avatarSmillew Rahcuef

Summary

The article "9 Things I Learned in 31 Years on the Planet" humorously reflects on the nature of truth and deception, both online and offline, while promoting self-belief and skepticism about statistics and assertive language.

Abstract

In a satirical take on life lessons, the author of the article "9 Things I Learned in 31 Years on the Planet" shares insights about the prevalence of lying in society, the ease of deception online, and the various motivations behind untruths. The piece suggests that while lies can be harmless or even beneficial at times, it's crucial to discern truth from falsehood. It also pokes fun at the use of made-up statistics and the power of assertive language in influencing others. The author emphasizes the importance of believing in oneself and living in the present moment, while also subtly promoting their own Medium content and newsletter.

Opinions

  • The author playfully acknowledges that people lie for various reasons, ranging from harmless jokes to more dubious intentions, such as financial gain or manipulation.
  • Online environments facilitate deception, with the author admitting to using a fake profile picture and ghostwriting services.
  • The article suggests that not all lies are detrimental; some can be protective or affirming, like the author's grandmother's encouragement of his humor.
  • It criticizes the credibility of online earnings, NFTs, and Bitcoins, implying that these are often exaggerated or fabricated.
  • The author mocks the reliability of statistics by stating that almost all stats are made up and by intentionally using numbers that don't add up.
  • Assertive language is highlighted as a tool for persuasion, with the author directly encouraging readers to follow them and subscribe to their newsletter.
  • Self-belief and mindfulness are touted as key strategies for navigating a world filled with misinformation.
  • The author indirectly comments on the commercialization of content creation by mentioning their Medium referral link and the influence of corporate entities like "Big Pharma" and "Big Corpo."

9 Things I Learned in 31 Years on the Planet

Wisdom from an old man

Photo by James Barr on Unsplash

1 — People lie

  • It’s not my birthday today
  • I’m not 31
  • There are less than nine bullet points in this article

2 — It’s easier to lie online

  • It’s not my hat in my profile picture
  • It’s not me
  • I paid someone to ghostwrite this article

3 — Sometimes people lie for good reasons

  • Example: this article
  • Alternative example: my grandma when she tells me I’m funny

4 — Sometimes people lie for bad reasons

  • Example: NFTs, Bitcoins, and screenshot of earnings
  • I wrote NFTs and Bitcoins to trigger the algo and people
  • People often get triggered at the idea of getting triggered (41.1% of the time)

5 — Almost all stats are made up (precisely, 87.3%)

  • The remaining 22.9% are censored by Big Pharma and Big Corpo
  • Numbers above don’t add up on purpose
  • Non-round numbers appear more trustworthy. They imply I did some serious analysis

6 — The best strategy is to believe what’s true

  • It’s all in your head
  • Believe in yourself
  • Close your eyes and live in the present moment (not while you’re driving)

7 — Assertive language influences people’s choices in your favor

Here’s another picture of not me I like.

Photo by James Barr on Unsplash

More wisdom by Smillew …

Smillew is a Medium writer who writes mainly about leadership, his Medium newsletter, and his Medium referral link. No need to follow him; he’ll show up in your feed.

Humor
Life Lessons
Satire
This Happened To Me
Creativity
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