Enemies of Clear Thinking pt.3
The Ego Default
“...the ego default prompts us to promote and protect our self-image at all costs” - Clear Thinking (16)
Understanding The Hierarchy
My favorite part of this chapter explains a behavior I never totally understood. Virtue signaling is commonly known as when someone publicly shares an opinion that is intended to flaunt their moral goodness. Example - people posting about every social issue that exists even though there’s no way they’ve spent the time to develop a real opinion
I used to think that people “virtue signal” to fit in, but it’s deeper than that. When people virtue signal, they’re rearranging the hierarchy in a way that they can win.
Someone low on the social hierarchy can feel it. But they can use ‘virtue’ as a tool to place themselves higher on the hierarchy. The hierarchy is entirely in our heads, so by manipulating our own thoughts and perceptions, we can change the hierarchy itself.
Whether or not we agree on the artificial hierarchy doesn’t matter. How I perceive it is all that matters to me. How I perceive the hierarchy will determine how I act and react in my life.
Social Media As a Hierarchy Manipulator
Social media has become a wonderful tool for virtue signaling. You used to have to go to rallies or protest on street corners. Now, we can broadcast an opinion without ever looking people who might disagree with us in the eyes.
‘I may not be good at anything and people don’t listen when I speak, but I posted eight instagram stories about XYZ social issues… I’m better than you.’
We don’t know consciously this what we’re doing when we post. We constantly convince ourselves that it ‘makes a difference’ and that is why we’re posting. But is that true?
Did the millions of BLM posts make black lives better? Did the anti-abortion posts influence legislators? Do the mobs of posts every year about not celebrating Thanksgiving or Columbus Day help Native Americans?
I’m not here to answer that. I’m not an expert.
But next time you go to post about an issue, ask yourself if you really think that your instagram stories are for the benefit of ‘the cause’ or for the benefit of ‘your ego’.
How To Know You’ve Been “Ego Defaulted”
We do and say dumb things to look better than we are. We don’t usually know it at the moment but hopefully we realize it later. We default to protecting our ego, before we have the chance to think.
Some tell-tale signs you’re a victim of the ego default:
You can’t say “I don’t know”
You’re constantly envious
You watch a few tiktoks on a topic and think you’re an expert (guilty lol)
You often feel disrespected
You always need to prove you’re right
Key Takeaways:
We consciously or subconsciously place ourselves in hierarchies
We can change the ‘measure’ to change our place on the hierarchy (ie. not power, morals)
Be aware of your thoughts when your self-image is challenged. Or else fall victim to the ego default.
Brains Gains
Why do you post on social media? Why do you NOT post on social media?
Go have a great day. Try taking a breath before you respond today. It might seem a little weird but it can keep you out of trouble. Just try it.
Your Biggest Fan,
Noah “BigNerd” Sochaczevski