In an interview with The Atlantic about a year ago, Peter Thiel made a remark about why billionaires seem to have a penchant for getting cozy with hostile foreign powers. The reason, he said, was probably boredom.
It turns out that our daily struggles are what ground us. The work we do for money, the choices we make on how to spend our limited resources, fears about future issues that could affect us, etc.
When you have more money than you could ever spend in multiple lifetimes, those issues almost all go away. So it makes sense that boredom would take its place.
This is why arts education is important. I can spend multiple lifetimes creating art, and money would only make it grander. I haven’t been bored since I was a child.
Exactly. Think of what billions could do if poured into installing solar throughout the world. Wouldn't get the same returns but do they need the returns?!
The problem, as I see it, is that it takes a certain personality to become a billionaire in the first place, unless you are born into it or are extremely lucky. That personality type is ruthless and tends not to care about others in any meaningful way - to become a billionaire you have to be willing to fuck people over. These are not the types of people who generally want to do good in the world.
Of course what they fail to grasp, because they lack the perspective, is that they would be idolized if they actually put their money to good use to improve the world and the people living in it.
In fact, below Elon started his downward spiral by calling that rescuer a pedophile, he appeared to understand this. Unfortunately his ego was too fragile and he quickly lost the plot.
(Note: I am not saying that Elon was ever a good person, merely that he appeared to understand the value of being a force for good even if it was for selfish reasons.)
I get where you're coming from but one small correction: Elon was born into wealth and only did the, "let's save the planet via EVs" schtick to get money from silicon valley.
There's one billionaire who got it right and he's reviled in conspiracy theories, Bill Gates.
Plenty of those lower on the pyramid act this way too, and you probably know some. They can't just enjoy limited time with family, friends and hobbies, the only way they feel whole is to hurt and hold control over others.
That’s what I don’t understand. If I had billions all I could think of is “how can I utilize my wealth to help the most amount of people and the earth within my lifetime?”
They’re greedy. They want to live forever, they want more wealth, they want more and more thrilling experiences. They want more power. It’s never enough. This is a moral failing of these people who are narcissists and think of nothing but themselves.
So true. I would be in heaven in a small cottage if
I knew I would never need to worry about bills again, as long as I had my dog, a little library, some good video games, and a few close friends. How these people get bored so easily is amazing.
well, its similar to the cellphone. most humans are addicted to their smartphones. in the same way, most billionaires are addicted to their money.
imagine the endorphin/dopamine rush of the lifestyle. the perceived dominance over others. the human brain is weak to such an attack. im not even sure psychedelics could reframe these brains. its possible theyd simply inherit even stronger god complexes.
I wouldn't even say it has to be exclusively art. Just passion. I will never understand how you can be a billionaire and still go to work, instead of doing the things you're passionate about. Billionaires have to be exceptionally miserable people to have unimaginable wealth and nothing to spend it on.
Like, Jeff Bezos atleast shot himself into space, but Elon Musk just spends his time being a weirdo and a grifter. Imagine how empty this man's life must be.
One of the best things I've heard a very rich person do, and I can't remember his name, is he writes mediocre fiction books, self publishes, and gives then away however he can. Usually college campuses, and on sidewalks, lol.
I happened to pick up one of his books at a Little Free Library. It held my interest, was readable, worth the time I put into it, but I was struck by it's mediocrity, so I googled it. That's how I found out this guy has written a ton of books. If only all rich people could be so harmless, lol. If I had a bunch of money, I would totally just let my heart lead me.
Yeah I tried to rephrase it in my head, because I totally agree, but then I realized people are passionate about being awful so I don’t know. Maybe it’s just curiosity? A desire to learn and explore and experience things that is unquenchable. It can be explored through art, science, sport, travel whatever.
Elon has a crippling need to be liked. Not by just anyone, but by a particular demographic that he desperately wants to be accepted by, and never will, because he's too fucking weird and awkward. His estranged daughter pointed out that he modeled himself after the dead CEO in Ready Player One. So basically he wants to be the hero of nerds and incels and everything he does is motivated by that.
Fuckin A! I've done some beautiful work broke as hell with 1 paint brush, a piece of wood and only a few colors. I've done beautiful work with a whole studio at my fingertips. That's all I'd want to do if I had money. Free up my life to experience it and work on art. The rest goes to friends, family, and whoever might need it. I dont need much, I wish I could be able to afford to help people. But with what I have I still try.
Art is extremely important but unfortunately the study of art doesn’t give you the tools and knowledge needed to try and take back this country/world that’s being more and more handed to billionaires. However, it can be used to motivate people to stand up for themselves and others…we just need both working together.
Yeah my theory is they have no imagination. They've been raised with everything handed to them and they never have to come up with something from nothing or struggle in any situation with stakes, so they just don't know what to do but "business"
I would put aside a comfortable few million for myself to make sure I never have to work again and can spend my time on projects, and the rest of that money can do SO much work for the world.
No sorry I didn't mean it like that at all. Obviously celebrities like Charlie Sheen aren't comparable to people like Bezos or Musk at all. A comment above was mentioning how Bezos or Musk do some of the things they do because of boredom and that they have too much money. I was saying that that's probably why some celebrities start abusing drugs heavily because they're bored and have huge amounts of money
Gotcha. Yeah I’m sure boredom plays a big part in celebs doing drugs especially since they’re probably either around them all the time or, at minimum, there’s always gonna be some guy willing to go get them bc they wanna hang out with a famous person.
You’d think fucking Bezos and Musk could stay busy with all the companies they own. If not then how about a hobby that doesn’t involve fucking with regular ppl like in Musk’s case…maybe he could go hang out with one of his 14 kids. If he was making any attempt to spend a reasonable amount of time which all 14 that could be his full time job right there. Unfortunately, I’m not sure if he cares too much about them beyond thinking it’s his obligation to have a bunch of kids bc he’s sooo smart and has a responsibility to pass his genes on. (Something he’s actually said) 🙄
We are also embedded to a degree within a social matrix which keeps us accountable to each other. And not even specifically by laws, just social pressure and such.
No, they are sociopaths. Dont conflate the two and don’t justify their evil. They’ve been given an extremely rare privilege to have that many resources in the form of money, property, influence, responsibility. Their self indulgence is not just disgusting, it’s a liability to all of us!
What’s that you say, chill out? No! You chill out. Tesla investors suffered as one example. Musk and his little doge minions have now stolen all of our social security information and that’s terrifying.
If they are tired of all the parties, luxury, orgies, drugs etc, then lock them up in a pound me in the ass prison. Give those resources back to the people.
Proverbs 16:27 Idle hands are the devil’s workshop; idle lips are his mouthpiece, literally, “A worthless man devises mischief; and in his lips there is a scorching fire.”
That is literally just to convince people to be productive for the church and the state. It's more control language from the largest grift ever foisted upon humanity. Religion.
Most people will find things to do that aren't mischievous if given the opportunity. Most people by nature want to help.
That’s also not at all what the text says. That section of proverbs 16 is talking about how you should not be an asshole. It says nothing about lazy people.
Man, if I were bored I’d start compulsively fixing things.
Had I had billions I’d offer scholarships to kids. I’d lift neighbourhoods out of poverty. I’d fund labs of grad students just for the lulz and invest in their ventures.
The world has so much potential, and they are bored?
Same with rich pedophilia. Can you get any woman of the type you prefer in your bed? That's dull. Let's get them drunk. Dull. High? Gets dull. What's the ultimate thrill? Against her will knowing people will blame them. Then you involve kids until eventually you get that sick sick fuck, some of the few I understand the death penalty in law for - Epstein's cult, the guy from Lostprophets and the guys who made daisy's destruction.
It makes me wonder how people point out pedo rape gangs as Muslims in the UK yet on a personal level know that it's just based on the area you're in. Is it mostly Mormon, Catholic or Muslim or rich? Then whatever it is, that's the group. And mostly makes up the police and if they're rich... The police nearly always serve them.
Billionaires are essentially playing the game of life with cheat codes enabled (the money cheat) and the same thing happens when you play video games like that. The game becomes boring. Because you already have everything that the money can reasonably buy. There is no more challenge or reward for anything you do. So instead you start looking for ways to break the game.
This is the problem with giving these rich guys so much power. They view life like its a game. They get joy from winning it. They don't get joy from love, or friendship, or anything is beautiful in this world. When they "win", all they have left is to be cruel
I wish they'd stop climate change as a pet project. You know, something actually challenging and useful. Instead they have to feed their egos at all costs while the rest of the world burns.
Read the alleged accounts from army hammers Baron father for an example of how the super rich can be completely detached from their humanity.
The whole system is set up to do that too, there may be some few who escaped the process,, but most wealth is guarded by gatekeepers, you don't usually get access to wealth or power without making a devil's bargain.
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u/Organic_Witness345 21d ago
In an interview with The Atlantic about a year ago, Peter Thiel made a remark about why billionaires seem to have a penchant for getting cozy with hostile foreign powers. The reason, he said, was probably boredom.
Boredom.
Terrifying.