At the heart of how we act (and how we are governed) lies a simple trick: redirection . When things get too difficult or unpleasant, we simply organize something shiny and exciting to distract us. This strategy works everywhere—from our minds to the world’s largest nations and corporations. In Ancient Rome. We’ve all heard of the Colosseum. Why did the emperors build it? It wasn’t just for the love of sports. When people are poor, hungry, and angry at the authorities, the best "medicine" is gladiator battles . While the crowd screams in the stands, they forget they have nothing to eat. "Bread and circuses" is the oldest way to make people look in the wrong direction. In politics, things haven't changed much. Is there an economic crisis or a corruption scandal? Expect an immediate grand parade, a national celebration, or the loud announcement of a "revolutionary" new idea. The goal is to create enough positive noise to drown out the uncomfortable que...
Human thoughts out loud