Social capital we build

Social capital

Our parents bequeath us a certain amount of social capital. From there it is up to us to utilise it and add to it where possible. We are jinxed from the outset or bequeathed a huge head start. It is nothing but unfair. That unfair disparity galls those that see others take what they have for granted. Many of us, far too many of us do not realise what they have been given. There is good reason why we select the most attractive partner available. Physically strong attractive males and beautiful females have untold advantages granted to them that no money can buy. The social capital that your children start life with depends on genetics. It can be boosted by a parent’s ability to nurture too. Choosing a healthy, attractive partner is very sensible. It increases your children’s likelihood of having a bountiful satisfying life, incredibly so.

We can increase our social capital by deft plying the political landscape. Making good connections and conniving. The usual trick of charm, fake or otherwise in pursuit of maximum popularity works wonders. It can take a long time to build social capital, and all that hard work can be destroyed remarkably quickly by defamation or accusations of sexual impropriety whether vexatious/frivolous or not. One small misunderstanding can cost us enormously in the social capital stakes. Damaging someone else’s social capital rids us of competition.

One measure of our social capital can be seen in our ability to bully, to organise events or to coordinate social gatherings. Social capital can often trump financial capital. Buying friends is a folly. Those with plenty of financial wealth can be lonely. What is the point in having the means to travel if you have no one to share the joys with. No one to recount the tales to, no one that cares about your travails. A party held in less salubrious venues can bring more gladness than a party with mere pomp and ceremony. If life is a pursuit of gratification and happiness, then social capital enables these feelings to flourish.

Lots of energy is used educating ourselves, enhancing ourselves, and collecting material wealth. In retrospect we wonder if it was worth the toll it took on us. A lot of stress and heartache for what? We spent our days pursuing dreams that turn out to be chasing rainbows. Making sure your appearance is as fine as it can be is not daft though. Makeup, delightfully impressive clothing, and all that attention to detail has a valid purpose. It helps people make positive judgements about us. We judge continuously. All of us judge one another. We listen far more to those with lots of social capital. The respect we have for someone is based on it. We treat people accordingly to our evaluation of their social capital.

Whilst mankind had pushed and prodded members of society to behave in a way that is non-discriminatory, fair, even handed and just, animal-kind overrules these efforts. In the jungle the big male fends of the interlopers to maintain access to the females. Big beasts duel for that prized place at the helm. Human jungles are no different. It is a pretence that we have come a long way from these evolutionary ways.

Each spot on the globe has vastly different rules and culture. This entices the frog to make a careful choice as to what mind-body they will receive. Life in many locations will be somewhat different depending on what male/female classification they are likely to get. Being physically stronger and highly attractive has undeniable advantages no matter what pond you find yourself in.

Do what you can to add to your social capital by all means but stop and think about all the time you can waste hoping that you will get what you want. Some things will need financial capital, other things require social capital. It is no easier building a spaceship to visit distant stars as it is to achieve many earthly things. You have been granted a mind, body, and soul and with perseverance, determination, and rancour you can push the boundaries, but only so far.

Life is unfair for you as a human or a frog. We believe, falsely, that we can tinker with the rules in society, with the taxation, with the social norms to make it fairer for all. We can’t make it fairer for all. We can make it fairer for some by being selective. When we are selective, we create something horrible. Frogs can be rather noisy. Noisy frogs disturb the peace. Rather than fine all frogs that make too much noise, we shall punish just the green and purple frogs. If you want to create a fairer world, imprint one word on your forehead. Consistency. Fine all frogs, visiting frogs, big frogs, small frogs, rich frogs, all frogs. Consistent criticisms. Rules applied consistently to all frogs with give no allowances to those that believe in different ideologies.