I agree with the arguement that people aren’t lively or earnest due to fear of being dismissed by others, but to fear being dismissed you have to have something youre earnest about. most people dont have strong opinions that would make them appear to claim high status for themselves, most people you see walking on the street have had their self identity sanded down by society. this is why when you ask someone to introduce themselves you always hear “my favorite show is X” “I’m a introvert/extrovert” “I do X for a living”. It’s the stuff society has told us were allowed to be, shows movies music made in a lab designed to be as easy to enjoy as possible. An average world citizens identity isnt nearly as individualistic as the average Lesswrong users is, thats without mentioning the millions of people who are living on the edge of ruin, they’re too busy thinking about where they’re going to sleep tonight or what they’re going to eat tomorrow to care or acknowledge the individual inside them. In essence, yes fear of being seen as pretentious or having a topic you care about be dismissed is what keeps passionate people form singing their beliefs on the streets but it’s not the reason why most people you meet are boring.
I agree with the arguement that people aren’t lively or earnest due to fear of being dismissed by others, but to fear being dismissed you have to have something youre earnest about. most people dont have strong opinions that would make them appear to claim high status for themselves, most people you see walking on the street have had their self identity sanded down by society. this is why when you ask someone to introduce themselves you always hear “my favorite show is X” “I’m a introvert/extrovert” “I do X for a living”. It’s the stuff society has told us were allowed to be, shows movies music made in a lab designed to be as easy to enjoy as possible. An average world citizens identity isnt nearly as individualistic as the average Lesswrong users is, thats without mentioning the millions of people who are living on the edge of ruin, they’re too busy thinking about where they’re going to sleep tonight or what they’re going to eat tomorrow to care or acknowledge the individual inside them. In essence, yes fear of being seen as pretentious or having a topic you care about be dismissed is what keeps passionate people form singing their beliefs on the streets but it’s not the reason why most people you meet are boring.