Nietzsche is describing what we now call the NPC... not as an insult, but as a tragic condition: the person so programmed by duty, expectation, and routine that they’ve never asked why they do what they do. If your day is spoken for by systems, roles, and obligations you didn’t consciously choose, then you’re not living your life... you’re performing someone else’s.

The serpent is the hero, not the villain. He’s the first philosopher, the first rebel, the first liberator. The act of eating from the Tree of Knowledge represents a rebellion against imposed morality, blind obedience, and the unquestioned authority of a supposed divine order. This is the birth of the free spirit.

People are more open to new ideas in one-on-one interactions, but in group settings, resistance intensifies. Social status takes priority, and questioning the status quo threatens stability. In groups, individuals do not just react to ideas... they react to how others perceive them. Predictability is preferred over truth because it maintains social order, and society values comfort, security, and cohesion above all else. But truth is unsettling... it forces change. Because stability is prioritised over truth, shallow conversations, simplistic ideas, and repetitive content dominate social spaces. Certainty feels safer than intellectual discomfort, and complex or unfamiliar ideas are often perceived as difficult or even threatening. This is why society defends the status quo even when it works against them. Instead of questioning authority or outdated beliefs, most people rationalise them... change feels too uncertain and risky. Conformity offers protection, even when truth is on the side of the outlier. Those who simplify complex ideas into viral, feel-good soundbites receive the most attention, while those who challenge mainstream narratives are ignored, misunderstood, or even attacked. Society does not fear truth itself... it fears what truth represents: disruption.

The Tax Poem Tax his land, Tax his bed, Tax the table at which he's fed. Tax his tractor, Tax his mule, Teach him taxes are the rule. Tax his work, Tax his pay, He works for peanuts anyway! Tax his cow, Tax his goat, Tax his pants, Tax his coat. Tax his ties, Tax his shirt, Tax his work, Tax his dirt. Tax his tobacco, Tax his drink, Tax him if he tries to think. Tax his cigars, Tax his beers, If he cries tax his tears. Tax his car, Tax his gas, Find other ways to tax his ass. Tax all he has, Then let him know, That you won't be done till he has no dough. When he screams and hollers, Then tax him some more, Tax him till he's good and sore. Then tax his coffin, Tax his grave, Tax the sod in which he's laid. Put these words Upon his tomb, 'Taxes drove me to my doom...' When he's gone, Do not relax, Its time to apply the inheritance tax.

Anyone who has tried introducing a thought-provoking idea in casual conversation knows the reaction...blank stares, awkward silence, or a quick change of subject. People instinctively avoid discussions that go beyond surface-level chatter because their minds enter self-preservation mode. Instead of curiosity, they respond with resistance; instead of engagement, they dismiss. This is why simplistic, charismatic figures… such as populist leaders, motivational speakers, and viral influencers… garner widespread appeal. They offer comfort rather than challenge, telling people what they want to hear rather than urging them to think critically. Complexity and nuance require effort, and most people prefer easy answers over deep reflection.

The deeper one seeks truth, the more disconnected they become from the majority. Why does society resist those who challenge norms? Throughout human history, survival depended less on knowing the truth and more on being accepted by the group. Social harmony ensured safety, while rejection meant vulnerability… or even death. This ingrained survival instinct makes social acceptance more important than intellectual pursuit. When someone thinks differently from the group, they disrupt the tribal balance. Their presence challenges established ideas, social norms, and group dynamics, triggering a defensive response as if they were an enemy rather than just a different thinker. Society values fitting in over standing out, comfort over truth.

Society isolates and resists those who think deeply, differently, and independently… not because their ideas are new or unconventional, but because they expose the limitations of those around them, something most people would rather avoid. While external forms of superiority… such as physical strength, wealth, or beauty… are recognized, they do not necessarily challenge a person’s core self-perception. However, someone who sees the world differently challenges not just ideas, but also beliefs, identity, and one’s entire understanding of reality. This is perceived as a direct threat to the ego, triggering a defensive reaction to protect one’s sense of self. Those with deeper insights are often pushed to the fringes of society, not because they are wrong, but because their perspectives disrupt established thinking and unsettle the ego. Human nature instinctively resists discomfort, and few things are more unsettling than having one's deeply held beliefs questioned.