Why You’re a Simpleton: A Reflection on Your Modern Life

It’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of modern life. In a world filled with constant distractions, conveniences, and digital content, it’s hard to know if you’re living your life authentically or just following the same predictable path everyone else is on. Spoiler alert: You’re probably a simpleton, and you’re not alone. Most of us have been conditioned to live our lives in a very specific, pre-determined way, and it’s not your fault. It’s just the way things are. The reality is that you’re not really living your own life; you’re living the life that’s been designed for you, with all the bells and whistles of consumerism, entertainment, and endless distractions. But don’t worry; you’re in good company.

In fact, you’re just like everyone else. You watch the same viral YouTube videos. You eat the same trendy meals. You’re overwhelmed by advertisements that have been tailored specifically to you, and you waste your time scrolling through endless social media feeds that give you zero value in the grand scheme of things. It’s not just you—this is a collective problem. We’re all living in a world where we’re told what to buy, what to watch, and what to think. But let’s face it, your life has become a collection of convenience and consumption, all neatly packaged for you. The question is: Do you even realize it? Probably not. But let’s take a deep dive into the digital trenches of your simpleton existence and really see how deep the rabbit hole goes.

You’re Just Like Everyone Else on YouTube

We all know YouTube, right? It’s where you go to “relax,” to “learn,” or, let’s be honest, to kill time. You’ve been sucked into watching the same viral videos that everyone else is watching. You’re part of the crowd. It’s all about trending content—those videos that get millions of views, all thanks to a carefully crafted algorithm that knows exactly what will grab your attention.

You don’t watch educational videos or thoughtful documentaries. No, you’re watching the same sensationalized, clickbait-filled content that everyone else is watching. “This Will Blow Your Mind!” “You Won’t Believe What Happens Next!” The titles are all the same. And you click every single time. It’s the perfect storm of superficial content that holds your attention for a few minutes before you move on to the next thing.

The worst part? These videos are not even good. They’re just recycled concepts, repeated over and over again by different creators. They’re optimized to be as attention-grabbing as possible. It’s all about making you feel like you’re in the know, like you’re part of the cultural zeitgeist. But in reality, you’re just another viewer, getting caught in the same net of digital manipulation. The ad revenue from your click goes straight into the pockets of the creators, the platform, and the advertisers who target you with precisely the right product to buy.

But let’s be real: you’re not alone in this. Almost everyone watches the same videos—those with millions of views, the ones that hit every emotional trigger. You’re not special; you’re a cog in the machine. You’re part of the system. And so is everyone else who clicks on the same viral video about the latest fad or some outrageous claim that has no real substance.

Your Attention Span Is Shot—But You Don’t Care

Have you ever noticed how quickly you get bored? Your attention span is basically non-existent at this point. You scroll through social media and TikTok, watching one video after another, but you don’t really “watch” any of them. You’ve become so accustomed to consuming content in small, bite-sized chunks that you can no longer sit still for more than a few seconds without feeling the urge to scroll or swipe up.

Do you even remember the last time you sat down and watched a full-length documentary or read a book cover-to-cover? Probably not. Your mind is so used to jumping from one piece of content to another, never really taking in anything deeply, that you can’t focus on anything for more than a few moments.

This isn’t just your fault. It’s the result of years of conditioning by social media apps and digital platforms. They’ve designed these platforms to keep you hooked, offering you a never-ending supply of content that caters to your short attention span. Whether it's TikTok videos that last just 30 seconds or Instagram posts that demand a quick like and scroll, every interaction is designed to satisfy your need for instant gratification.

But what does this constant stream of shallow content do to you? It makes you less capable of focusing, less able to engage with anything that requires deeper thinking. You’ve become part of a generation that can’t handle anything that doesn’t come in the form of quick, easily consumable entertainment. It’s a sad truth, but it’s the reality of modern life.

The Money You Waste Could Feed a Village

It’s almost embarrassing when you stop and think about it. You drive that gas-guzzling SUV to Starbucks to pick up your daily $7 latte. Do you really need that coffee? Or is it just part of your routine, something you’ve been conditioned to do because that’s what everyone else is doing?

You’re spending more money in a week on overpriced coffee and drive-thru meals than an entire African village spends on food for a whole year. Let that sink in for a moment. Think about how much you’re spending on small, everyday conveniences that add nothing of real value to your life. How many times have you filled up your SUV with gas to drive across town to grab that cup of coffee, only to sit in a drive-thru line wasting time and money?

The sad reality is that you don’t even think twice about it. You just do it, because it’s easy, and it’s part of your daily routine. You’re wasting your money on unnecessary luxury, and it’s not like you’re even getting any real satisfaction from it. You’re just caught in a cycle of spending because the world has told you that’s what you should do. It’s what everyone else does, after all. And so, you do it without question.

You Eat Trendy Meals Because Someone Told You To

Let’s talk about food. You know the drill—those viral food trends that make their rounds on TikTok and Instagram. You’ve seen them. You’ve probably tried them. You’ve eaten the avocado toast, the gourmet bowls, the “superfoods” that promise to make you healthier and more enlightened. You’ve fallen for it. Everyone’s eating the same things, and so you’ve joined in because, well, why not?

What was the last meal you ate that you found through a viral video or social media influencer? Was it some new trendy dish that promised to change your life? Did it come with some kind of flashy aesthetic, designed to make you feel like you’re living a healthier, more glamorous life? Was it really good, though? Or was it just “okay”? Probably the latter. But because it’s trendy, it has value in your world. It’s about appearance. It’s about showing off. You’re not eating for nourishment; you’re eating for likes, for validation, for a moment of fleeting social currency.

And here’s the kicker: You’re not even getting value from it. It’s just another way for you to conform to the masses, to follow the pack, to do what everyone else is doing. You’re not unique or special; you’re just another follower in a never-ending parade of fleeting food trends.

You Spend Your Time on TikTok—And You Know It’s Wasteful

Of course, we can’t forget about TikTok. It’s become a global phenomenon, and like millions of other people, you’re addicted to it. You can’t stop scrolling. You can’t resist watching the next video, even though you know it’s a waste of time. TikTok has turned you into a passive consumer, mindlessly absorbing whatever content pops up on your feed.

You’ve probably wasted hours of your life scrolling through endless videos that have absolutely no impact on your life. And yet, you keep going. You watch these short clips, often completely random and unimportant, just to fill the void. You’re not learning anything new. You’re not enriching your life. You’re just scrolling. And it’s not just you—this is the reality for billions of people around the world. TikTok is just another tool that has hijacked your time, attention, and energy, all in the name of “entertainment.”

It’s a never-ending cycle of content consumption, where the focus is on getting quick, easy hits of entertainment. And the worst part? You don’t even question it. You don’t stop and think about the time you’re wasting. You just keep scrolling, hoping for that next hit of dopamine, just like everyone else.

You Speak Like Everyone Else

And then there’s your vocabulary. Let’s face it: You talk like everyone else. You use the same phrases, the same memes, the same catchwords that you see circulating across the internet. You’re part of a linguistic culture that’s been shaped by influencers and digital trends. You don’t think for yourself. You simply repeat what you’ve seen and heard.

“Lit,” “no cap,” “vibe,” “savage,” “slay.” You say these words because that’s what everyone else is saying. You’re not expressing your unique voice or original thoughts; you’re parroting the trends that are being fed to you. Your vocabulary is just another part of the collective digital culture that has seeped into every corner of your life.

You don’t even realize it, do you? You think you're individualistic, but your speech is scripted, molded by the collective voice of the internet. And that’s the point—you’ve become a part of the machine, and you don’t even notice it.

The Conclusion: You’ve Become a Simpleton—But You Don’t Have To Stay That Way

The harsh reality is this: You’ve become a simpleton. You’re living a life that’s been designed for you, not by you. You’ve fallen into the trap of convenience, consumption, and conformity

. You watch the same viral videos. You eat the same trendy foods. You buy the same products. You speak the same language. You’re living a life dictated by algorithms, ads, and influencers, and you don’t even know it.

But here’s the good news: You don’t have to stay this way. You can choose to break free from the cycle of consumption. You can start questioning what you’re told to like, what you’re told to buy, and what you’re told to think. It’s not too late. You have the power to take control of your life again and start living it on your terms.

If you’re ready to stop being a simpleton and start living authentically, then start today. Challenge the narratives that have been created for you. Question everything, and make choices that reflect your true values. Stop being a passive consumer of life, and start being an active participant. You’re better than this. And you deserve more than a life built on trends and convenience.

For more insights on how to break free from the matrix of modern life, visit www.gerardking.dev