I wrote this with ChatGPT, Grok and Gemini:<\/p>\n
1. Ernest Becker says we build \u201chero systems\u201d to deny our death. I became an Orthodox Jew, streamed on YouTube 5x a week, and joined 12-step groups\u2014I\u2019m covered. If that doesn\u2019t beat death, it at least keeps me too busy to notice I\u2019m dying.<\/p>\n
2. Most people deny death by having kids. I deny death by debating Grok about immigration policy at 11:45pm on a Saturday night.<\/p>\n
3. My hero system used to be \u201cif I say something profound enough, a busty shiksa will love me.\u201d That failed. Now my hero system is \u201cif I livestream enough, Dennis Prager will text me back.\u201d<\/p>\n
4. You know you\u2019ve got a fragile hero system when a bad comment from \u201c@TruthSeeker1488\u201d can collapse your whole sense of immortality.<\/p>\n
5. Becker says we\u2019re all terrified of being worm food. I say\u2014speak for yourself. I\u2019m terrified of being ignored while becoming worm food.<\/p>\n
6. The ancient hero system: slay the dragon, save the village. My hero system: quote Rony Guldmann, alienate my audience, and cry to The Cars.<\/p>\n
7. Becker says culture is a collective denial of death. That explains Instagram. We\u2019re all dying, but we\u2019ve got filters. Look at me, I\u2019m glowing and decaying at the same time!<\/p>\n
8. Sometimes I envy people with simple hero systems\u2014like CrossFit guys or people who sell essential oils. I have to wrestle with death and Maimonides.<\/p>\n
9. My hero system is so conflicted I once tried to impress a girl by quoting Becker while describing the plot of Legends of the Fall. She ghosted me. Honestly, it was an act of mercy.<\/p>\n
10. Denying death is what keeps us sane. But if you\u2019re too good at it, you become unbearable. That\u2019s how you get TED Talk atheists who start cults around hydration and sleep hygiene.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I wrote this with ChatGPT, Grok and Gemini: 1. Ernest Becker says we build \u201chero systems\u201d to deny our death. I became an Orthodox Jew, streamed on YouTube 5x a week, and joined 12-step groups\u2014I\u2019m covered. If that doesn\u2019t beat … Continue reading