There is this video where a girl cries because she recently got a job and was utterly crushed at the realization that maintaining her personal life basically felt impossible, and wondering how anyone could have the energy and the time to do stuff for themselves after work, because the work and the commute drained her so much.
Then some people see that and proceed to make fun of her because it is a common experience to have an office job and be utterly drained after work, but “back in my day” people didn't complain, and look at how brittle and weak young people are these days, and my generation was so much better etc.
I find that dynamic in human beings so utterly disgusting. When someone shares from the bottom of their heart their problems, but are only met with mockery from people who are so jaded and cynical about the current reality that they take it for granted that soul-crushing work and a lack of personal freedom are normal things. Literally crabs in a bucket.
In many ways, this strikes me as a circle of Hell right on Earth. A place where sincerity is crushed under the weight of cynicism and resignation. Fortunately, you can decide, like many things in life, to not play that game and cut those people from your life, but still, they exist and the interactions will be there. What makes it a circle of Hell for me is that those people not only participate in it totally unconsciously, but even revel in it, justify it in their own mind, and derive a sense of superiority from being comfortable in their misery, because there is this association between cynicism and intelligence. (it’s bullshit) But you can cut that type of people from your life.
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2025-01-30