I finally finished that Peter Thiel biography, "The Contrarian," yesterday. It gave me some insight into the origins of his right-wing beliefs and the reasons he would do some of the things he's done, like back Donald Trump for president -- but I just fundamentally do not understand people who feel their only allegiance is to themselves. Who feel no obligation to support society. These go-it-alone types believe their own mythology, that they are "builders" who have done it all on their own, somehow ignoring the fact that they drive the same roads, call the same police, benefit from the same clean air and enjoy the same civil order that we all do. And that all comes from paying taxes and supporting society.
It's interesting that he thinks of himself at least nominally as a Christian and grew up in a Christian household, because I can't think of anything more fundamentally un-Christian than hoarding and sheltering wealth. Than building a retreat in New Zealand so you can ultimately escape the world that you have tried to push into chaos. And as a gay man, how does he not recognize some debt to progressives for backing the legal changes that have enabled him to, for example, marry his husband?
I just don't get people who put money first. It seems a very empty way to live.
But anyway, in my opinion, there's a lot of weirdness there -- and more than a bit of self-loathing -- and the end result seems like a complex, intelligent, selfish man who just doesn't seem very happy in his own skin.
And that's probably more than you ever wanted to hear about Peter Thiel today.
I was hoping to get out and walk another section of the Green Chain, because it's been more than a month since I walked the last segment -- but we'll see if that actually happens. It's sunny out and I think it's going to rain tomorrow, so it's kind of now-or-never, but I bet the paths are muddy as heck from all our recent precipitation. I may tackle it anyway.
All my e-mailing did succeed in retrieving some overdue books, so I was happy about that, but there are still quite a few outstanding. I hope those kids are tearing their rooms apart looking for them over the weekend so I don't have to keep nagging next week!
(Photo: The always-scenic Finchley Road, a few weeks ago. Yes, that is sarcasm.)
42 comments:
I don't like people who keep millions of dollars to themselves, but on the other hand I certainly wouldn't mind having a bit more myself.
The kids hoarding library books are like mini-Peter Thiels. Tell 'em you will be sending an elite squad from Putrid's Russian army round if they don't give the books back.
I can’t even think about Peter Thiel without getting angry. The always-scenic Finchley Road doesn’t help much. But the wooden chair frame looks like quality. Did you take it home for restoration?
I've been very critical of Thiel, and I can't grasp his thinking at all. Nor that of libertarians who use the public advantages while wanting to destroy the source. Now librarians, that's a different matter!
Try reading up on narcissism, that is what you are describing.
Great wealth shields people from reality.
I hate to boil Thiel down to one thing, but the fact is he's a conservative Republican who cares only about himself and no one else.
Not really very Christ-like.
Hope you were able to get your hike in! It is good to take advantage of a sunny day!
Does Thiel have any redeeming qualities?
I can't imagine going anywhere today. The wind that's been forecast is here and it's getting cold. This is weird.
I have no idea who Peter Thiel is beyond what you've said here. Sounds like another selfish self centered asshole so he's obviously a republican.
I don't understand people who think they have no obligation to others. None of us get through this life without help from others. I also can't understand how a gay man can be a republican. They seem to be at odds with eachother. I think you're right though, there is probably some self loathing involved which is so sad. He also moved a lot as a child and that messes with kids brains, never letting them develop strong relationships or ties with others.
The very rich have big plans on their big islands and big boats, thinking that once the wars have cleared the planet on their behalf, they will have everything they need. It's just too bad they will have over-heated the planet and made it uninhabitable. Aww...
I was interested to see what your commenters think might be the reason for this man's greed and selfishness -- the same thing, I guess. I don't know anything about him but from what you describe, he sounds like someone seeking satisfaction from outside rather than inside. Something a lot of us do, either because we don't know better or because we're afraid of what we might find.
As always, your photos amaze me. How in heck you manage to find so much to snap pictures of!
-Kate
Maybe the "christian" idea is what makes him so selfish. In our commune days, we welcomed a former now openly gay priest (he was gay all along of course just spent a couple of years as a priest) to stay with us for a while and he actually brought his own fridge and insisted to label all his things so nobody would touch or use any of it. He left to work for an NGO in Kenya, hard to believe, never heard from him again.
My grandmother used to pray that her nine living children would all have enough to cover their needs and some of their wants but not so much as to lose purpose or worry overmuch about losing what they had materially acquired. She was a wise woman.
I hope you are able to get out for another walk. I was going to do that yesterday and ended up never leaving the house. Maybe I'll do better today.
You are a very determined reader. I probably would have put that book down part way and never picked it up again. I've done it before.
Thank you for reading the book about Peter Thiel so I don't have to. He's such a selfish monster, they are all.
I don't know anything about Peter Thiel and it sounds like I don't want to. I would just get angry about his beliefs and selfishness.
I agree with what Margaret said above. As a Christian, it bothers me when folks are so hypocritical. It's hard to convince the world that we're truly not all like that. (or at least sincerely try not to be like that)
Thanks for giving the Peter Thiel update. I've read about him here and there and just think -- uh, no.
Well, none of us would turn it down, I suppose. Thiel does use some of his money to fund new technology, but obviously it's partly in anticipation of a profit.
You'd think it would be enough to write their parents, but even that is sometimes ineffective.
Ha! I did not. I am being very selective about what I pick up on streets these days!
I don't understand that psychology either. I think HE would argue that our current system doesn't really work, and he wants something that produces bolder advancements -- but those would come at the expense of so many people who depend on our existing social order.
Basically! And perhaps narcissists attract, hence his support for Trump.
It's true. He really does live in his own bubble.
I often feel that way when I see these so-called "Christians" espousing their uber-Capitalistic attitudes and intolerance. WWJD?
I went! See next post. :)
The kindest thing I can say about him is that he THINKS he is advancing humanity by funding technology. He thinks that's the way forward and he's been frustrated what he sees as stagnation since the birth of the Internet and social media. He does not seem to care about individual people much at all.
He supported Trump in 2016, so that gives you an idea! He's part of the economic engine funding the MAGA movement, along with the Mercers, and he's a mentor to several current conservative political candidates including Blake Masters and J.D. Vance.
I know some gay Republicans, and for them it often seems that financial considerations outweigh social ones. They're more concerned about the economy, the markets, that kind of thing, than they are about social changes -- even ones that ultimately would support them.
Oh, and not only did he move a lot, but he lived his formative years in South Africa during apartheid -- and that has GOT to mess with a person's head.
I just don't get people with these dark, apocalyptic visions of the future. If they think it's going to be so bad, wouldn't they do all they could to change it?
He definitely strikes me as someone who struggles to accept himself. All the money, the driven profiteering, is a sort of armor.
That's amazing! Some people have very peculiar ideas about Christianity. I wonder how he fared in Kenya?
That is definitely the sweet spot, right there -- cover the needs and some of the wants. Your grandmother was wise indeed.
It was an interesting book, actually, despite the fact that I didn't like the subject much. I wanted to learn more about what he thinks and why, partly because, as Pixie said above, it's hard for me to imagine why a gay man would think that way.
Even when I was in college I used to wonder about people who studied business just to make money. I don't get that kind of motivation.
It's good to know something about him, because he's still out there influencing our elections and our political system.
I think most people know there are good Christians as well as misguided ones. In fact I think most Christians are good. The noisy fringe element is the one we often hear, though.
He apparently lives in L.A., at least part of the time. (When he's not hiding out in New Zealand or Hawaii.)
Everything you said about Thiel and his ilk -- I couldn't agree more.
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