Henry Madison
@ragesheen.bsky.social
Engineering, philosophy, governance. Tracking the train wreck of popularity.
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.
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
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
Zoom out historically and the Nerd Reich tech bros are nothing more than the nobles/barons, circling their King (Trump), parcelling up their own fiefdoms.
Not an analogy. In the absence of institutions, all societies are feudal monarchies. /12
Not an analogy. In the absence of institutions, all societies are feudal monarchies. /12
February 1, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Zoom out historically and the Nerd Reich tech bros are nothing more than the nobles/barons, circling their King (Trump), parcelling up their own fiefdoms.
Not an analogy. In the absence of institutions, all societies are feudal monarchies. /12
Not an analogy. In the absence of institutions, all societies are feudal monarchies. /12
Every single public issue immediately spawns new teams, who go into battle against other teams, for status and identity.
And the more we allow our entire lives to be transacted through these platforms, the more and faster this will happen. /9
And the more we allow our entire lives to be transacted through these platforms, the more and faster this will happen. /9
January 30, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Every single public issue immediately spawns new teams, who go into battle against other teams, for status and identity.
And the more we allow our entire lives to be transacted through these platforms, the more and faster this will happen. /9
And the more we allow our entire lives to be transacted through these platforms, the more and faster this will happen. /9
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
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.
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.
The Magna Carta signing in 1215 was one of the foundations of democratic governance. It was the carving up of power between Kings and barons/nobles.
It never was about ‘the people’. Today the exact same negotiation is happening between Trump and his billionaire barnacle group.
It never was about ‘the people’. Today the exact same negotiation is happening between Trump and his billionaire barnacle group.
January 12, 2025 at 7:21 PM
The Magna Carta signing in 1215 was one of the foundations of democratic governance. It was the carving up of power between Kings and barons/nobles.
It never was about ‘the people’. Today the exact same negotiation is happening between Trump and his billionaire barnacle group.
It never was about ‘the people’. Today the exact same negotiation is happening between Trump and his billionaire barnacle group.
Storr is absolutely right that all of society is status games. What I call team sports. There’s no escaping that, but there is shaping those sports so that they focus on more productive things.
‘Games of success’ include modern science and engineering. Still all status. 1/3
‘Games of success’ include modern science and engineering. Still all status. 1/3
December 5, 2024 at 5:54 PM
Storr is absolutely right that all of society is status games. What I call team sports. There’s no escaping that, but there is shaping those sports so that they focus on more productive things.
‘Games of success’ include modern science and engineering. Still all status. 1/3
‘Games of success’ include modern science and engineering. Still all status. 1/3
No amount of us all talking is a public. The public is a statistical calculation, a continuous assessment of collective need.
It’s what bureaucrats do. There is no public without bureaucracy. The politics of our time despises ‘red tape’.
It’s why there is no longer a public.
It’s what bureaucrats do. There is no public without bureaucracy. The politics of our time despises ‘red tape’.
It’s why there is no longer a public.
December 4, 2024 at 10:13 PM
No amount of us all talking is a public. The public is a statistical calculation, a continuous assessment of collective need.
It’s what bureaucrats do. There is no public without bureaucracy. The politics of our time despises ‘red tape’.
It’s why there is no longer a public.
It’s what bureaucrats do. There is no public without bureaucracy. The politics of our time despises ‘red tape’.
It’s why there is no longer a public.
In feudal times a small number of families (the nobles or aristocracy) hoarded most of a society's wealth, in alliance with a King or Queen.
'The economy' is really a social deception to reinstate feudalism, history's default form.
1/2
'The economy' is really a social deception to reinstate feudalism, history's default form.
1/2
December 4, 2024 at 12:24 AM
In feudal times a small number of families (the nobles or aristocracy) hoarded most of a society's wealth, in alliance with a King or Queen.
'The economy' is really a social deception to reinstate feudalism, history's default form.
1/2
'The economy' is really a social deception to reinstate feudalism, history's default form.
1/2