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Without arbitrary social distinction there is no way to imagine this. “I” literally have to change the essence of who “I” am to be beautiful/rich/powerful/etc... arbitrary gatekeeping allows me to “BE”.

No opinion on if this is ‘good’ or ‘bad’ but the gist is that if a system works, by definition it is not “stupid”. Social stratification for example seems to emerge organically in large systems like that of China’s and Indias.

Modern China is a result of destroying these stratification structures. (Communism/Cultural Revolution) What has emerged from the rubble is a hierarchy of value based on utilitarianism. People are “equal” yes, but life has become a super high pressure rat race.

The point is... being able to imagine a better life for yourself while having a convenient excuse for not being in that life(I wasn’t born right) is a source of social stability.

Imagine if everyone had to pretend to care about financial stuff, linear algebra (because AI!), coding, etc... it’s a world of ambitious faking it till I make it but it’s also a world built entirely out of bullshit.

Sometimes when having to do something I really don’t enjoy but is lucrative I’ll delegate to someone else who does it better. But internally I’ll have mean thoughts. “Yea lol that dude is autistic that’s y he’s so good at math.”

My mind uses a similar caste system (born some way) logic to avoid forcing myself to do something painful without having to admit “I guess I’m fucking stupid.”