Monday Morning quarterback

Why do rich people pretend like they care?

Welcome to Monday Morning Quarterback.

This is where I share a real-life experience and the coolest things I saw this week (TikTok’s, Tweets, quotes, essays, etc.)

If you want to chat you can comment on this post, send me a Twitter DM, or hit me up on TikTok.

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Idea:

It’s funny when wealthy celebrities pretend they care about social justice issues.

When they post about ‘social justice’ ‘the working class’ and ‘oppressed people’ they are shouting at you to recognize their innocence.

“Oh look, I am a good person, I care about people. There is no doubt. I organized a food drive. I pushed for donations. I am clean of exploitation.”

If you really did care, you wouldn’t own the homes. You wouldn’t work with master corporate exploiters like Netflix and Universal. You wouldn’t let your publicists publish your solidarity posts.

But, we love the idea of innocence and will go to any lengths to prove our own.

Albert Camus says, “The idea that comes most naturally to man, as if from his very nature, is the idea of his innocence.”

No matter how many liberal candidates you support or profound, “fuck the system” quotes you repeat, you are the system.

The trick and pony of the bourgeoise. The opioids of the masses. You keep us entertained while they keep us oppressed. The gump at the bottom of a wine glass.

TikTok:

Dudes feel way more comfortable hitting on a girl with their friends

“Fill out this survey” had me dying.

The “I’m broke” act

One of the trendiest things young people do is act like they’re broke. Everyone wants to be broke. Everyone wants to be oppressed. Everyone wants to be innocent. It helps them feel better about themselves and cope with their uneven privilege.

France’s first Haitian general

The story of a French Haitian general who served under Napoleon and would go on to have a very famous son.

Essay

#100 Francis Lightfoot’s Town Crier

One of my favorite newsletters on the internet. This week Lightfoot, a fictional pseudonym, is the first to report on Jake Paul’s next opponent… himself.

A quote from Paul (Lightfoot),

‘If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. And I am the best. He is me. I am him. And on December 15th, only one of us will walk out of the ring victorious. Now, I’ve proven PPV after PPV that I have what it takes to defy the odds. And I know the nay-sayers will be out in full force, but I don’t care. Mark my words. I’m going to kick the shit out of myself. Period.”

Media:

The Fall by Albert Camus

This is my first Camus book and I love it. I hear most of Camus's books are like this - long existential rants. If so, sign me up for more.

It’s one of those books you can’t get through quickly, because you’re copying so many of the words.

Which reminds me.

If you want to get better at writing, there is a straightforward formula: Read good writers and write good writing.

You’ll become a better writer by osmosis (not sure if I used that right but it felt good).

Quote:

When the leaders speak of peace.

The common folk know.

That war is coming.

When the leaders curse war.

The mobilization order is already written out.

Bertolt Brecht

Life update:

You’re now reading the words of a Brooklyn restaurant server.

That’s right, my first time working in a restaurant and my first time serving at a pretty nice restraint

I’m enjoying it thus far, but I also feel the novelty wearing off. When you start a new job, there’s always a spectrum between novelty and difficulty.

The job is novel at first, yet it’s also difficult because you haven’t done it before. As you gain experience, you get better and things get easier, yet the novelty wears off.

I enjoy talking to guests (ehh, most guests), I enjoy my co-workers, and the vibe of the restaurant, however I can see how the service industry wears people out.

For now, it beats going into an office or being on Slack 24/7.

Plus, I like being in the real world. There’s something novel about it.