The Trauma Economy is Out of Control

"You're too mean."

I heard that recently, and honestly? Fair. I AM mean sometimes. I make fun of people. I call things out. I'm a contrarian. But here's what nobody talks about: meanness is quality control for civilization.

We live in a culture of performative niceness where nobody wants to be the person who says "this sucks." LinkedIn is full of people commodifying their trauma for engagement. Startups pitch buzzwords instead of solutions. Everyone nods politely instead of asking "wait, is this actually good?"

In this video, I break down:
✅ Why criticism prevents mediocrity from spreading
✅ The uncomfortable truth about the "trauma economy"
✅ How we've turned vulnerability into a growth hack
✅ Why your closest friends are the ones who roast you
✅ The difference between being cruel and maintaining standards

THE EXAMPLES:
I told my friend he was stinky (and it worked)
A sales competition where someone used their dad's death to sell motorcycles
LinkedIn posts that connect diarrhea to financial advice (I wish I was joking)

THE POINT:
We can have acceptance AND standards. We can be kind AND call out bullshit. We can love people AND tell them the truth. Sometimes being "mean" enough to say "this is ridiculous" is the only thing standing between us and complete cultural breakdown.

This is my first YouTube video. I'd love to hear your thoughts - where's the line between authentic sharing and trauma performance? Drop your take in the comments.

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TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Someone Called Me Mean
0:45 - The Problem With Niceness Culture
1:30 - Story: The Stinky Friend
2:45 - Why This Goes Beyond Personal Hygiene
3:15 - The Motorcycle Sales Competition
4:15 - The Trauma Economy (LinkedIn Examples)
6:00 - The Irony: We're ALL Doing It
7:15 - The Uncomfortable Truth
8:30 - Quality Control for Civilization
9:30 - Conclusion: Standards + Acceptance

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