Oliver Bateman Does the WorkVerified account

"If it comes down to you or me, I'd hope you'd want it to be you, because I'd sure as hell want it to be me." Of all the dark truths my dad imparted on the way out, this one lingered the longest. And if you ever watch struggles for power or even life play out, remember that

Observe every marketing behavior and gesture through this lens. It's always you or them, over and over, and when it comes time for that decision to be made, there's only one way it's going. Better hope you're holding the heavy jack at that point

This is not a time to trust your peers. There's never a time for that. Rather, every "reform" of society should amount to: how can we bind the wicked, given that self-interestedness and wickedness are one & the same? How can we prevent people from having to make a tragic choice?

What we call activism (the public, attention-getting sort, not the "in the trenches" miserable work) is the retailing of a different kind of Osteenian optimism, for a dif demographic. Optimism of this sort encourages you to trust others...the best attitude for stealing from you

Of course I want you to think that giving to my cause is worthy, or volunteering for me is superior to accepting money. That's the optimistic headspace I want you in, as a follower. Because, at the end of the day, it's always you or me, and I want it to be me, and now you do too

But there are real perks that come along with jumping on the platform as a follower - the dopamine rush of being a smug asshole, moral superiority in a few simple sentences, etc. That seems to be the driver for a lot of folks.