Henry Madison
@ragesheen.bsky.social
Engineering, philosophy, governance. Tracking the train wreck of popularity.
The US is wallowing in a basic misunderstanding that defines its culture. That groups of people, of any size, think and feel and act.
They don’t. It’s not even possible, how would it work? The US therefore sees every emergence of a hierarchy as authoritarianism.
They don’t. It’s not even possible, how would it work? The US therefore sees every emergence of a hierarchy as authoritarianism.
April 21, 2025 at 7:03 PM
The US is wallowing in a basic misunderstanding that defines its culture. That groups of people, of any size, think and feel and act.
They don’t. It’s not even possible, how would it work? The US therefore sees every emergence of a hierarchy as authoritarianism.
They don’t. It’s not even possible, how would it work? The US therefore sees every emergence of a hierarchy as authoritarianism.
Just as species don’t evolve and become extinct via their own agency, look again at the human world and re-imagine it as what it is.
A world in which we have little to no real control, and where change and progress is mostly imposed via catastrophic external events.
Humility.
A world in which we have little to no real control, and where change and progress is mostly imposed via catastrophic external events.
Humility.
April 21, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Just as species don’t evolve and become extinct via their own agency, look again at the human world and re-imagine it as what it is.
A world in which we have little to no real control, and where change and progress is mostly imposed via catastrophic external events.
Humility.
A world in which we have little to no real control, and where change and progress is mostly imposed via catastrophic external events.
Humility.
“Man is not only ruled by evil passions; but his rational capacity is severely limited as well. Without the warm cloak of custom, tradition, experience, history, religion, and social hierarchy—all of which radical man would rip off—man is shivering and naked.”
Edmund Burke
1/6
Edmund Burke
1/6
April 19, 2025 at 8:34 PM
“Man is not only ruled by evil passions; but his rational capacity is severely limited as well. Without the warm cloak of custom, tradition, experience, history, religion, and social hierarchy—all of which radical man would rip off—man is shivering and naked.”
Edmund Burke
1/6
Edmund Burke
1/6
That feeling of the world going absolutely batshit crazy is us reaching a specific tipping point.
The tipping point where reality itself is defined by the fads and fashions of social life.
Where what’s real becomes what trends.
/1
The tipping point where reality itself is defined by the fads and fashions of social life.
Where what’s real becomes what trends.
/1
April 19, 2025 at 4:22 AM
That feeling of the world going absolutely batshit crazy is us reaching a specific tipping point.
The tipping point where reality itself is defined by the fads and fashions of social life.
Where what’s real becomes what trends.
/1
The tipping point where reality itself is defined by the fads and fashions of social life.
Where what’s real becomes what trends.
/1
The headline almost gets there. This is ‘Team Trump’. The entire Trump phenomenon is the substitution of public, civic life, with team sports on social media.
The enshittification of an entire nation, in the precise @doctorow meaning of the term.
/1
abc.net.au/news/2025-03-2…
The enshittification of an entire nation, in the precise @doctorow meaning of the term.
/1
abc.net.au/news/2025-03-2…
March 26, 2025 at 7:46 PM
The headline almost gets there. This is ‘Team Trump’. The entire Trump phenomenon is the substitution of public, civic life, with team sports on social media.
The enshittification of an entire nation, in the precise @doctorow meaning of the term.
/1
abc.net.au/news/2025-03-2…
The enshittification of an entire nation, in the precise @doctorow meaning of the term.
/1
abc.net.au/news/2025-03-2…
Delicious own-goal by Clarkson here.
People turned on Musk when he started to champion the views held by people like Jeremy, about the evils of government.
People turned on Musk when he started to champion the views held by people like Jeremy, about the evils of government.
March 26, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Delicious own-goal by Clarkson here.
People turned on Musk when he started to champion the views held by people like Jeremy, about the evils of government.
People turned on Musk when he started to champion the views held by people like Jeremy, about the evils of government.
The almost universal worshipping of small business reveals how far we’re infected by the terrible American disease of iconoclastic hatred of anything institutional.
All sides of politics worship small business. It’s a terrible mistake.
/1
All sides of politics worship small business. It’s a terrible mistake.
/1
March 15, 2025 at 8:27 PM
The almost universal worshipping of small business reveals how far we’re infected by the terrible American disease of iconoclastic hatred of anything institutional.
All sides of politics worship small business. It’s a terrible mistake.
/1
All sides of politics worship small business. It’s a terrible mistake.
/1
Henry VIII is a far better historical comparison for Trump than any fascist or Nazi.
Far, far better.
Far, far better.
March 15, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Henry VIII is a far better historical comparison for Trump than any fascist or Nazi.
Far, far better.
Far, far better.
How we think, how we act, even how we feel, is overwhelmingly defined socially. By our membership of groups, in battle with other groups, for status.
The Welcome Stranger nugget, as a beautiful example. The world’s largest ever alluvial gold nugget. Over 70kg of gold.
/1
The Welcome Stranger nugget, as a beautiful example. The world’s largest ever alluvial gold nugget. Over 70kg of gold.
/1
March 14, 2025 at 7:17 PM
How we think, how we act, even how we feel, is overwhelmingly defined socially. By our membership of groups, in battle with other groups, for status.
The Welcome Stranger nugget, as a beautiful example. The world’s largest ever alluvial gold nugget. Over 70kg of gold.
/1
The Welcome Stranger nugget, as a beautiful example. The world’s largest ever alluvial gold nugget. Over 70kg of gold.
/1
It’s feudalism, not fascism. My theme for several years now (just saying). It absolutely matters that we diagnose things correctly.
These are fundamentally different things. Also this piece’s solutions to me are nonsense. /1
open.substack.com/pub/fosterth...
These are fundamentally different things. Also this piece’s solutions to me are nonsense. /1
open.substack.com/pub/fosterth...
Freedom isn't Feudal
I have noticed a particularly cheap dropline used by many in the collective Opposition: Calling Trump, Musk, and the MAGA movement “fascists”.
open.substack.com
March 11, 2025 at 6:17 PM
It’s feudalism, not fascism. My theme for several years now (just saying). It absolutely matters that we diagnose things correctly.
These are fundamentally different things. Also this piece’s solutions to me are nonsense. /1
open.substack.com/pub/fosterth...
These are fundamentally different things. Also this piece’s solutions to me are nonsense. /1
open.substack.com/pub/fosterth...
Mob rule doesn’t discriminate between just and unjust causes. The fact this behaviour is not universally condemned, but ordinary people actually applaud it, is a symptom of how far gone we now are.
Let me say it again. Mob rule doesn’t pick and choose causes.
/1
Let me say it again. Mob rule doesn’t pick and choose causes.
/1
March 7, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Mob rule doesn’t discriminate between just and unjust causes. The fact this behaviour is not universally condemned, but ordinary people actually applaud it, is a symptom of how far gone we now are.
Let me say it again. Mob rule doesn’t pick and choose causes.
/1
Let me say it again. Mob rule doesn’t pick and choose causes.
/1
The entire dynamic of human life and history.
Change comes only when the status quo is reduced to rubble.
Change comes only when the status quo is reduced to rubble.
February 6, 2025 at 7:56 PM
The entire dynamic of human life and history.
Change comes only when the status quo is reduced to rubble.
Change comes only when the status quo is reduced to rubble.
Here’s that post-war rebuilding I talk about, when ‘the public’ became the central organising principle of societies. Rather than status.
Nearly everywhere, except the US. 1/2
Nearly everywhere, except the US. 1/2
February 3, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Here’s that post-war rebuilding I talk about, when ‘the public’ became the central organising principle of societies. Rather than status.
Nearly everywhere, except the US. 1/2
Nearly everywhere, except the US. 1/2
While simpletons use their Left/Right electoral goggles to understand what’s happening, Gil’s ‘Nerd Reich’ begins to implement exactly what they openly promised to do.
And there’s even more to see here. /1
www.thenerdreich.com/the-network-...
And there’s even more to see here. /1
www.thenerdreich.com/the-network-...
The Network State Coup is Happening Right Now
Elon Musk's attempt to destroy the United States government isn't random chaos. It's the methodical execution of the "network state" blueprint.
Yet even as tech billionaires openly implement their we...
www.thenerdreich.com
February 1, 2025 at 7:32 PM
While simpletons use their Left/Right electoral goggles to understand what’s happening, Gil’s ‘Nerd Reich’ begins to implement exactly what they openly promised to do.
And there’s even more to see here. /1
www.thenerdreich.com/the-network-...
And there’s even more to see here. /1
www.thenerdreich.com/the-network-...
Copying each other is the most fundamental human act. We imitate because that gives us status, in a given group. It makes us recognisable, to the group. That in turn gives us an identity, we ‘belong’.
Groups clash, their statuses collide. Imitative rivalry (Rene Girard).
/1
Groups clash, their statuses collide. Imitative rivalry (Rene Girard).
/1
January 30, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Copying each other is the most fundamental human act. We imitate because that gives us status, in a given group. It makes us recognisable, to the group. That in turn gives us an identity, we ‘belong’.
Groups clash, their statuses collide. Imitative rivalry (Rene Girard).
/1
Groups clash, their statuses collide. Imitative rivalry (Rene Girard).
/1
I bought a Tesla this week. Lots of research went into the choice. The reaction from friends and colleagues was remarkable.
Almost universal shock and horror, that I would do this. Which surprises me, because the reason they *wouldn’t* do it are things I criticise relentlessly, with them. /1
Almost universal shock and horror, that I would do this. Which surprises me, because the reason they *wouldn’t* do it are things I criticise relentlessly, with them. /1
January 28, 2025 at 4:51 AM
I bought a Tesla this week. Lots of research went into the choice. The reaction from friends and colleagues was remarkable.
Almost universal shock and horror, that I would do this. Which surprises me, because the reason they *wouldn’t* do it are things I criticise relentlessly, with them. /1
Almost universal shock and horror, that I would do this. Which surprises me, because the reason they *wouldn’t* do it are things I criticise relentlessly, with them. /1
I use Will’s book often because he captures so much of the work on status, so beautifully.
It’s rank or status that drives humans. Not power, not wealth. It’s how rich you are compared to *others*, or how powerful compared to others. Status, rank. Status = identity.
It’s rank or status that drives humans. Not power, not wealth. It’s how rich you are compared to *others*, or how powerful compared to others. Status, rank. Status = identity.
January 24, 2025 at 8:04 PM
I use Will’s book often because he captures so much of the work on status, so beautifully.
It’s rank or status that drives humans. Not power, not wealth. It’s how rich you are compared to *others*, or how powerful compared to others. Status, rank. Status = identity.
It’s rank or status that drives humans. Not power, not wealth. It’s how rich you are compared to *others*, or how powerful compared to others. Status, rank. Status = identity.
Human life is a battle for status. Status is also identity, without it, you’re nobody. We join groups (teams) to fight these battles, emulating high-status individuals.
Team members imitate one another, ‘peer pressure’, to have membership of the group. /1
Team members imitate one another, ‘peer pressure’, to have membership of the group. /1
January 23, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Human life is a battle for status. Status is also identity, without it, you’re nobody. We join groups (teams) to fight these battles, emulating high-status individuals.
Team members imitate one another, ‘peer pressure’, to have membership of the group. /1
Team members imitate one another, ‘peer pressure’, to have membership of the group. /1
Populist landslides always lead to triumphalism. Because our entire understanding of politics is elections, we think these victories mean the complete opposite to what they actually mean.
Broken societies have populist landslides. Winning those elections is a hospital pass. 1/4
Broken societies have populist landslides. Winning those elections is a hospital pass. 1/4
January 21, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Populist landslides always lead to triumphalism. Because our entire understanding of politics is elections, we think these victories mean the complete opposite to what they actually mean.
Broken societies have populist landslides. Winning those elections is a hospital pass. 1/4
Broken societies have populist landslides. Winning those elections is a hospital pass. 1/4
Trump feels like an apocalyptic disaster, or second coming, depending on who you are, because we attribute so much power to elections to transform reality.
In reality they achieve almost nothing in the material reality sense. Which still determines eventual outcomes.
In reality they achieve almost nothing in the material reality sense. Which still determines eventual outcomes.
January 21, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Trump feels like an apocalyptic disaster, or second coming, depending on who you are, because we attribute so much power to elections to transform reality.
In reality they achieve almost nothing in the material reality sense. Which still determines eventual outcomes.
In reality they achieve almost nothing in the material reality sense. Which still determines eventual outcomes.
The barons/nobles at the coronation of the King.
Not an analogy. A pattern repeated throughout history, just called by different names. Note also the heavy representation of social media, from the King down. The greatest source of modern power.
Not an analogy. A pattern repeated throughout history, just called by different names. Note also the heavy representation of social media, from the King down. The greatest source of modern power.
January 20, 2025 at 7:50 PM
The barons/nobles at the coronation of the King.
Not an analogy. A pattern repeated throughout history, just called by different names. Note also the heavy representation of social media, from the King down. The greatest source of modern power.
Not an analogy. A pattern repeated throughout history, just called by different names. Note also the heavy representation of social media, from the King down. The greatest source of modern power.
My constant theme. The illusion of democracy as a flattening of hierarchies occurred only after the cataclysmic disasters of the first half of the 20th century.
The disasters flattened the hierarchies, it wasn’t democracy. Now the hierarchies are back.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01...
The disasters flattened the hierarchies, it wasn’t democracy. Now the hierarchies are back.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01...
January 20, 2025 at 6:36 PM
My constant theme. The illusion of democracy as a flattening of hierarchies occurred only after the cataclysmic disasters of the first half of the 20th century.
The disasters flattened the hierarchies, it wasn’t democracy. Now the hierarchies are back.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01...
The disasters flattened the hierarchies, it wasn’t democracy. Now the hierarchies are back.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01...
Humans don’t agree. On anything. They disagree until those disagreements destroy their societies.
Then they agree, long enough to re-build. Only destruction brings agreement.
Then the disagreement begins again.
Then they agree, long enough to re-build. Only destruction brings agreement.
Then the disagreement begins again.
January 19, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Humans don’t agree. On anything. They disagree until those disagreements destroy their societies.
Then they agree, long enough to re-build. Only destruction brings agreement.
Then the disagreement begins again.
Then they agree, long enough to re-build. Only destruction brings agreement.
Then the disagreement begins again.
‘Free speech’ is a fiction perpetrated by media oligarchs. The Chinese block social media platforms not to censor speech, but to prevent oligarchs controlling their communities.
Read what happens when that doesn’t happen. Social media is a hijacking of societies.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01...
Read what happens when that doesn’t happen. Social media is a hijacking of societies.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01...
'Dangerous times ahead': Warnings of misinformation surge as Meta retreats
By scaling back its independent fact-checking, Meta has triggered alarm among civil society groups in Asia where misinformation's consequences have proven deadly.
www.abc.net.au
January 18, 2025 at 7:45 PM
‘Free speech’ is a fiction perpetrated by media oligarchs. The Chinese block social media platforms not to censor speech, but to prevent oligarchs controlling their communities.
Read what happens when that doesn’t happen. Social media is a hijacking of societies.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01...
Read what happens when that doesn’t happen. Social media is a hijacking of societies.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01...
40 years ago McLuhan said the medium is the message. It’s not the content of media we should be focusing on. It’s the way the specific media shape our social relationships.
Social media implements a worldview. Those who own it own our societies.
Social media implements a worldview. Those who own it own our societies.
January 15, 2025 at 6:08 PM
40 years ago McLuhan said the medium is the message. It’s not the content of media we should be focusing on. It’s the way the specific media shape our social relationships.
Social media implements a worldview. Those who own it own our societies.
Social media implements a worldview. Those who own it own our societies.