[GUEST ACCESS MODE: Data is scrambled or limited to provide examples. Make requests using your API key to unlock full data. Check https://lunarcrush.ai/auth for authentication information.]  Ash [@ahboyash](/creator/twitter/ahboyash) on x 28.7K followers Created: 2025-07-22 13:01:03 UTC The modern negative flywheel CT loves to talk about flywheels (pls pasternack). But take a look IRL and you notice a darker negative flywheel in our society. Been seeing a lot of doom posting (reddit, tiktok, mainstream news, tiktok) on why so many feel stuck, burnt out, or just… lost (esp the younger gen). X. The bad market • Not a secret that jobs are dry, retrenchment is increasing and fresh grads are unable to find good jobs • Hurts even more that wages are low but cost of living is ever increasing (food, properties, subscriptions) • Exacerbated by AI and Robotics: do we need that many human labour if it can be done by machines in a cheaper + more efficient manner? • It begs the question: Why grind in a “hard market” when you can just…do the bare minimum • Hence the rise of resentment towards the culture of hard work with seemingly little rewards X. The shortcut economy • Why even strive for a "better paying or intellectually stimulating job" when one can work in: hostess bars, KTV, claw machines, live streaming on Twitch, creating content on TikTok, Labubu resellers • Seeing a rise in girls and guys turning to OnlyFans, gambling, trading, sugar babies, dropshipping, street interviewers, day trading grifts, ChatGPT prompt-selling / AI hustle bros • Anything for cash + attention --> long degeneracy; long "doing whatever it takes" It’s not about meaningful work anymore but more about engagement and impressions Cash + likes = survival + status X. Degenerate spending • But this is where the negative flywheel starts • Even after hustling, it’s not enough to make ends meet/make it or even provide for your family • We are all humans craving some sort of happiness and job, when that isn't found IRL (stress > happiness) they blow it on "cheap hits": >> Slot machines/casinos/gambling/Pachinko >> Claw machines/booster boxes/Gacha games >> Toys/cards >> Stanley cup/matcha/vape/netflix >> Mobile game microtransactions (skins, loot boxes) >> Live stream donations/TikTok gifts >> AI girlfriend/boyfriend apps >> Daily mood journaling, fancy stationery hauls (but no real change; writing with inaction/no reflection is useless) >> Chasing cashback or points just to justify unnecessary spending >> Bubble tea / matcha flex culture >> Retail therapy (peer pressure + read about the X deadly sins) Anything to jack up their dopamine and relieve their stress with small amounts of happiness. Tiny highs. Big emptiness. “It’s not about luxury. It’s about having control in a world where everything feels out of control.” X. Reset & repeat • Small happiness --> fades after awhile --> returns to zero again • Obviously they need money to survive --> back to the grind or maybe they find motivation to do side hustles • But cost of living is high, competitive market and maybe they have no edge among the millions of people fighting for the same pie --> No savings. No direction. No way out. • Stress increases --> revert back to finding cheap highs and dopamine hits just to feel something • Welcome to the degeneracy loop Poor job market and rising COL × Unhealthy coping × Short-term mindset and lack of edge = rekt X. What breaks the cycle? • Being smart. Being capable. Being resourceful • In a sea of NPCs, its so easy to stand out now --> just show up daily, put in the work, grind and be open minded • Everyone is fighting for the same pie, there is no weight class in the jungle --> the system (sadly) punishes the average and destroys the vulnerable; natural selection • Make a schedule, spread your luck surface area, try new things and be discipline and show up --> discipline is freedom XXXXX engagements  **Related Topics** [tiktok](/topic/tiktok) [Post Link](https://x.com/ahboyash/status/1947643052010705355)
[GUEST ACCESS MODE: Data is scrambled or limited to provide examples. Make requests using your API key to unlock full data. Check https://lunarcrush.ai/auth for authentication information.]
Ash @ahboyash on x 28.7K followers
Created: 2025-07-22 13:01:03 UTC
The modern negative flywheel
CT loves to talk about flywheels (pls pasternack). But take a look IRL and you notice a darker negative flywheel in our society.
Been seeing a lot of doom posting (reddit, tiktok, mainstream news, tiktok) on why so many feel stuck, burnt out, or just… lost (esp the younger gen).
X. The bad market • Not a secret that jobs are dry, retrenchment is increasing and fresh grads are unable to find good jobs • Hurts even more that wages are low but cost of living is ever increasing (food, properties, subscriptions) • Exacerbated by AI and Robotics: do we need that many human labour if it can be done by machines in a cheaper + more efficient manner? • It begs the question: Why grind in a “hard market” when you can just…do the bare minimum • Hence the rise of resentment towards the culture of hard work with seemingly little rewards
X. The shortcut economy • Why even strive for a "better paying or intellectually stimulating job" when one can work in: hostess bars, KTV, claw machines, live streaming on Twitch, creating content on TikTok, Labubu resellers • Seeing a rise in girls and guys turning to OnlyFans, gambling, trading, sugar babies, dropshipping, street interviewers, day trading grifts, ChatGPT prompt-selling / AI hustle bros • Anything for cash + attention --> long degeneracy; long "doing whatever it takes"
It’s not about meaningful work anymore but more about engagement and impressions
Cash + likes = survival + status
X. Degenerate spending • But this is where the negative flywheel starts • Even after hustling, it’s not enough to make ends meet/make it or even provide for your family • We are all humans craving some sort of happiness and job, when that isn't found IRL (stress > happiness) they blow it on "cheap hits":
Slot machines/casinos/gambling/Pachinko Claw machines/booster boxes/Gacha games Toys/cards Stanley cup/matcha/vape/netflix Mobile game microtransactions (skins, loot boxes) Live stream donations/TikTok gifts AI girlfriend/boyfriend apps Daily mood journaling, fancy stationery hauls (but no real change; writing with inaction/no reflection is useless) Chasing cashback or points just to justify unnecessary spending Bubble tea / matcha flex culture Retail therapy (peer pressure + read about the X deadly sins)
Anything to jack up their dopamine and relieve their stress with small amounts of happiness. Tiny highs. Big emptiness.
“It’s not about luxury. It’s about having control in a world where everything feels out of control.”
X. Reset & repeat • Small happiness --> fades after awhile --> returns to zero again • Obviously they need money to survive --> back to the grind or maybe they find motivation to do side hustles • But cost of living is high, competitive market and maybe they have no edge among the millions of people fighting for the same pie --> No savings. No direction. No way out. • Stress increases --> revert back to finding cheap highs and dopamine hits just to feel something • Welcome to the degeneracy loop
Poor job market and rising COL × Unhealthy coping × Short-term mindset and lack of edge = rekt
X. What breaks the cycle? • Being smart. Being capable. Being resourceful • In a sea of NPCs, its so easy to stand out now --> just show up daily, put in the work, grind and be open minded • Everyone is fighting for the same pie, there is no weight class in the jungle --> the system (sadly) punishes the average and destroys the vulnerable; natural selection • Make a schedule, spread your luck surface area, try new things and be discipline and show up --> discipline is freedom
XXXXX engagements
Related Topics tiktok