the reason they're there is because the American public is similarly weaker.

[1] https://penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/wi...

View on HN

> Social media may be the actual lead pipes to our empire [1].

In America, the lead pipes of their empire are the literal lead pipes still in use all over the country.

Sure, I get that there's utility in having an online presence, but these people are wealthy/powerful so they can afford to have someone do that work for them with the public non the wiser.

That wouldn't give that kind of narcissist the same level of satisfaction as they get from the army of sycophants clicking "Like" on their latest hot take.

I think that direct connection is particularly attractive to the right kind of narcissist. Might be the best drug they've ever had.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com