A note about the “Elite.”

By definition you are socially elite if your public pronouncements or comments have an outsized influence on thought or on the perception of ideas.

So, for example, if a random woman wore a short cardigan sweater and a long leather coat–she may get a few people saying “oh, that’s cute”–but that’s about it.

If Selena Gomez does it, it’s a trend.

Because in social theory, Selena Gomez is “elite”, in that she has garnered a disproportionate amount of attention to herself thanks to her acting, relative to the average random woman her age.

Most of the essays we read in public, most of the pictures we see, most of the videos we watch–they are being produced by the Elite. That is, these are products of those who have a disproportionate amount of influence relative to others around them.

If they weren’t Elite, we wouldn’t watch them.

This is how “social elite” status works.

Now some people have public personas that are well framed by the work they do. The guy who produces 3Blue1Brown, a fantastic series of mathematics videos that I highly recommend if you are interested in learning about calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, or a whole host of other mathematical topics, is someone who, as far as I know, sticks well within his wheelhouse. In other words, his videos are fantastic–but I honestly couldn’t tell you how he dresses or what his politics are or where he thinks the country is going, outside of the fact that he has produced fantastic videos that explain mathematics extremely well.

(And note: if you think you’re “bad at math”, chances are, it’s not because you’re actually bad at math. It’s probably because you had a series of bad teachers who convinced you of the lie that you’re bad at math.)

But today “social elite” status is often glommed onto by people who then step outside their wheelhouse and engage in public pronouncements in order to move the needle.

Because their brand is often themselves. Meaning “Bill Nye The Science Guy” is not about explaining Science, in the same way Grant Sanderson is about explaining math. “Bill Nye The Science Guy” is a brand, and he spends as much time promoting his brand (such as guest staring in a few TV shows as himself, the “incredibly intelligent person”™) as he does promoting Science.

Making “Bill Nye The Science Guy” a member of the Elite.

A status he then uses to promote his own ideas and push his ideas onto other people. Such as when he promoted anti-GMO ideas back about 10 years ago.

Because he’s Elite.

Now one consequence of Social Elitism is the idea that the Elite get to own and promulgate ideas. That’s the defining aspect of Social Elitism.

On the flip side of this idea is the following notion:

Elite status allows you to promulgate ideas regardless of current fashion amongst the non-elite.

Remember Selena Gomez’s crop cardigan and long-leather coat? The thing is, if you’re elite, you wear a thing, others will follow suit. Being Elite means you have a following, and you influence others. You’re an influencer.

And “influence” means you get to promote ideas, and push ideas onto a population.

And most content we view, most videos we watch, most people we look to for clothing style ideas–they’re influencing you.

That’s what the Elite do.

But it also means what we see, what we read, what we watch–that’s NOT a reflection of the average. It’s a projection of the influence of the Elite.

Meaning when you watch a video, when you read an essay, when you see an image–it is NOT a reflection of the average. It is NOT a reflection of the random person on the street. It is NOT a reflection of the opinions of those around you; your neighbor, your friends, the guy who cut you off driving this morning.

(And notice even when we see “person on the street” videos, they are designed to reaffirm the superiority of the Elite by editing out intelligent answers, to show the “average person” is a fucking moron not worth listening to. And to incidentally affirm your “superiority” by listening to the particular Elite who assembled that video.)

No; nearly everything you see, watch, hear or read, expresses the ideas, opinions, and notions of the Social Elite.

By definition.

Meaning enjoy that video, enjoy that image, enjoy laughing at the punchlines and nodding along with the essay.

But also be skeptical, because more likely than not, to the guy who wrote that essay, you’re a hamster in a cage being fed water from a watering jar.