- Graham summarizes why junior high sucks. Before maturation, social constructs dominate and lead to viscous social climbing.
- Nerds aren't good at this, or don't care enough to participate.
- A common victim leads to social unity.
I loved Graham's thoughts on why this happened.
The inhabitants of all those worlds are trapped in little bubbles where nothing they do can have more than a local effect. Naturally these societies degenerate into savagery. They have no function for their form to follow.
The last line is crucial - without an express goal, people end up focusing too heavily on relative status. Wives of Wall Street's best and brightest are a fascinating example of this. Even with all the money and power in the world, they are reduced to paranoid savages. Another interesting point, that schools are essentially prisons, resonated heavily with me.
How do we transition from a brutish middle school worlkd to focus on the things that matter? Also, does school have to be such a waste of time?
Not really. I agree with pretty much everything he has to say.
- The stupid parts of life are nasty, brutish, and (thankfully) short. Keep your head down and you'll be fine in the end.
- Have a purpose in what you do. You'll be happier and not dissolve into mindless social squabbling.