It\u2019s interesting how often the phrase \u201celitism\u201d comes up when I solicit feedback from others. I\u2019m aware that this will come across as defensive or denialist, but I have carefully considered it for quite a long time and I don\u2019t really agree. We mean different things, maybe<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I went to school with some actual elitists, kids from wealthy families with prestigious pedigrees and whatnot. I\u2019ve seen how they talk, how they think, how they relate to others (commoners, peasants). It always disgusted me. I never wanted anything to do with that<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If I\u2019m elitist, I\u2019m elitist the way a commando special forces unit is elitist. I want to associate with the best people I can find. But, importantly, I truly believe that the best people can come from everywhere<\/em>. Look at my social graph and you\u2019ll see this to be true<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m deeply revulsed by gatekeeping and exclusion on the grounds of a person\u2019s identity or background. A lot of what I do- publish stuff online, where people can mock me – is to help find and connect smart kids who are disconnected and disenfranchised<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh but why are you focusing on smart kids? Dumb kids need love and attention too!\u201d I absolutely agree that dumb kids need love too. In fact I was torn about this for many years. But I\u2019ve come to focus on quality because I\u2019ve found that it grows and compounds better<\/p>\n\n\n\n And importantly, I don\u2019t write people off. I reply to as many DMs as I possibly can. I\u2019ve spent hours talking to suicidal teenagers who will never be able to do anything for me in return. It pains me that I have to develop heuristics for \u201cfiltering\u201d people but volume is volume<\/p>\n\n\n\n I also spend a lot of time looking for great people to introduce to each other- people who aren\u2019t famous, don\u2019t have a big following. Maybe this isn\u2019t obvious? I try to help friendly nerds who aren\u2019t ambitious, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But the reason I keep an eye out for the ambitious ones is because they have the executive function to help many more other people in turn. I think of this as the opposite of being elitist. I don\u2019t want some snooty club of self-obsessed wankers. I want people who help others<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m sure all of the responses were in good faith. I did<\/em> ask for criticisms and input! and I love you all for responding. I appreciate the perspective. This is just to share how I see it. And I\u2019m surely still wrong about some stuff, still missing some things, etc<\/p>\n\n\n\n