The High Cost of Goodness in a World of Useless Shit
I have always been drawn to classical art, but lately, one image speaks to me: the angel slaying the dragon. This fight between love and evil is real. I actually feel the meaning of this painting now. It represents a universal truth—we must defeat the darkness within our reality to let the light in. Today, that dragon isn’t just a myth; it lives in our souls, politics, social feeds, and divisions.
The Trap of the “Cult” Personality
We live in an era of “cult figures”—eloquent manipulators who sell easy answers, incredible stories, and punchy headlines. They claim the system or community is rotten while building their own rotten empires.
Why do we fall for it? Because we are wired to believe. We make choices based on emotion, not facts. It takes a second to sign up for a lie that makes us feel good, but it may take a lifetime to uncover a difficult truth. Nonsense prevails.
The psychology of people remains the same across centuries, nationalities, and work. Ancient texts present us with philosophical lessons in quotations when life becomes hard or dire. The same lessons ring true today despite centuries of history.
Making a quick buck via deliberate manipulation of the public is an evil act. However, because it’s so easy to accomplish, cult-like figures are so popular. They manipulate your emotions and conflate different topics to keep you hooked on their riveting storylines. They denounce science, yet throw scientific words to sound authoritative. They overwhelm you with props and arguments too complex to check in real-time, using crocodile tears and staged performances to mask their dragon and make you believe!
Why does it take such a long time to see the glimmering facts? Yet, it takes a minute to sign up for an emotional manipulation? We are creatures that must believe in something or someone. Our beliefs can cross over our rational thinking, but we still make our choices based on emotions, not facts. Cultlike personalities are masterful at twisting our feelings to favor their lies….
Next time you listen to someone talk convincingly, ask yourself what that person gains by telling you stories. Check a few arguments yourself. Do the research.
Every community has a bunch of people with the same faults. When someone preaches that the scientific community is rotten, there’s some truth in that, but another community is rotten too because of the same people in that circle. We are all ego-driven. Whether it’s a politician, a scientist, an artist, or a neighbor, everyone has a “self” to protect. Let’s stop vilifying one group over another. Rather, focus on each issue separately without conflating it with other topics, historical facts, nationality, or religious beliefs.
The High Cost of Doing Good
I’ve realized something incredibly frustrating: it is easy to create stupid and useless shit. It’s easy to lie, steal, and betray. But creating something genuinely good? That takes months of knocking on closed doors, spending money, and endless effort. Lying takes zero work. Most people choose the easy path of manipulation because the search for truth is exhausting, and often, nobody seems to care enough to help uncover it. We are lucky if, after knocking a hundred closed doors, one opens…
The truth remains hidden because no matter how much time someone spends researching the topic, making an insane effort to bring it to light, the focus is on an eloquent cult-like personality, not the facts. The world has always had such figures vilifying those who resisted the cult, and sometimes they were even crucified or burned at the stake for their truth. But at the end of the day, a week, a year, or a century, the truth emerges somehow. It just takes a long time to lift a veil of evil to see past events in a new light.
The Courage to Admit We Were Scammed
Many of us have been victims of scams, big or small. I was raised in a family where “appearance” was everything, so I know how humiliating it is to admit you were fooled. It’s difficult to admit that you were scammed, isn’t it? I have been scammed several times in my life, and those scars are now my armor. I recognize the traps. People are terrified to admit they were wrong because they want to appear “normal” or perfect. Are you scared to admit your friend scammed you? Staying silent only lets the dragon grow. Scammers have shallow emotions and big ambitions. They continue to steal from us, driven by quick profits.
I think people should stop fighting with each other based on religious or political beliefs. Instead, we must unite against evil collectively. This fight can start with small efforts in our daily lives. Sometimes it’s easier said than done, I know, but we can keep trying by making thoughtful choices daily. Not all of us may unite. The unification takes hold of different ideals. Those who do unite are not interested in quick returns, obsessive lust for money, and other easy ways to cheat.
Becoming the rebel in resistance
I used to think I had to save the world. I don’t. It’s not my obligation to make people see. It isn’t my job to make you believe me, nor is it my responsibility to defend every political side. If you are waiting for a hero to solve your problems, you will be waiting forever. Become a hero yourself.
If you want to see change, do it yourself, don’t wait for someone else to solve your problems. I can’t solve everyone’s issues. I’m only trying to solve what I can around me. Maybe this is a place where it all starts. Solve your problems to see change around you.
My philosophy is simple now. I am selective about who I let into my life because “non-judgment” didn’t work. I focus on small wins—helping a stranger or saving a kitten.
I’m also skeptical. When someone is incredibly convincing, ask: What do they gain by telling me this? Or why am I so lucky? I try not to repeat my mistakes. I can only express my honest opinion and facts the way I can in my art and writing. I can only try to paint the divine beauty of heaven. I can only learn to trust myself more, make conscious decisions, and enjoy life as it exists, and life has everything in it.
If I don’t resist the spread of evil, who will? We slay the dragon by making thoughtful choices every day and refusing to let eloquent lies dim our light.
Veronica
