The trick is to widen the scope of what you means.
If it means, us and we, then we are pulling 1080s. The dreams become what we can achieve. When anyone broke the 2hr marathon, we were happy for us. We did it, we landed on the moon. We ran a 4 minute mile or summited Everest w/o oxygen. Dreams are a dance and we have to figure out how to include ourselves and others dynamically.
Is this mindset why people like watching sports so much? I’ve never understood it, really. You’re not playing, exercising, practicing, getting injured, losing, or winning, nor are you getting paid, so … why care?
I could just be an asshole but if we go to Mars tomorrow, I’ll go “ok that was cool” and then go to the grocery store, cook dinner, go to bed, and go to work tomorrow. It just doesn’t matter. I am not we and neither are you (unless you go to Mars or play in the NFL, then you’re definitely allowed to feel “our” accomplishments).
Edit: I almost feel that this mindset is a bad thing for the world. Think of the average Joe (like me) who isn’t capable of building a smartphone. Yet I can buy one for a few hundred bucks. I shouldn’t feel proud of “our” invention, should I? No, some really smart, hardworking people have worked for decades to bring this to my pocket. I should be inspired to work harder and learn a such craft or skill, not go “man, we’re so smart”, because I didn’t help build it. I just bought it … it’s the Joe Rogan pyramids standup bit.
This is in the context of dreams and celebrating the accomplishment as an achievement in and of itself. I was not advocating that you should celebrate every win as your own. My comment was directed toward the voice in the article.
>I was not advocating that you should celebrate every win as your own.
No, you're saying "we" should celebrate every win as "our" own. But, like, that only makes sense sometimes. If a guy runs a two-hour marathon, that's his accomplishment, not ours. If China lands a man on Mars next year, is that something "we" did too? Maybe if we're Chinese, but otherwise I'm not sure we're even cogs in the machine that accomplished it.
Do you feel that way about all forms of entertainment? You also are not, "playing, exercising, practicing, getting injured, losing, or winning, nor are you getting paid" nor doing comedy when you watch Joe Rogan standup, so who cares?
I think I’d separate “entertainment to be entertained” from “entertainment to feel good about myself”. Watching football for the fun or awe of it is completely fine. It’s impressive for sure. Watching football and feeling a true self-confidence or otherwise emotional boost when some other dude scores or “your team wins” is … stupid.
And to be clear, Joe Rogan is an idiot, I don’t watch his stuff anymore. Idiocracy is also the same trope as that little clip you can find on YouTube (which doesn’t even give him money because it’s a recording from like 20 years ago).
Joe Rogan? Heck no, he is POS and I can't understand why the popularity. There are tons of proper adult male role models with much more smart and respectable character than him.
I get your point I think, I do enjoy stand up comedy, live or just watching a netflix special. I wouldn't compare it to watching sports, the level of excitement is on another level.
Also sport events take way more time, they developed into this pathetic commercial charade where true spirit of actual sportmanship is long gone, its all about sponsors, cash flows, chasing instagram followers, and overall... money. Can't say I can respect that, so why reward it with the most important item I have in my life - my free time.
Same time could be spend on a proper hike in nature, and discover and achieve something meaningful, and way more rewarding. Or anything else, rather than sitting on one's ass, watching others doing sports. Often done by people with weight issues, then it becomes hilariously ridiculous. If people poured as much attention and energy to crap happening society left and right we would be living in global second renaissance. Or self-improvement, whatever than just passive watching of life going by.
You would enjoy reading Philip K. Dick novels for sure.
What is the experience of a dream but another memory?
Any specific recommendations?
I don't know, I'd rather not identify with my country too much if it does things I deeply disapprove of but can't change.
By that logic, all Americans would be Trump.
I believe they meant humanity.
That term is honestly used way too often on HN for my tastes. But then as well, I wouldn't like to identify with everything humanity has ever done. Especially if I know that I have only a tenuous connection (or no connection at all) to the people who did it.