I Dream of Delusion

“The fundamental cause of the trouble in the modern world today is that the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.” 

- Bertrand Russell

So, 94% of people self-report as being above average. 

Are we really all surprised? 

Really, are any of us currently living in western civilization surprised by the fact that the majority of people around us think they are superior to one another. In this fast-food, social media society? 

We spend a massive portion of our lives cultivating and paying tribute to the persona that we portray. Slathering images of our "superior selves" all across the internet, groveling for "likes", for "love" for some glimmer of happiness. We build an altar to ourselves, in this society that tells us that sheepish "individuality" is king. We wrap ourselves in garments, paint our faces, tease our hair and hope for some kind of affection to reach out for us across the cold void of our new virtual existences. There is only "I" and "I" and "I"; "me" and "me" and "me". We are better. We are the best. We are loved. We are worshipped. The world exists for us and us alone. 

Of course we think we're better than the person sitting next to us. 

For decades we have been taught that you must be better than your brother. You must compete. You must strive to be above. To be looked up to. To be worshipped. We cannot find the god in this modern society...we must worship the self. To stay divided to stay alone. To drive our emptiness, to drive our need for consumption, our need for competition. Always be better. Always be the best. Always be alone. Always be in need. Be better than your brother and your sister. 

And so we find ourselves. Delusional and empty. Searching for the meaning that exists all around us. 94% better than the rest.