There’s nothing more joyous than finding counter examples that show weaknesses in my people-related stereotypes and mental models. As a child, i thought that all wealthy people (and all politicians, professors and “esteemed” people in society) had to be brilliant – how else would they have earned so much money? Of course, when i realized that this wasn’t true (and rushed off to liberal utopia land), i started having a cynical view that all wealthy people had to be corrupt, evil and politically incorrect.
Of course, i’ve met people who accidentally made money doing what they love (and used it wisely such as the one who decided to affect SF Late Night Culture); i adjusted my model to discount them. I’ve also met people who are wealthy because they are famous, but they exist in another model for me that includes people who gain money and wealth to deal with their own insecurities. Sadly, though, most people that i have met who have acquired wealth have done so through some questionable means and don’t really use it in a way that i respect.
Last night, i realized that i don’t know any consciously capitalist, socially righteous, psychologically grounded, intellectually fascinated people. Of course, i realized that by finding someone who fit that bill, which completely startled me and required me to adjust my model of people to fit such a character. People like this give me hopes for humanity and better yet, the fact that people like this exist in my sphere makes me love the culture i’m playing in right now even more.
Frankly, i need to stop running into and having drinks with really interesting people. San Francisco is just continuing to blow my mind and make it really hard for me to not run out and constantly play with ideas and other people. There is no doubt that SF is just one big adult playground for liberal motivated intelligent people and it’s just way too much fun to play kid again.