Andrew McCluskey

We’re living in an interesting moment: culture has arguably changed more in the last 30 years than in any three decade span in history. Technology supercharged the pace of social change. The internet and smartphones drove change over the last quarter-century, and AI will drive change over the next quarter-century.

A study found that women whose engagement rings cost more than $20,000 were 3.5 times more likely to get divorced compared to those with less expensive rings. Similarly, couples who spent less than $1,000 on their weddings were less likely to get divorced compared to those who spent more.

Online music is both incredibly localized and universal, simultaneously confined to small Discord clubs and capable of being transmitted through electric signals to vibrate speakers around the globe.

Life, put simply, is all about status. I recently read W. David Marx’s book Status and Culture —thanks Bryce Ferguson for the rec—and that fact was my clear takeaway. The book subtly changed how I look at the world; when you start to pay attention, status dictates nearly everything in our lives.

In the book, Marx argues that:

1. There is no human

... See more

You should find and support a scene that resonates with you, whether it's local or virtual. In 1985, you'd play at local bars; in 2024, it might be through Discord. But the essence is the same: you want a community because collective attention is key.