Theory Are we the victims of liquid modernity ?

[Kamanbert]

Ngl this is mostly for nativecels living in their own countries that could have been part of a larger "in-group" some decades ago.

I stumbled upon this concept of "liquid modernity" by some polish bloke, how it might interfere with the wellbeing of individuals. Tbh imo what he says seems more self-evident than anything for a good observer, but for some reason i rarely see normies, therapists or whatever say how the system itself might cause suffering to people, as if such a diagnosis in itself became unseparable from a socially unacceptable misanthropic political conviction despite the fact that the world, if you don't have the luck, strenght or intelligence to be one of it's "winners", seems like an awful, scary and cold dystopia.

I never read his book, i doubt that he emphasized how inherently gendered such struggles are bound to become although we all know by now that women don't have the same problems with "desirability" , "competition" , "identity" and pretty much most of the things he mentionned : it's no wonder they do nothing but thrive and endorse the new paradigm and hate any opposition to it. So with the new status quo being especially brutal to men, we can conclude that the existence of incels as a broader phenomenon can be largely attributed to postmodernity : it is the primary societal framework of the matrix upon which all the other toxic shit like female nature/feminism, rat race competition and technological progress (social media, dating apps) spill out.

Lazily generated this with IA :

Zygmunt Bauman on the Role of the Individual in Postmodernity

Zygmunt Bauman, a Polish sociologist, analyzes the role of the individual in postmodernity through the concept of liquid modernity. According to him, postmodernity (or late modernity) is characterized by the dissolution of stable social structures and the emergence of a fluid society where traditional reference points (family, work, religion, community) have weakened. This profoundly affects individuals, who find themselves in a state of constant uncertainty.

1. The Individual as an Uncertain Actor

Bauman argues that the postmodern individual is condemned to a perpetual quest for identity, without fixed frameworks to guide them. Unlike traditional societies, where identity was largely determined by institutions and pre-established social roles, liquid modernity forces individuals to "construct" an identity that must be constantly adjusted.

2. Individualization and Personal Responsibility

In a world where collective structures have weakened, individuals are more responsible than ever for their own success or failure. This radical individualization pushes them to continuously adapt to the ever-changing demands of the labor market, cultural norms, and consumption trends.

3. The Precariousness of Social Bonds

Bauman describes human relationships in liquid modernity as increasingly fragile and temporary. Social bonds are marked by a consumerist logic: they must be flexible, reversible, and require minimal commitment. Individuals are encouraged to avoid long-term commitments, whether in romantic relationships, professional life, or social interactions.

4. Consumption as a Way of Life

In postmodern society, consumption becomes a central element of identity. Individuals are defined less by their stable social roles and more by their choices as consumers. Life becomes a marketplace where everyone must constantly sell and reinvent themselves to remain "desirable" and "competitive."

5. Anxiety and Insecurity

This apparent freedom comes with significant anxiety: individuals are left to fend for themselves in an uncertain world. Liquid modernity generates existential insecurity, as everything that once seemed solid becomes ephemeral. The lack of stable reference points produces a sense of drifting and vulnerability.

Conclusion

For Bauman, the postmodern individual is caught between freedom and anxiety, in a society where solid structures have been replaced by uncertain flows. They must constantly adapt to change, but this enforced flexibility generates great insecurity and a continuous need for reinvention.

Thus, in postmodernity, the individual is both more free and more isolated, more autonomous and more vulnerable, caught in the whirlwind of liquid modernity.

 

[Kamanbert]

It's no wonder that most of us don't or barely have any friends. It's not only foids that are the problem : we're so atomized to shit.