Socially Programmed Male Mediocrity I had a conversation with a young man - a fitness trainer - in the sauna this evening about how he didn't want to begin posting social media content for the wrong reasons. He was analysing himself into paralysis because he didn't want to accidentally do it for an egoic reason of achieving followers or whatever. It is his long term vision to share good information, help people be healthier and so forth, so social media is part of that path. I know this kid, and he's absolutely not that egoic type of personality, but he was so worried about not being egoic that he had just not taken any action so far. It's a very common analysis-paralysis issue. The reason that your brain will tell you that you're not acting can be different, but it raised in me this other issue which I think is prevalent in today's society. It's one that young men who want to achieve and become successful are browbeaten down into not wanting that, or making themselves think that there is something wrong with them for wanting to achieve, for wanting renown or fame or success. I think that's terrible - and I don't think that it is good for them or society. Obviously, you don't want to pursue vain metrics for reasons of self-worship, but as I said, this kid has his head screwed on right, he’s not like that at all. He's more so, in my opinion, playing to the broader societal perception which is that it's evil for a young man to want success and to want to win, because that may be at the expense of others or it may be putting their head above the masses to rise or strive for something. And if that's your dominant culture, then your society is doomed. That is the case where I am in Australia, and this sauna interaction is a microcosm of the larger, broader picture. As I said, it inspired in me to share these thoughts because if you are a young man with desires to achieve, to be greater, to rise above the crowd, then you should not let that diminish in you and never feel bad about that. The progress of society that raises everyone up is built on the achievements of men who dare to go higher and who don't care what the crowd is doing. They will achieve and be competitive and use their ego to motivate themselves to do these things, and it’s perfectly natural and good to do so.