putting these tweets here on tumblr bc holy shit did they just explain a lot
Wait what
but wouldn’t explaining said thing, give up that advantage, thus restoring equality ?
or is it the action of explaining to someone something they know that gives an implication that you think they don’t know it ? but that would imply a universal expectation of knowledge and would thus exclude people from obtaining that information because no one thinks to explain it, because they think you should know that thing, thus bringing shame to anyone who has to ask, which seems worse than just possibly giving someone information they already have
I’m so confused
The point is not the actual material reality or it’s logic or explanations or knowledge or anything actually materialy useful
The point is what it looks like to a bystander
If you make someone else look like the dummy that doesn’t know this thing that you do then you win! And people hate losing
The Hierarchy is a zero sum game that depends on how people perceive you
You win Authority and a higher position in the hierarchy by taking it from someone else
If I appear as if I know more than you to others then I win.
I win, I get to decide, I am in control which means I have more Authority than you and if I win against everyone else in a group in a few additional unspoken competitions then I get to lead as well
As you can imagine people don’t like it when others take Authority from them
Whether you’re correcting a teacher or “showing off your superior knowledge” the other person fears that you might take a piece of whatever Authority they have.
