@theternery.bsky.social

@theternery.bsky.social

257 Followers 101 Following

How good, how moral are you, compared to other people? (You get to say what is "good" and "moral.") As I mentioned in chapter 1, if you're an average human being, you'll think you're a better than average human being. Almost everybody think's she's more moral than most. But high RWAs typically think they're way, way better. They are the Holy Ones. They are the Chosen. They are the Righteous. They somehow got a three-for-one special on self-righteousness. And self-righteousness appears to release authoritarian aggression more than anything else. Chronically frightened authoritarian followers, looking for someone to attack because fighting is one of the things people do when they are afraid, are particularly likely to do so when they can find a moral justification for their hostility.
Taking more time to vet potential donors is one way to avoid future scandals, Aaronson says, because there will always be financial incentives to say yes. "I've had federal funding in the past, but right now I don't," he says. "To be honest, I'd be happy to find a rich person, but one with better morals than Jeffrey Epstein."
Woman with hair dyed blue and pink grins gleefully. Caption reads "You get me".
GIF of waving cartoon elephant wearing a green suit, a red bowtie, and a golden crown: King Babar of Elephantland.