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These are the temperatures I used to chop wood in, wearing only a sweater. Wasn't windy though. And maybe only like 20% of me misses it.
January 22, 2026 at 10:09 PM
These are the temperatures I used to chop wood in, wearing only a sweater. Wasn't windy though. And maybe only like 20% of me misses it.
Especially for mediocre white males. Remember that challenging elites means challenging their own status too? That's right. So they become KKK, OK, and now - violent ICE agents.
And how do ICE agents respond to their status being challenged again by insubordination? Correct, with more violence. 20/
And how do ICE agents respond to their status being challenged again by insubordination? Correct, with more violence. 20/
January 22, 2026 at 1:55 PM
Especially for mediocre white males. Remember that challenging elites means challenging their own status too? That's right. So they become KKK, OK, and now - violent ICE agents.
And how do ICE agents respond to their status being challenged again by insubordination? Correct, with more violence. 20/
And how do ICE agents respond to their status being challenged again by insubordination? Correct, with more violence. 20/
The additional context to this particularly for the US is that this country is just generally violent. Violence is in its culture, top to bottom; it is a pretty normalized "tool" for solving various kinds of "problems".
Therefore, it doesn't really take a lot of effort to incite new violence. 19/
Therefore, it doesn't really take a lot of effort to incite new violence. 19/
January 22, 2026 at 1:00 PM
The additional context to this particularly for the US is that this country is just generally violent. Violence is in its culture, top to bottom; it is a pretty normalized "tool" for solving various kinds of "problems".
Therefore, it doesn't really take a lot of effort to incite new violence. 19/
Therefore, it doesn't really take a lot of effort to incite new violence. 19/
Recap: today, in the 21th century, a significant portion of the US society AND nearly 100% of its politics are literally ruled by an ancient monkey brain.
Nobody's talking about it, nobody's seeking any systemic solutions to it, it's only getting exploited by the elites and harms everyone else. 18/
Nobody's talking about it, nobody's seeking any systemic solutions to it, it's only getting exploited by the elites and harms everyone else. 18/
January 22, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Recap: today, in the 21th century, a significant portion of the US society AND nearly 100% of its politics are literally ruled by an ancient monkey brain.
Nobody's talking about it, nobody's seeking any systemic solutions to it, it's only getting exploited by the elites and harms everyone else. 18/
Nobody's talking about it, nobody's seeking any systemic solutions to it, it's only getting exploited by the elites and harms everyone else. 18/
Something tells me that someone from the political marketing class figured this out a while ago. This is why figures like Trump, Musk, Tate, Farage have been getting so much traction lately. At some point, they realized that this ancient monkey brain is very much exploitable. And so they do. 17/
January 22, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Something tells me that someone from the political marketing class figured this out a while ago. This is why figures like Trump, Musk, Tate, Farage have been getting so much traction lately. At some point, they realized that this ancient monkey brain is very much exploitable. And so they do. 17/
Trump, on the other hand, *maintains* that ancient monkey hierarchy - by oppressing women (misogynist, rapist, pedophile) and minorities (racist, bigoted). He "keeps them in their place".
This is what conservatives love him for the most: he keeps their tiny little ass backwards world stable. 16/
This is what conservatives love him for the most: he keeps their tiny little ass backwards world stable. 16/
January 22, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Trump, on the other hand, *maintains* that ancient monkey hierarchy - by oppressing women (misogynist, rapist, pedophile) and minorities (racist, bigoted). He "keeps them in their place".
This is what conservatives love him for the most: he keeps their tiny little ass backwards world stable. 16/
This is what conservatives love him for the most: he keeps their tiny little ass backwards world stable. 16/
The Democrats have committed the cardinal sin against the holy hierarchy: they elected a Black President. And then tried to elect a woman President.
Suddenly, conservatives found themselves *below the "inferior"*. Their ancient monkey brain could not reconcile with that.
Still can't. 15/
Suddenly, conservatives found themselves *below the "inferior"*. Their ancient monkey brain could not reconcile with that.
Still can't. 15/
January 22, 2026 at 1:00 PM
The Democrats have committed the cardinal sin against the holy hierarchy: they elected a Black President. And then tried to elect a woman President.
Suddenly, conservatives found themselves *below the "inferior"*. Their ancient monkey brain could not reconcile with that.
Still can't. 15/
Suddenly, conservatives found themselves *below the "inferior"*. Their ancient monkey brain could not reconcile with that.
Still can't. 15/
It's not just that they were full of shit: it's that they genuinely felt oppressed - by the Democrats who were in power. By "the Left". "The LGBT". Etc etc.
Why? Because the Democrats, inadvertently, *did* push them down the pecking order. And expected them to "grow out of it". They didn't.
14/
Why? Because the Democrats, inadvertently, *did* push them down the pecking order. And expected them to "grow out of it". They didn't.
14/
Or, putting it another way, they were full of shit.
January 22, 2026 at 1:00 PM
It's not just that they were full of shit: it's that they genuinely felt oppressed - by the Democrats who were in power. By "the Left". "The LGBT". Etc etc.
Why? Because the Democrats, inadvertently, *did* push them down the pecking order. And expected them to "grow out of it". They didn't.
14/
Why? Because the Democrats, inadvertently, *did* push them down the pecking order. And expected them to "grow out of it". They didn't.
14/
Remember how in 2016 conservatives would rip into "her emails"? And then shoot up a pizza place for completely made up reasons? And yet, when Trump and his entire gang have been *confirmed* to do the same but fifty times worse, suddenly conservatives are fine with all of it? "Comply or die"? 13/
January 22, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Remember how in 2016 conservatives would rip into "her emails"? And then shoot up a pizza place for completely made up reasons? And yet, when Trump and his entire gang have been *confirmed* to do the same but fifty times worse, suddenly conservatives are fine with all of it? "Comply or die"? 13/
They were incessantly mocked for that, because obviously none of this was ever true or had any connection to reality. And yet, somehow it still worked?
Here's the critical part: they actually weren't lying. It's just that it wasn't about actual oppression: rather, it was about _the hierarchy_. 12/
Here's the critical part: they actually weren't lying. It's just that it wasn't about actual oppression: rather, it was about _the hierarchy_. 12/
January 22, 2026 at 1:00 PM
They were incessantly mocked for that, because obviously none of this was ever true or had any connection to reality. And yet, somehow it still worked?
Here's the critical part: they actually weren't lying. It's just that it wasn't about actual oppression: rather, it was about _the hierarchy_. 12/
Here's the critical part: they actually weren't lying. It's just that it wasn't about actual oppression: rather, it was about _the hierarchy_. 12/
Now, with all of that in mind, let's remember all the whining and the "oppressed" stench that white conservatives exuded during the presidential election campaign. The whole "don't tread on me" era. In fact, they keep doing it to this day, with JD Vance clearly being the most oppressed one. 11/
January 22, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Now, with all of that in mind, let's remember all the whining and the "oppressed" stench that white conservatives exuded during the presidential election campaign. The whole "don't tread on me" era. In fact, they keep doing it to this day, with JD Vance clearly being the most oppressed one. 11/
4. But also, just to spice things up - this is what the lady from the first clip basically says: when someone from any level defends those on the "inferior" D or E levels, they immediately lose their own status within that hierarchy and drop to the same level as the ones they're sticking up for. 10/
January 22, 2026 at 1:00 PM
4. But also, just to spice things up - this is what the lady from the first clip basically says: when someone from any level defends those on the "inferior" D or E levels, they immediately lose their own status within that hierarchy and drop to the same level as the ones they're sticking up for. 10/
3. The dynamic that Dr. Sapolsky is describing turns these mediocre males in the middle of the hierarchy into essentially a shield for those on the higher levels.
They *protect* billionaires and conservative politicians because they cannot stand *their own* status being challenged to begin with. 9/
They *protect* billionaires and conservative politicians because they cannot stand *their own* status being challenged to begin with. 9/
January 22, 2026 at 1:00 PM
3. The dynamic that Dr. Sapolsky is describing turns these mediocre males in the middle of the hierarchy into essentially a shield for those on the higher levels.
They *protect* billionaires and conservative politicians because they cannot stand *their own* status being challenged to begin with. 9/
They *protect* billionaires and conservative politicians because they cannot stand *their own* status being challenged to begin with. 9/
It also gives a portion of that status to whoever is willing to exist near them, which is where the term "proximity to whiteness" comes from, or at least seems to. 8/
January 22, 2026 at 1:00 PM
It also gives a portion of that status to whoever is willing to exist near them, which is where the term "proximity to whiteness" comes from, or at least seems to. 8/
2. In the middle of this hierarchy, there's a bunch of mediocre white males. They cannot climb it, there are next to zero pathways for doing so, they're basically stuck on that level. But they are still a part of the dominant group, which gives them at least some status, that they cling to. 7/
January 22, 2026 at 1:00 PM
2. In the middle of this hierarchy, there's a bunch of mediocre white males. They cannot climb it, there are next to zero pathways for doing so, they're basically stuck on that level. But they are still a part of the dominant group, which gives them at least some status, that they cling to. 7/
What do we get by putting it all together? Using Dr. Sapolsky's language for simplicity:
1. There is a dominance hierarchy in the US, where women, POC, LGBTQIA+, and also the poor are considered to be "D" and "E", whereas the wealthy and conservative (!) politicians are considered "A" and "B".
6/
1. There is a dominance hierarchy in the US, where women, POC, LGBTQIA+, and also the poor are considered to be "D" and "E", whereas the wealthy and conservative (!) politicians are considered "A" and "B".
6/
January 22, 2026 at 1:00 PM
What do we get by putting it all together? Using Dr. Sapolsky's language for simplicity:
1. There is a dominance hierarchy in the US, where women, POC, LGBTQIA+, and also the poor are considered to be "D" and "E", whereas the wealthy and conservative (!) politicians are considered "A" and "B".
6/
1. There is a dominance hierarchy in the US, where women, POC, LGBTQIA+, and also the poor are considered to be "D" and "E", whereas the wealthy and conservative (!) politicians are considered "A" and "B".
6/
Pay special attention to the role of the C monkey on the slide: no matter what, it never challenges A and B, and its increased aggressiveness only ever results in lives of D and E becoming more unbearable. 5/
January 22, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Pay special attention to the role of the C monkey on the slide: no matter what, it never challenges A and B, and its increased aggressiveness only ever results in lives of D and E becoming more unbearable. 5/
And here's the second clip, particularly the first half:
4/
4/
Robert Sapolsky Testosterone and Oxitocyn
YouTube video by Bogdan Matis
www.youtube.com
January 22, 2026 at 1:00 PM
And here's the second clip, particularly the first half:
4/
4/
It is very important to listen to what this person says, not just generally in the context of the current events, but also because she points to both hierarchical structures *and* the dynamics within them that we're going to discuss further. 3/
January 22, 2026 at 1:00 PM
It is very important to listen to what this person says, not just generally in the context of the current events, but also because she points to both hierarchical structures *and* the dynamics within them that we're going to discuss further. 3/
Here's the first clip:
2/
2/
January 22, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Here's the first clip:
2/
2/
What makes it a bit easier is that it's still not evenly distributed across the world; the US in the 20th century did a great job spreading it both by the use of force - and, essentially, marketing. In a way, if we look at the 20th century, capitalism actually did spread like a religion, didn't it
January 22, 2026 at 8:55 AM
What makes it a bit easier is that it's still not evenly distributed across the world; the US in the 20th century did a great job spreading it both by the use of force - and, essentially, marketing. In a way, if we look at the 20th century, capitalism actually did spread like a religion, didn't it
And it just happened so that we are now waking up to the world where this transition, wholly unnecessary to begin with, happened such a long time ago, with so many generations molded by it by now, that the majority of the public - including scientists - can't think outside of that cultural box.
January 22, 2026 at 8:55 AM
And it just happened so that we are now waking up to the world where this transition, wholly unnecessary to begin with, happened such a long time ago, with so many generations molded by it by now, that the majority of the public - including scientists - can't think outside of that cultural box.
From the systems point of view, surplus (or anything material really) indeed becomes a powerful gravitational center by itself. And, once exploited, it simply locks the system in, with not a lot of ways to escape.
But whether it happens in the first place is a question of guardrails.
But whether it happens in the first place is a question of guardrails.
January 22, 2026 at 8:55 AM
From the systems point of view, surplus (or anything material really) indeed becomes a powerful gravitational center by itself. And, once exploited, it simply locks the system in, with not a lot of ways to escape.
But whether it happens in the first place is a question of guardrails.
But whether it happens in the first place is a question of guardrails.