I know, I know – you’re not supposed to take them seriously. When the woke speak, you’re supposed to applaud their bravery, not think about the implications.

It turns out I’m such a rebel.

This woke sentiment wears a few skinsuits, but one example of it is:

“You can’t be racist against white people!”

Let’s unpack this.

The logic – such as it is – is that you can’t oppress those in power. A peasant can’t discriminate against a king.

I don’t have to point out how racist this is. To assume that no black person could ever, under any circumstances, is absurd and insulting. Even if you throw the woke a bone and assume systemic racism is real and significant, it still doesn’t justify YCBRAWP.

All it takes is one non-white person to get some power – any power – even a middle management position in a tiny company – and then use that power to discriminate against their white employees.

If racism is an abuse of power motivated by bigotry, then YCBRAWP is an insane take. Walk through a crowd and you’ll literally pump into someone who contradicts that. It won’t even take you a minute.

YCBRAWP claims that Obama, while president, couldn’t have abused his power even in theory to hurt white folks for being white.

But even if we grant that – somehow – it still falls apart.

If only white people have power, then YCBRAWP because racism is an abuse of power motivated by bigotry. But by that definition of racism, racial slurs aren’t racist. Sure, a boss using them to belittle his employees is an abuse of power, but so would any form of bullying.

Someone yelling the n-word at a passing stranger wouldn’t count as racist.

And so here the woke logic – already weak and broken – disintegrates.

They say YCBRAWP because racism is only about power. If it’s even mostly about power, then you could be racist against white people. YCBRAWP demands a tight, precise definition on

They also say using mean words is racist. But hurling mean words at a stranger isn’t about power – peasants can sing degrading songs about their kings in taverns. Language is an even playing field.

So if mean words are racist, then you can be racist against white people by saying mean words at them. But YCBRAWP because racism is only about power.

Jordan Peterson said the best predictor for someone being woke is having low verbal intelligence. The correlation there was better than between IQ and grades.

This is how wokefolk can have two contradictory definitions of racism, slide between them based on whichever suits them in the moment, and not even notice.

And also how they can’t spot the flaw in “a woman is anyone who identifies as a woman”.

It’s sad, really. Having such a poor grasp of language makes them easily manipulated.

But that’s a story for another time.

In fact, I talk about that in the June issue of Reignite the West.

In the meantime, check this out:

https://christianhypnotism.com/ysiay

This morning, I played around with an AI app for creating music.

I wrote some lyrics. Then, quickly and for free, this tool turned them into a bop.

This is the end of the music industry.

Except, of course, that it’s not. We’ll still appreciate human-crafted music and I can prove it.

Chessbots have been better than even the best humans for decades now. There’s no contest. The Stockfish algorithm has an Elo rating about 1000 points higher than the typical Grand Master.

Even so, people still study chess.

They compete against each other for fun. Some even make a career out of it.

If anything, chessbots have made more people able to play chess. Imagine only being able to play against friends or randos. Even with the internet, that could be too difficult or intimidating.

I’m not saying this will be harmless. Many composers might struggle to find work as more folks turn to these tools. Then again, maybe this will spark an appetite for music. I know I’m now thinking about all the ways I can use original songs in what I do. If that leads me to hire a real composer – someone I can guide and direct better than an AI – that’s an extra commission that wouldn’t have existed otherwise.

I’m an optimist for what this means for music, even if I don’t envy musicians.

Anyway, here are some handcrafted, human-made, lovingly created links:

https://christianhypnotism.com/ysiay

From the political Left: “Churches indoctrinate!”

From the political Right: “Universities indoctrinate!”

Is either correct? Are both are?

Or do folks change their minds because they’re educated?

On the surface, any take could work. People go to a place and come out with different opinions. Maybe that was because they learned, reflected, debated and heard from a diverse group of intellectuals.

Universities pretend to be this.

But there’s a simple set of tests.

A group of people will emerge from a place of genuine learning with different views from each other. They’ll argue their points well and dispassionately – after all, they’ve had a lot of practice. And all their arguments will drip with nuance.

Indoctrinated folks emerge with identical opinions to each other. They aren’t articulate because “discussions” meant regurgitating talking points, even if you don’t understand them. Any disagreement triggers them and they see things in primitive absolutes.

Universities indoctrinate.

Meanwhile at Christian gatherings, I’ve seen people bring up the evils of climate change, misogyny or racism. I’ve also seen folks bring up the evils of immigration, gay marriage and Islam. Some of the discussions get interesting but it stays respectful. They know how to agree to disagree.

Churches educate.

Now, I have to be graceful here. Obviously there are exceptions here. There are smart and dumb folks, good learners and poor learners, flexible thinkers everywhere.

Some university experiences leave you smarter and more well-rounded.

I would say that, except uni students are too busy simping for a country that despises them. As in, would gaol them without hesitation for anything they do.

Oh well.

On the topic of learning things and mental flexibility:

https://christianhypnotism.com/ysiay

My brain latched onto a new obsession this last week:

Chess.

As far as procrastination goes, it beats most of the alternatives. And I’m not bad at it. I mean, I’m not great, but I’m doing well for having only studied it for a few days. Already I beat low-ranking humans half the time and consistently (but not always) beat bots with Elo rankings up to 1300.

I have a ways to go before I’d say I’m good at it.

But that’s okay – losing is great because every failure tells you something. And when you fail often, you begin to see patterns in how you fail.

My biggest flaw in my thinking used to be my lack of precision. Whether in sports, language, writing of Christian conditioning, I was great at creativity and adaptability. Following set patterns, though? Working efficiently? I used to struggle with that.

Now… well, I’m not skilled at that, but I wouldn’t call it a weakness.

I see that in my chess games. I can execute set opens competently but not excellently. My game gets better when I’m free to get creative with it.

But I get flustered easily. That’s something I can still work on. In coaching, working out and now chess, I can get so overwhelmed and distracted by cycles within cycles that I lose sight of the obvious.

I’ve unnecessarily – and to no advantage – lost my queen to an enemy pawn more than once.

When I’m think of cycles within cycles, I know how to ride a particular cycle of thought into feeling grounded. Chess is good practice with this. In time, I might overcome this too.

It means an aggressive, talented and methodical player can dismantle my attacks and wreck me, even with a material disadvantage.

That’s okay – I’m not embarrassed when someone like that beats me.

It’s always a good learning experience.

And it’s great to find a new wholesome fixation. It’s already changing the way I think.

Just as Your Story Isn’t About You will change the way you think.

If it’s to do with people, you’ll see it differently after you read, reread and apply it:

https://christianhypnotism.com/ysiay

Thou shalt not murder – that’s an easy one. 

If it were the way folks often translate it – thou shalt not kill – that’s harder. Christian ethics says you’re allowed to kill in self-defence, using violence to prevent violence. 

Most ethical systems agree. 

But there comes a point where following that breaks one of the biggest commandments: 

Love thy neighbour as thyself. 

There’s an ethical curveball for you: when you love your neighbour and hate their sin, how do you treat them? 

I can’t rule definitively on that one – just if you reach straight away for the death penalty, you’re probably doing it wrong. 

My expertise lies more in applied psychology than theological ethics. 

That’s why I’m confident in selling this, not edicts: 

https://christianhypnotism.com/ysiay

Plenty of men have opted out of the dating market these days.

“It’s too hard to meet a woman! My life is so much more peaceful!”

Please. Taking the easy, selfish way out is cowardice. If that’s the path you want to walk down, fine – just admit you’re taking the childish option here.

So I’d never say that men should stop talking to women. They’re not all the vain, materialistic, bear-choosing psychopaths you sometimes think they are. Even if many are, that’s not all of them.

Giving up on all women means giving up on the future. Your duty is to figure out how to make it work.

But please, brother, stop showering them with undeserved praise, attention and money.

A good yardstick for decisions and philosophies is Beauty, Truth and Goodness. If something is all three, it’s excellent. If it’s none of those, it’s terrible.

(By this yardstick, woke ideology is 0/3 and is therefore awful.)

Attractive women overflow with Beauty. A gorgeous, radiant, feminine soul might be one of the most beautiful things in the world.

Appreciate it when you see it because there’s not enough of it in the world.

But it’s not True that a Beautiful woman deserves much for that. Your value comes from what you provide for other people. It probably takes a lot of effort to make a few hundred dollars – and if you can make that sort of cash quickly and easily, it’s probably because you’ve studied, taken risks and figured out something difficult.

And yet a casual browse through social media will show thousands of women expecting that from you, just for the privilege of a first date with them.

No. As precious as Beauty is, hard work is rarer and more valuable to society. If you earned your money, then they need you more than you need them.

And none of this is Good. Take a young man fawning over some babe who likes stringing him along. He’s a classic simp, messaging her every day and dropping everything to do favours for her.

That’s not Good for him, obviously. He could focus on women who appreciate him – or himself.

It’s not Good for the women. Being worshipped by losers is terrible for the psyche. Think of any celebrity you don’t like – this is what they live through. And why they think people should listen to their oh-so unique and interesting opinions.

This is how you get insane takes from women like how they should get paid to just exist, bears are safer than men, women are just you know better you know and all men should die.

None of that is anywhere near being Beautiful, Good or True.

And yet women not only have these ideas but they celebrate them in each other. Men don’t do that – we can’t afford to. Whenever men do something stupid, other men call them out on it.

Example: a few seconds ago when I told you that giving up on dating is stupid and cowardly. I see the appeal of the MGTOW movement but the fact it keeps growing is a huge disappointment.

My point is it’s bad for Beautiful women when you worship them for just existing.

And if it’s bad now, imagine how bad it is for them when they’re in the 40s and the supply of adoration runs dry.

Going cold turkey isn’t pretty.

The solution here is simple. Admire Beauty, but don’t mistake it for a real achievement. Doing things and having character are much more important – and more deeply Beautiful in the long run.

Simple doesn’t mean easy, though, and there’ll always be losers to simp for pretty girls.

Be a man of substance and stop simping. The culture follows men like you.

Especially if you’re the sort of man who knows about this:

https://christianhypnotism.com/ysiay

You know this already, but you probably don’t act on it.

Neither do I.

But we can together make some little changes when we focus on this:

Nature.

You can wear more natural clothes – more wool, cotton, silk and hemp, and less polyester.

Natural light – sunshine over LEDs.

Natural food. This one goes without saying.

And even natural skills.

It’s strange to think about how domesticated and out of touch we are – then we wonder why we’re so miserable. If you’ve ever seen a predator in a zoo pacing in its cage, you can relate to that.

Because maybe you already live a natural life of fresh air, clean water, natural fibres and good food.

But if you aren’t using your brain the way God and evolution intended for it, you’ll feel off.

It’s funny how much better you might feel with just a bit of this:

https://christianhypnotism.com/ysiay

It’s what you want to do, anyway.

That’s not a hard prediction – most folks would rather be useful, effective and admired. The few who don’t – pitiable wretches – don’t read stuff like this.

So I say with confidence you want to serve.

Not serve anyone at all – only those worthy of it.

And not on anyone else’s terms.

Good for you. Wanting to improve the lives of those around you is an important step. It’s essential to living a life of meaning.

But it’s not sufficient.

Wanting to serve doesn’t mean much until you level up your ability to.

Then?

Well, then magic can happen.

Magic like:

https://christianhypnotism.com/ysiay

Woman on TikTok: “The man in my life is such a loser!”

Comment section: “Grumble grumble grumble! You should dump him!”

Woman on TikTok: “Oh, uh, actually, I lied, he’s great…”

Comment section: “Dump him anyway! You deserve better!”

Yeah… social media sure has gotten fun, hey?

I’m no longer surprised the Bible has excellent advice about how to deal with it. A younger me would have been – now I realise that, no matter how modern the problem seems, the answer is in there.

A fool’s lips bring strife, and his mouth invites a flogging. A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to himself.

Proverbs 18:6-7 (RSV)

When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is prudent.

Proverbs 10:19 (RSV)

A perverse man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.

Proverbs 16:28 (RSV)

For lack of wood the fire goes out; and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.

Proverbs 26:20 (RSV)

This isn’t an exhaustive list of relevant passages.

It doesn’t even cover everything the Proverbs have to say about it.

You spend enough time on social media and you realise why gossip is a hated sin. It’s not to keep poor oppressed women from comparing notes like some bitter harpies claim. It’s because gossip is awful for everyone.

Social media is a gossip machine. Folks post inane stuff – mostly untrue – and then strangers comment on it like they know what they’re talking about.

It’s gossip.

And it doesn’t help anyone. It’s a wickedly weak mind that wants to talk about people so desperately.

“Says the guy who won’t shut up. How many hundreds of days have you been posting this manure?”

I don’t talk about people, though. Even when discussing famous folks, I tend to obfuscate.

Because the individual isn’t important.

It’s what you can learn and apply that matters.

On that note, here’s something for your noggin that’s not condemned by the Bible dozens of times over:

https://christianhypnotism.com/ysiay

This isn’t an original sentiment.

That’s for a reason – there’s a lot of wisdom here.

And I’m writing about this now because I got a fresh reminder of it. The last few days, I’ve felt off my game. Tired, unfocused, slow.

I’ve still been getting things done, but nowhere near as much as I would like.

I just thought it was a lot of hard work catching up with me. These curious emails you get daily aren’t the only thing I have going on. There’s a lot more writing – thousands of words more – plus I’m designing some things that’ll wrinkle your socks.

Between that, my gym training, too little sleep (I know, I know, I should be better about that) and plenty of social events, I’ve been running myself a bit thin.

But when I went to the gym today, I knew it was something more.

Five minutes in and I could barely breathe. Ten minutes and I thought my head was going to burst into flame.

I stuck with my full routine, even if I dialled back the intensity. It’s time to take a short break, though. I might be coming down with something or it’s my body’s way of telling me to cool it.

Fair enough – I’ll listen.

And if I hadn’t gone to the gym, pushed myself to my limits and found the cracks in my armour, I wouldn’t have heard it.

Failure is good because how you fail is instructive. In my case, I couldn’t summon my usual physical power because my body needed it. Good to know.

Better to be aware of that than to stumble through, operating at 60% and not knowing why.

The cracks tell you where the weak points are and what needs patching.

Bless the cracks. No one else will give you such clear and useful information.

It does mean some of my content might be late. I’ll do my best to keep the material flowing though.

In the meantime, you can get your eyes on this:

https://christianhypnotism.com/ysiay