totally agree. as i always say: most people eat meat because most people eat meat. one coming out of the closet gives implicit permission to others for coming out. It's probably also important to support those very first ones coming out of the closet with positive audience feedback.
So interesting! I had never come across the concept of social redundancy before! It actually explains a lot about my own journey into veganism. My curiosity was sparked when I noticed so many people around me shifting toward plant-based and vegan lifestyles. That collective momentum made me question my own choices and ultimately led me to embrace veganism myself.”
Glad you enjoyed the blog! And yes, the density of network connections really matters for complex contagion. Evidence suggests that the proportion of your network adopting a change matters more than the total # of connections. This is why peripheral social networks so often are catalysts for change!
This is sharply well written, academic level. Thank you for the insightful theory. Any impulse to ignite reflection on our habits, to open the questions, from whatever influence is high value. Question is : how to accelerate the change.
I found a good look at elites here-- https://youtube.com/watch?v=nD_25aSMSFc . Also in an essay I ran off yesterday, at 88 pps, which I got to pp. 15 in, downloadable 'till Aug. 18-- https://x.com/CambUP_Archaeo/status/1952489790047232476 , "Reading Creation Myths Economically," by Eric J. Harvey. The temple cities of Sumeria and Babylon, with copycats in the Levant, managed by priesthoods, scribes and office staff living off the agricultural and industrial surplus of "small kinship-based communities" persuaded to offer service in the name of some God, having been "created" for that purpose, their institutions assuming complex forms as a thing following from the "character" of the local society, the elite technostructure not necessary for the coming about of surplus itself. You can eat like a king so long as the palace guard remain loyal.
totally agree. as i always say: most people eat meat because most people eat meat. one coming out of the closet gives implicit permission to others for coming out. It's probably also important to support those very first ones coming out of the closet with positive audience feedback.
I love this line: "most people eat meat because most people eat meat." I'm going to steal it, k? :P
Substack piece coming on it, coincidentally
So interesting! I had never come across the concept of social redundancy before! It actually explains a lot about my own journey into veganism. My curiosity was sparked when I noticed so many people around me shifting toward plant-based and vegan lifestyles. That collective momentum made me question my own choices and ultimately led me to embrace veganism myself.”
Glad you enjoyed the blog! And yes, the density of network connections really matters for complex contagion. Evidence suggests that the proportion of your network adopting a change matters more than the total # of connections. This is why peripheral social networks so often are catalysts for change!
You are one of my biggest inspirations, Wayne.
So well depicted and actionable.
This is sharply well written, academic level. Thank you for the insightful theory. Any impulse to ignite reflection on our habits, to open the questions, from whatever influence is high value. Question is : how to accelerate the change.
Hey Wayne, thanks for recommending that conversation between Lewis and Dwarkesh. I watched/listened to the whole thing and learned a lot from it.
I found a good look at elites here-- https://youtube.com/watch?v=nD_25aSMSFc . Also in an essay I ran off yesterday, at 88 pps, which I got to pp. 15 in, downloadable 'till Aug. 18-- https://x.com/CambUP_Archaeo/status/1952489790047232476 , "Reading Creation Myths Economically," by Eric J. Harvey. The temple cities of Sumeria and Babylon, with copycats in the Levant, managed by priesthoods, scribes and office staff living off the agricultural and industrial surplus of "small kinship-based communities" persuaded to offer service in the name of some God, having been "created" for that purpose, their institutions assuming complex forms as a thing following from the "character" of the local society, the elite technostructure not necessary for the coming about of surplus itself. You can eat like a king so long as the palace guard remain loyal.