What led to cynicism and pessimism becoming “cool”?

making /obsidian • writing stephango.com

Working on /capsule | writing and thinking about crypto, global economies, and media 👩🏻‍💻

interesting, I actually find Gen Z much more optimistic than previous generations

watch Rebel Without a Cause (1955), I think that was one of the first post-WW2 movies that lionized cynicism

gen z. gen z culture is largely driven by nihilism (probably bc the world faces such an ambiguous future) 

it's what has given rise to larping as a professional, quiet quitting, a general disdain for capitalism, etc

Sawubona. https://nf.td/nemb. Builder @ MatchboxDAO 

This is what rings the most true to me, and why it anecdotally feels like a newish thing post WW2

Cynical feelings got amplified by mass media and then social media. It leads to an arms race of who can be the most cynical

Most likely "Cool chasing cool" is a downwards spiral towards what "hits hardest". Cynicism and pessimism (and sarcasm and nihilism) are all public display of power over X, thereby cool beyond cool.

pessimism sells (but does not pay)

morgan housel has good insights on this:

https://www.cnbctv18.com/views/pessimism-sells-but-does-it-also-pay-9037121.htm

have you read the Fourth Turning? touches on themes related to this - I think a lot of is generational/cyclical vibe shifts

boomers grew up in world when everything is great, lots of opportunities, then their kids grow up in a world where that’s not true & get jaded

It's not cool, it's being perceived "cool" by general population like toxic masculinity was being perceived "cool" in 80-s USA, IMO