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A controversial idea but it's true - the disadvantage of privilege.
This is NOT a theoretical idea; rather, it is an epidemic in a city such as London.
Let me take 2 minutes to thread my thoughts on this.
1/10
This is NOT a theoretical idea; rather, it is an epidemic in a city such as London.
Let me take 2 minutes to thread my thoughts on this.
1/10
Many children from wealthy households receive an expensive but 'poor' education.
They become good at excelling in tests.
But their education is poor in the old liberal sense - it doesn't help them make sense of being thrown into the world.
2/10
They become good at excelling in tests.
But their education is poor in the old liberal sense - it doesn't help them make sense of being thrown into the world.
2/10
They go to university - PPE at Oxford is a well trodden path.
They gain further confidence and become even better at tests.
(I am not being dismissive - I love Oxford, and I was a postgrad there.)
3/10
They gain further confidence and become even better at tests.
(I am not being dismissive - I love Oxford, and I was a postgrad there.)
3/10
Then they go into law or finance and move to London.
They make a v good income and are financially fulfilled.
But they are badly lost in their private lives.
Now I want to bring in another detail - they are male. And to keep things simple, let's say they are straight.
4/10
They make a v good income and are financially fulfilled.
But they are badly lost in their private lives.
Now I want to bring in another detail - they are male. And to keep things simple, let's say they are straight.
4/10
Of course, this story is a story we could tell about women.
But for now I am picking on men, because they express this phenomenon best.
Let's go on.
5/10
But for now I am picking on men, because they express this phenomenon best.
Let's go on.
5/10
Not infrequently, these men get married early. They have children.
In their mid thirties they go through a separation.
They cheat on their partner, or their partner leaves them because she is emotionally unfulfilled.
6/10
In their mid thirties they go through a separation.
They cheat on their partner, or their partner leaves them because she is emotionally unfulfilled.
6/10
At this point one of two things happen to the partner.
She forms a relationship with a grounded, emotionally adjusted male.
Or, she keeps looking for one, knowing that's what she needs, but also knowing she is looking for a rare thing.
7/10
She forms a relationship with a grounded, emotionally adjusted male.
Or, she keeps looking for one, knowing that's what she needs, but also knowing she is looking for a rare thing.
7/10
Meanwhile, while she grows, our male heterosexual hero remains existentially lost.
He doesn't know what it means for his life to go well.
He gets a new girlfriend, 10-15 years his junior, who will herself outgrow him in 2 years.
8/10
He doesn't know what it means for his life to go well.
He gets a new girlfriend, 10-15 years his junior, who will herself outgrow him in 2 years.
8/10
He doesn't know what to do. He can't articulate what he feels.
If he could, no one would listen, except his ex partner.
At this point he discovers Jordan Peterson, and this is now the subject of a future thread!
9/10
If he could, no one would listen, except his ex partner.
At this point he discovers Jordan Peterson, and this is now the subject of a future thread!
9/10
Meanwhile, this thread ends with the following thought:
We have an epidemic of privileged men who are - actually - badly disadvantaged and lost in life.
Ps. I have heard the philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre say similar things to this thread, but not in print.
10/10 END
We have an epidemic of privileged men who are - actually - badly disadvantaged and lost in life.
Ps. I have heard the philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre say similar things to this thread, but not in print.
10/10 END
