Traditions as social glue

In this episode I respond to a “how to make passive income with AI” video that pushed a lot of buttons for me and led to a Stoic deep-dive on AI, capitalism, work, and the moral fabric of society. Using the example of AI-generated nursery rhyme channels and AI “justice porn” clips, I explore the difference between responsible and runaway capitalism, why AI is not evil in itself, and how our media habits quietly shape our character and our culture. I also talk about the role of traditions (like secular Christmas) in holding a society together, and why the way we use AI right now may mark either a temporary backslide or the beginning of an “Age of Alogos”.

Key takeaways from this episode include:

1. AI is a tool, not a villain – The problem is not that AI exists, but how we choose to use it, especially when we use it to chase money with no concern for quality, truth, or human well-being.

2. There is responsible and runaway capitalism – Earning money by creating real value is one thing; farming children’s attention or stoking division with low-effort AI content is another.

3. “Work is a scam” thinking can backfire – Trying to escape “the system” by doing the least work for the most money often means reinforcing the very worst parts of that system.

4. AI “justice porn” and emotional bait reshape our perceptions – Fully AI-generated clips of caricatured “bad people” getting their comeuppance may feel good, but they habituate us toward contempt, fear, and stereotyping.

5. Habituation still rules – What we choose to watch, click, and share shapes our character over time. Media consumption is moral training, whether we admit it or not.

6. Traditions can be moral glue – Healthy traditions (like a secular Christmas focused on giving and belonging) can connect us across generations and steady us against social unraveling.

7. We may be entering an “Age of Alogos” – AI, stacked on top of the internet and social media, is accelerating the reach and confidence of the least thoughtful voices; whether this is a temporary backslide or a lasting darkening is not yet clear.

8. Our duty is local and practical – We cannot control AI, capitalism, or “the culture” at large, but we can control how we earn, how we create, what we share, and what we pass on to our children.

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