Author: Kualta
Translation: Deep Tide TechFlow.
Thank you.
Special thanks to Stratus and Snats for their meticulous proofreading of this article.
Preface.
Whether in the crypto community or other groups, people have long been accustomed to fostering a false sense of unity through superficial signals, rather than based on shared values or goals.
Once, memes were tools for spreading culture, but now they are mistakenly regarded as culture itself.
The community is losing its way and losing its true identity. We have replaced deep mutual understanding with superficial signals of belonging.
This phenomenon, which was originally just a 'small issue' within the crypto circle, has now spread to the broader society, to the point where it can be said to have reached an 'incurable' level.
You lack culture.
Don't say 'gm' (good morning) to me. I am not your 'fren' (friend).
When people blindly imitate certain behavioral patterns simply to show a sense of belonging, I find such behavior disgusting. These actions are nothing but hollow substitutes for genuine interpersonal relationships.
Although I don't want to give too much positive evaluation to this behavior, the subconscious motivation behind it is simple: to commodify everything, even the sense of belonging.
The crypto circle is a typical case of cultural decline. It was originally a revolution based on principles of security, decentralization, and resisting corporate monopolies, but has now devolved into an echo chamber that fakes authenticity.
The original spirit of the crypto circle has not only been diluted but has even been replaced by its own 'virtual replicas.'
Today's crypto circle is no longer a true community, but a desperate attempt to piece together identity in a world increasingly devoid of meaning. Ironically, as the level of abstraction increases, this sense of identity becomes even more hypocritical.
Do you remember that the term 'crypto' comes from 'cryptography'? Or has today's meme completely replaced substantive content?
At best, you are just a 'useful fool'; at worst, you are merely a 'liquidity outlet' being exploited.
However, the crypto circle is just a microcosm of the entire world. This phenomenon goes far beyond that.
In every aspect of modern life, we see the same process: real cultural elements are discovered, commodified, and then mass-produced until they are completely disconnected from their original meaning.
Whether it's gambling culture, meme tokens, or exit polls—these are just manifestations of the same pathology. Humans are fed packaged opinions, trapped in echo chambers, gradually losing the drive to explore more possibilities.
And why do you allow this to happen? Because it fills the void within you—because you lack culture.
Human connection.
Humans need connection. However, this is a paradox of contemporary society: in an instant and highly connected era, we are experiencing an overflow of superficial relationships.
It's easy to criticize behaviors that resemble 'herd mentality'—like the daily 'gm' greetings, recycled memes, and those hollow interactions. But behind these behaviors lies a deeper truth: humans crave connection, and in the absence of genuine ties, we might even accept a poor imitation of a community.
We take pride in scientific discussion and rational debate. We hope to engage in fact-based discussions and logical reasoning. However, people spend millions of hours on social media expressing opinions and seeking validation. Why is that?
Setting aside those addictive platforms and algorithms, the core of the problem is: in the scientific community, we neither value nor allow people to fulfill their emotional needs without negating their arguments.
We are emotional beings trying to find direction in an increasingly abstract world.
The more we deny this fact, the more superficial our society will become.
When we neglect human emotional connections in pursuit of 'pure facts,' this demand does not disappear—it only gets suppressed, ultimately manifesting in distorted forms. The popularity of meme culture is not the root of the problem, but a manifestation of our failure to meet this basic human need.
Humans need connection. We need communities that can accommodate rigorous thinking while also embracing genuine emotions. Otherwise, we will continue to waste time on the current absurd phenomenon.
Immune system.
In addition to the obvious symptoms, this 'cultural disease' has some malicious propagators.
It is a thought-provoking phenomenon that those who have not become victims but instead profit from these environments exist. We find that a society devoid of emotions not only accepts someone completely out of touch with reality but also willingly follows them.
If you haven't been paying attention to politics (which is a good thing), the way people build trust has significantly changed in recent years.
People can not only manipulate current public opinion but also rewrite history in the public's perception and easily escape punishment—merely by catering to human emotional needs rather than intellectual needs.
This illustrates how strong our desire for connection is. Identifying those who exploit our emotions is the first step toward societal revival. It is truly heartbreaking to see these people rise so quickly.
Those who despise you, enslave you, and control your life—telling you what to do, what to think, and what to feel—do not compromise with them.
The real tragedy lies not only in the hollowness of these behaviors; it also obstructs the formation of genuine culture. As long as you participate in it, even if you merely acquiesce to its existence, this 'cultural disease' will continue to spread.
A person must take pride in their culture. However, this has never been an easy task.
True culture arises from shared values, and these values are not just superficial identifications. Real culture is built upon principles that guide and constrain our decision-making.
When we accept those superficial cultural substitutes, we are not only weakening the cohesion of the community—we are also sacrificing the possibility of creating anything meaningful.
Some people mistakenly believe that everyone has the right to express their opinions. This is not the case. If you cannot clearly express the beliefs you hold, then you cannot claim that they belong to you. If you only have slogans and hollow views—you do not deserve attention.
The interaction of short videos and fragmented content only exacerbates this issue. Don't mistake it for something else; it is merely a marketing tool.
Remember, what distinguishes humans from animals is our ability to create and protect our culture.
If a person lacks culture, I cannot respect them.
Key points.
Our cultural standards need to be continuously elevated, rather than repeatedly lowered. Wavering standards will only keep us stagnant while allowing those who try to exploit us to profit.
We should encourage those who dare to explore, debate, and maintain rational thinking, but we must also be wary of viewing rationality as the only truth.
We cannot tolerate degenerate behavior; we should also hold a critical attitude toward those who indulge in degeneration.
Do not easily accept those seemingly tailored views that only cater to your emotions. Be wary of those who exploit your feelings for personal gain.
Chasing value itself is not worthy of praise and does not bring true satisfaction.
Everyone should take pride in their ability for independent thought and understanding.
Stand confidently with like-minded individuals to jointly defend our culture and values.