Beth Dutton is one of the most brilliant and machiavellian characters in the excellent Yellowstone television show.
One of things she said was illuminating:
“I’ll do anything to hurt our enemies. If I hurt others, so be it.
There is no such thing, not in the kingdom. There is no morality here. There is “keep the kingdom or you lose the kingdom.”
It’s a very zero sum view. Sadly many people think and operate this way these days. They approach life with a cold ruthlessness. I’d even say sociopathism. Is it surprising that we have so many sociopathic people in senior ranks in government, business and global organizations like the UN, EU, CCP or World Bank?
I think as the tech industry has become more important, mainstream and larger, the previous cooperative, “pay it forward” mentality that I loved is slowly disappearing. I’m observing a much more transactional and win-lose mentality coming in.
I also think this is also due to the much more Darwinian environment that the USA is in now. Hard times are here. It’s the new “Hunger Games” in the post Covid & post-Zero Interest Rate world, so people are in survival mode. And thus, more willing to do more ruthless things to survive. You already see this in places like New York City, or at a larger level: India, China, Nigeria and many of the larger emerging markets. Places full of smart, ambitious people struggling to survive. Obviously these are rank generalizations but people tend to lie, steal and cheat in these environments. It’s whatever it takes.
I don’t like it but it’s reality. And we do what we need to do to survive and win. If your opponent has no morals and follows no rules, it’s much harder to beat them.
It goes against my nature, having been raised in kinder, gentler Canada. Something that I think has not served me well here in the USA. It’s how I had been outmaneuvered by opponents internal and external to the organizations I worked for in the past. People there are willing to do whatever it takes to win. But I’ve learned this the hard way as normal: from personal experience and a lot of pain.
You still need a code and mine follows that of the US Marines. “No better friend, No worse enemy.”
I act with honor and treat my friends and allies well. I keep my word and give people the benefit of the doubt. But for my enemies & competitors, there are no rules. I’ll do everything and anything within the bounds of law to win. Once they are shown to be my enemies, I’ll treat it as a zero sum game just like them. If they win, they are taking money, resources and food from my family. The world is harsh, so you have to be too. This is the new world we are in, whether we like it or not.
Besides, as the Grand Inquisitor character said in the Anakin TV series: “Revenge does wonders for the will to live, doesn’t it?” ;)