Last month, the EXIT guys had an excellent conversation with Devon Eriksen, author of Theft of Fire and professional Very Good Poaster.

EXIT is a fraternity dedicated to shorting managerial systems and building the human institutions that come next. Learn more here:

We discussed:

* The need for science fiction as a prophetic and inspirational tool, driving innovation in technical fields

* Devon’s vision for a future humanity that is more powerful and more sophisticated, in contrast to the anti-human apocalyptic trends in publishing

* “Woke” media being downstream of the internet’s disruption of traditional media business models that enabled better curation for quality and taste

* The importance of auteurs putting their personal reputation and ego on the line to deliver something that they are proud of

* A right-wing commentariat that masturbates their audience’s feelings of rage and betrayal rather than helping them build

* The need for cultural projects to emerge from organic networks of human taste and personal connection, rather than top-down

Every managerial system that is designed to deliver efficient results at global scale is buckling under the weight of globally democratized communications: what we affectionately call “slop”.

Every applicant tracking system at every major corporation is clogged with hundreds of thousands of fake AI applications. X, the Everything App, is overrun with subcons shoveling AI-generated retard bait for a $3 payout. Movies are written for morons on their phones. The illusion of consensus can be effortlessly created with swarms of bots indistinguishable from the median voter (the only voter that matters).

The technological tools of mass democracy have already been automated beyond human control. Smart people from every discipline are recognizing this rising tide, and the existential need for human curation: of art, of information, of social networks.

The answer to the failure of managerial systems is aristocratic systems: or, if that term is too loaded, we could just say human systems — systems in which individual human judgment (and therefore individual human quality) is a load-bearing structure.

By definition these systems don’t scale fast — maybe don’t scale at all. The only way aristocratic systems compete with democratic ones is if the people they produce are overpoweringly effective, so that two can put ten thousand to flight.

If we want to build anything that can reach above the tide of slop, we need to be in the business of human cultivation.

EXIT is taking a short position in managerial systems, and building the human institutions that will come next. Learn more at exitgroup.us

EXIT News

* Weekly Full Group Calls, Tuesdays at 9PM ET:

* 1/20: Mikkel Thorup from Expat Money, on acquiring productive assets overseas. Recording of this and our conversation with Joshua Sheats coming soon.

* 1/27: Book Club with Johann Kurtz on his book, Leaving a Legacy. (This call will take place at 1PM ET/10AM PT to accommodate Johann’s European time zone.)

* On 1/27, we will also have an evening call at 9PM ET to discuss a new EXIT Strategic Leadership Call.

* 2/3: Brian Patterson on banking in the Caymans for regular fellas.

* Member meetups — Members can check their regional channel or contact DB for full details.

* 1/24: Utah County meetup: Mobile sauna and cold-plunge on the river — come support Danny’s side hustle.

* 1/24: Austin. Cancelled for inclement weather. See chat for rescheduling details.

* 1/24: Dallas. Also cancelled. If you are in the Southeast and in need of mutual aid, please contact your file leader and DB immediately.

* 1/31: New York City.

* 1/31: Ontario (Ice Fishing with Matt G.)

* 1/31: Atlanta.

* 2/3: Salt Lake City.

* 2/7: Washington, DC.

* RSVP links for EXIT cocktail hours in New York City (1/31) and Washington, DC (2/7) available here. EXIT cocktail hours are a great way to get to know your local EXIT guys and find out if full group membership is right for you.

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"If you don't tell stories to your kids, somebody else will": writing cultural DNA with Devon Eriksen

EXIT Podcast (private feed for joe.substack@hootman.org)