Brain Vomit #45 Protectors of the Status Quo

How dare you try something new? How dare you see things differently? Do you think you are better than us? What makes you think you can change things? This is now how it’s supposed to be done. Stick to the rules and do the same thing that has been done a thousand times before. Don’t change things. Don’t make me think harder.

I call these people the protectors of the status quo. They are everywhere: in technology, in business, in politics, etc. Huge deniers that a better future is possible and the best days are behind us. They wish things could be the way they used to be, though probably they weren’t any happier then. A romanticized version of themselves in times past remains in their memory. They protect the status quo because they are afraid of the future, change might be an inconvenience. Afraid of becoming obsolete. In the bike industry these used to be some of the “Steel is real!” guys, but now you see it with Carbon fiber guys as well with the emergence of 3D printed metals, they are afraid of being replaced. No more demand for mediocre work. The ones who are truly talented in their craft (no matter how old the craft is) don’t voice their opinion, they are too busy working.

My advice to deal with these people? Don’t be influenced by them, you’ll become a jaded person just like them, incapable of being happy. They are the minority and have lots of time to waste. Spending most of the time on the internet voicing out their opinions. But remember they are still the minority. The only thing that brings them joy is watching people pushing the limits fail. Even though for those pushing the limits going too far is good, otherwise how would you know where the limit is? Back to the drawing board and reiterate. My advice is to reiterate and continue pushing the limits, continue learning and keep your mind open. It’s ok to be an skeptic, but a denyer is just dumb and ignorant. Keep moving forward, eventually they’ll learn to cope with your old ideas. But anything new and groundbreaking they will hate.