Read on Twitter
Ever since I first heard about the wheat vs rice theory, I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. And now I think it's going to be the key to the survival of our species.
Wheat as a crop is very reliable. Year after year you can count on its yield. (1/X)
Wheat as a crop is very reliable. Year after year you can count on its yield. (1/X)
Rice is more fickle. 1 out of every 10 crops will fail. You'll starve once every ten years if you go it alone.
So there's this idea that rice cultures are more community-conscious and less individually-minded. Everyone can expect to "donate" 10% of their crops each year... (2/x)
So there's this idea that rice cultures are more community-conscious and less individually-minded. Everyone can expect to "donate" 10% of their crops each year... (2/x)
...to whoever's crop fails. And everyone is happy to do it because in past years it was them and next year it could be them again.
But in wheat economies it was possible to be self-sufficient and unnecessary to be in community with other wheat farmers. (3/x)
But in wheat economies it was possible to be self-sufficient and unnecessary to be in community with other wheat farmers. (3/x)
They could in fact, fuck right off. You'll never need them and they'll never need you.
So there's this observation that communist governments tend to take hold in "rice-based" cultures and atomized democratic governments take hold in "wheat-based" ones. (4/x)
So there's this observation that communist governments tend to take hold in "rice-based" cultures and atomized democratic governments take hold in "wheat-based" ones. (4/x)
This gave rise to a theory in cultural psychology that these styles of political organization are appealing to their audience because it reinforces ancient thinking about survival.
In Asia everyone wears a mask. And if someone isn't on board there's a steep fine... (5/x)
In Asia everyone wears a mask. And if someone isn't on board there's a steep fine... (5/x)
...that's actively enforced. Quarantine too -- in some countries the fine is five figures. There's a collective understanding that outliers can sink the entire ship.
But in the West, we now find ourselves in a rice-based situation with a wheat-based mindset. (6/x)
But in the West, we now find ourselves in a rice-based situation with a wheat-based mindset. (6/x)
