The Playbook
Your mind is the starting point of all war and strategy. A mind that is easily overwhelmed by emotion, that is rooted in the past instead of the present, that cannot see the world with clarity and urgency, will create strategies that will miss the mark.
R. Greene
Life can be seen as a game where chance and strategies intertwine. If we skillfully play our cards, we can gain advantages over our opponents, who in this case are our genetic programmers, our genes. A successful life strategist understands that the first step to winning any game is gaining a comprehensive understanding of the opponent's strengths and weaknesses. By delving into their history, background, character, beliefs, morals, interests, language, and more, we empower ourselves to predict their next moves. Unfortunately, strategizing is a skill that many humans often neglect, leading to unconscious and haphazard decisions that put us at a disadvantage. In these ever-changing times, it becomes paramount to navigate the game of life wisely, lest the system consume us.
For my part, I aspire to play the game of life well this time. By "well," I mean rewriting the way I live according to my own terms, free from the influence of my programmers, societal conventions, norms, or my personal history and heritage. I seek to live according to my own principles and values, embracing the unique essence of who I am as Six. Of course, I recognize that, like any game, there are certain limitations imposed by biological and environmental factors. However, by consciously understanding and predicting how these internal and external forces shape my existence, I can strive to maximize my own personal growth and fulfillment.
Dance for Money by Jack Vettriano
The pursuit of true freedom as humans is often hindered by the constraints of our physical, chemical, biological, and cultural makeup. These elements, often referred to as the "things-in-themselves" by Kant, shape our experiences and limit our capacity to transcend the physical realm. Nevertheless, I am determined to break free from these limitations and explore a realm where creativity and individuality reign supreme. This journey is not without its challenges, as straying too far from the known can lead to a loss of identity and a compromised sense of self. Nonetheless, I am willing to take rebellious actions in order to reach this realm of self-liberty, where I can fully express my potential.
To navigate this path, I have developed fundamental strategies that propel me towards a state of self-liberty:
Understanding oneself: It is crucial to delve deep into what defines us, including our history, ancestry, predispositions, environment, character, strengths, and weaknesses.
Rewiring oneself: Armed with self-knowledge, I strive to rewire my thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors to align them with my authentic self and desired state of freedom.
Manipulating the environment: This step poses the greatest challenge, as it often necessitates collaboration with other key players. Whether it involves finding an environment that nurtures our creative impulses or one free from oppressive governance, this step requires careful navigation and cooperative efforts.
Imagine desiring to relocate to a place that resonates with your aspirations, like Japan or Europe. Financial constraints may initially impede your progress. Seeking employment overseas becomes the next option, but setbacks may arise. In such moments of discouragement, revisiting steps 1 and 2 can help reorient your journey. If all else fails, a desperate yet transformative choice remains: transforming your current environment to better accommodate your needs.
For the creative geniuses among us, lockdowns or isolation pose minimal obstacles. They can immerse themselves in their craft for hours on end, undeterred by external distractions. This internal process becomes a means to migrate towards a metaphysical state or a state of self-liberation. However, when external disruptions impede this internal journey, it serves as a reminder to seek the assistance of other rebellious individuals who share the desire for freedom and can contribute to its fulfillment.
Heaven or Hell by Jack Vettriano
Success in the game of life often lies in strategic thinking and control. Those who possess a strategic advantage are more likely to prevail or shape the outcome of the game. When facing willing survival units, also known as the slaves, it is crucial to anticipate their actions to gain the upper hand. Studying their behavior, thoughts, and communication patterns allows for better prediction and advantage in countering their moves.
It is important to note that aggressively arguing or lecturing willing human survival units is an ineffective approach. They are resistant to such confrontations and tend to misunderstand or resist opposing viewpoints. To engage them effectively, one must master the art of communication. Presenting ideas and thoughts in an eloquent manner increases the chances of being heard and understood. It is equally important to understand the audience and speak in a language they comprehend. If one lacks the ability to communicate effectively, enlisting ambassadors, influencers, musicians, artists, or popular figures can serve as spokespersons to disseminate ideas. Credibility becomes secondary to their role as vehicles for spreading memes. Social media platforms offer an excellent avenue for meme propagation, although caution must be exercised in cases where fake news and trolls saturate the medium.
Another potent evolutionary strategy is maintaining a "poker face." By keeping opponents uncertain about one's intentions and moves, anxiety and vulnerability are heightened. However, the effectiveness of this strategy is undermined by the transparency of social media, where posts and reactions expose intentions. In such cases, a defiant act would be mass deactivation of social media accounts. Alternatively, refraining from defensive or offensive posts, comments, or reactions can avoid unnecessary aggravation of opponents. It is crucial not to feel threatened by the numerical superiority of the opposing team, as they are often prone to disorganization and confusion. Willing slaves, particularly extremists, rely heavily on collective thinking, finding it difficult to exist independently. Isolation becomes key in potential ally formation. Exposing them to new ideas, knowledge, and experiences outside their comfort zones opens doors for self-discovery and growth, offering more meaningful pursuits than engaging in trolling.
Night Calls by Jack Vettriano
Lastly, it is crucial to recognize the importance of timing and the current environmental conditions and leverage them to your advantage. While the pandemic has caused immense loss of life, it has also served as a wake-up call for people. It has exposed the vulnerability and fragility of human existence. The years ahead will be challenging, testing your physical, mental, and emotional endurance. Engaging in mind and body exercises, practicing meditation, and nourishing yourself with healthy food will provide numerous benefits. Utilize your spare time to read books, engage in creative pursuits, learn new skills, and expand your intellectual capacities. Avoid stagnation at all costs, as a strong mind and body will enhance your chances of survival.
In the coming months and possibly years, natural selection will continue to rapidly eliminate many individuals, both humans and other organisms, from the Earth. It will disproportionately impact the elderly, the young, the poor, the sick, the mentally vulnerable, and those lacking in strategic thinking. Natural selection will handle the herd, including the mass of willing slaves who lack the means and intellect to survive independently. The increasing death toll will contribute to heightened social unrest and desperation. Willing survival units, who tend to think collectively, typically rely on their leaders for guidance. The ongoing pandemic will expose the ineffectiveness of these leaders and their associates, gradually eroding their power and control over the masses.
When the trust between the slaves and their ineffective leaders and associates is shattered, it will create an opportunity for an opportunist or a dark knight to step forward and lead the human survival machines towards freedom. This individual may finally bring an end to the tyranny imposed by selfish replicators, offering hope for a future where humans can break free from their chains.
References/ further readings:
*Visit https://sci-hub.tw/ to access paid journals
Axelrod, R., & Dion, D. (1988). The further evolution of cooperation. Science, 242(4884), 1385-1390.
Childs, D. Z., Metcalf, C. J. E., & Rees, M. (2010). Evolutionary bet-hedging in the real world: empirical evidence and challenges revealed by plants. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 277(1697), 3055-3064.
Crowley, P. H. (2000). Hawks, doves, and mixed-symmetry games. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 204(4), 543-563.
Dawkins, R., & Ward, L. (2006). The god delusion (pp. 40-45). Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Dawkins, R. (2016). The selfish gene. Oxford university press.
Greene, R. (2010). The 33 strategies of war (Vol. 1). Profile Books.
Dawkins, R. (1982). The extended phenotype (Vol. 8). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Hamilton, W. D. (1963). The evolution of altruistic behavior. The American Naturalist, 97(896), 354-356.
Kant, I., & Schneewind, J. B. (2002). Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals. Yale University Press.
Myerson, R. B. (2013). Game theory. Harvard university press.
Nietzsche, F. (2008). Thus spoke Zarathustra: A book for everyone and nobody. Oxford University Press.
Nietzsche, F. W. (1967). The will to power. Vintage.
Nowak, M. A., & May, R. M. (1992). Evolutionary games and spatial chaos. Nature, 359(6398), 826-829.
Philippi, T., & Seger, J. (1989). Hedging one's evolutionary bets, revisited. Trends in ecology & evolution, 4(2), 41-44.
Ripa, J., Olofsson, H., & Jonzén, N. (2010). What is bet-hedging, really?. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 277(1685), 1153-1154.
Smith, N. K. (2011). Immanuel Kant's critique of pure reason. Read Books Ltd.
Smith, J. M. (1982). Evolution and the Theory of Games. Cambridge university press.
Taylor, P. D., & Jonker, L. B. (1978). Evolutionary stable strategies and game dynamics. Mathematical biosciences, 40(1-2), 145-156.