Algorithmic Purgatory

Glib thoughts on the silliness of the coming election; defining and escaping the technocratic malaise of modernity

As the hysterical orgy of the coming American presidential election draws to its heady climax, our shores are awash with content. And takes, always with the takes. We are assured that this one—yes, this one—is to be the most important election of our lifetimes. Examples are everywhere.

Simplicius

, a popular right-wing thinker and writer, assures us that this is the case:

“On the eve of what could be the most consequential election in US history—perhaps even global history—the elite class representing their favored stalking racehorse seem to have thrown in their towels and hung up their riding crops.”

He’s not alone, either. Just take a look at

Isaac Simpson

’s assertions from his stack, in a recent monologue titled “This is it”. Victory, in his estimation, will be a huge party for a long time. Losing, though? Well…

“If, on the other hand, we lose, the collapse begins now […] the two-party system will die.”

The end of democracy? Sure, I guess. Many on the right have expressed disillusionment with democracy. Most know that those on the left have been beating the “Trump is a fascist” drum (I could list 10 or more pieces here, but I won’t) for a long time. But here’s the thing: much of the left concurs with the notion of democracy coming to an end if they don’t win. Even in Europe, declarations written thusly are commonplace, French outlet LeMonde is a good example:

Oh, I see. Is this the infamous horseshoe theory I’ve heard so much about? It matters not because both political sides are united in what they see as an inevitable conclusion. In ever more deranged fashion, each side has those who appear certain beyond any reasonable doubt that they shall emerge as the righteous victor. On the left, declarations are suitably inane:

Well, colour me convinced! This account has 30,000 subscribers, by the way—yes!—thirty thousand. On the right, it’s similar. Take

Theophilus Chilton

, for example:

The Democrats Are Cornered Animals Right Now

Alright, Theophilus’s piece has far, far more merit to it. I didn’t say I was apolitical, did I? Anyone who’s read me and my poasts (read: rants, ramblings, and ravings) knows I don’t pull any punches—just look at who I subscribe to; guilty as charged.

The reality of this phenomenon we see all around us, however, is a result of one thing and one thing alone: the algorithmic buffet of increasingly niche content we are all fed as a result of our preferences, and the preferences of tech companies to keep us on their platforms for as long as possible. The 2024 U.S. Election is just one example of that.

In short: we all live in algorithmic purgatory now.

But What is Algorithmic Purgatory?

You feel it when you wake up, unsettling your consciousness. It’s that tug fraying at the edges of your mind, the subconscious need to check your phone, email, or notifications, wherever they may be. It is personified in that which is beyond your normal, human sensory apparatus, and which, in some strange sense, gives you solace. By now, you have become accustomed to it.

Through the mundane functions of the online world, it is ubiquitous. It’s you typing in your Substack, Facebook, or Instagram details into the search bar, desperate for that small shot of dopamine each and every platform feeds you. It’s the immediacy of opinions that align with your own, that make you feel like you’re at home and among friends. In reality, of course, you are among complete strangers, most of whom you will never know, talk to in the real world, or share a drink or smile with. It’s the desire to voyeuristically gaze into the lives of others on the internet, forever lost in meaningless longing to be or have what they have, as taught to you by social media. It’s the omnopticon¹ of always looking and being looked at as though it is somehow normal when it is anything but.

What the terrible hellscape of social media feels like at the worst of times. Credit: Henry Daubrez, “The Shadow of the Comet.”

Like in the Wachowski’s Matrix, the longer you have spent in its murky malaise, the more natural it will feel. The world’s newest generations have never known anything different, and so living outside it is a consideration made foolish. At best, the idea is quaint.

Think on it: what motivation exists for Generation Z and Generation Alpha to reject this purgatory?

None whatsoever. Inside it, they are like kings, their every whim and desire fulfilled at the click of a button. Indeed, for them, it may well resemble a paradise, not purgatory. It’s not so hard to imagine, is it?

Are your desires sexual? Pornography will service you.

Do you seek adventure? Games, perfectly tailored and ready to play, shall entertain you at every turn.

Is it companionship and camaraderie you desire most of all? Well, friend, you can connect with millions across the world. You can meet acquaintances, friends, battle partners, philosophers, intellectuals—even adversaries. All of them fall under the purview of the technocracy. All are attainable without leaving the comfort of your warm apartment or house.

And, if you’d rather not interact with people—they are so troublesome, are they not?—you can enlist an AI to chat with you endlessly. Your AI friend will never get bored of you; it will always feign laughter or praise your jokes; it will never give you harsh criticism or tell you that your sedentary, sloth-like existence is killing you. It is aligned with you, after all.

Yeah, nah. Piss off, AI.

You can circumvent loneliness, rejection, and purposelessness, comrade.

Or can you?

For many, despite enjoying this reality by and large, living within it can sometimes feel like there is a splinter in one’s mind. A kind of enervating energy that saps one’s vitality and lust for life. When so much of life is devoted to mindless consumption, enjoyment is fleeting and ephemeral, like a mirage. A cruel joke, a mere imitation of what beauty is possible through being human.

This matter is up for debate, of course. Do humans have souls? Would we (or will we) willingly reject this simulacrum of an existence? Is there something worth fighting for beyond the realm of the material?

To me there is—there’s something worth fighting for. Religion, derided as it is, seems to be one of the last bastions against this inhuman world. Are we to accept the mundanity, the cold, anodyne realm of the technocratic, or will we instead reject it, rediscovering our humanity?

Living a Life Less Lassitudinous

Outside of retreating to the woods, or living a life as a Luddite, it can feel as though there is no escape. Working from home can feel uncharacteristically difficult, yet considering one has to pay bills, it can often be the best course of action. Maximizing one’s income is important to supporting one’s family, despite the disconnection from others it inherently fosters.

When I read the beautifully written, borderline poetic musings against this age like those from

The Horn Gate

or others, who seem to suffer in this realm of the unreal, I am compelled to find solutions outside the philosophical. In my previous cultural essay, Love is an Empire, I lifted writings from Ernst Jünger’s The Forest Passage (1951), which I found through

N.S. Lyons

’s notable essay, Autonomy and the Automaton.

These works, however great they may be, only offer a philosophical bulwark against the technocratic age. Let us speak in practical terms. My greatest concerns lie with Generation Z and Generation Alpha. My son is of the latter, and through my eternal love for him, I fear most for his future in this world.

In a recent podcast between Chris Williamson and James Smith, technological addiction was broached. Both men discussed the obstacles involved with overcoming this addiction at length, and one particular quote from Chris stuck out:

“The best way to reduce your tech consumption is to create a life that you don’t want to spend on tech consumption.”

But how does one create that life?

In truly glib, attention-economy-facing style, I have created a list. This list is as much for me as it is for you. Naturally, I often fail at upholding all these pieces of advice. The key, I believe, is intention. Where there’s a will, there’s a way, at least in the long term:

• Discipline in all matters is the key to freedom, this principle runs through all suggestions, but especially relating to matters of physical health and wellbeing;

• Exercise must be an integral part of your life, but do it in a way that makes it something you enjoy. Don’t do exercise you hate merely for optimization;

• Waste not your time on video games and false idols or trophies. Seek real achievements, not virtual ones;

• Figure out what it is you want most from life, and what profession or purpose you crave above all others. If you have not done this yet—for example because you are too young—then experiment. Seek to know thyself. Find what lights the fire in your soul, and what you can imagine doing well into your twilight years;

• Use your phone only for immediate concerns, or, better yet, get a phone that only allows calling or texting. Never scroll;

• Painstakingly allot time when you use technology for specific purposes. For example, if you wish to grow on Substack, use Substack only for an allotted period to promote yourself and network among writers you respect—never aimlessly read article after article;²

• Avoid the news cycle at all costs. The idea that politics should be front and centre—that, for example, the American president is paramount to your success—is ridiculous. Unless, of course, you are financially invested in politics. Focus on your locus of control. You determine your own destiny and the destinies of those whose lives you choose to enrich, act like it;

• Take the time to cherish all in your life who bring you joy, contentment, and meaning, especially your family and loved ones; you never know when they will be gone;

• If you are dating, ditch the apps. They won’t help you find the woman or man you’re looking for, and therein lies only discontent, disorientation, and dejection. Approach people in the real world or be receptive to being approached, true connections are forged offline;

• Wish only the best for people, and be willing to lift up those in whom you see greatness, even if your ideological perspectives go against the notion of them being worthy of your love, adoration, or respect. You never know where you might find brilliance. Keep your mind open to finding and connecting with these people;

• Never devote yourself singularly to one type of person or ideology;

• Do not dwell on petty indignation, it is a waste of your most valuable asset: time

Do this, anon, and you might stem the tide of the relentless technocracy, if only for a while. Get out there in the world and take risks. Ask that girl out. Don’t be afraid to tell him you’re only interested in a real relationship—one which is going somewhere. Speak the truth. Love without reservation. Stay loyal. Stay vigilant.

Relish the beauty of the natural world.³

The view from Budapest’s Gellért Mountain, yesterday.

Much adieu,

James

1. Yes, this is a spin on Michel Foucault’s panopticon. Consider the term coined! Panopticon doesn’t seem nearly accurate enough in today’s age of observing and being observed at every turn online.

2. I’m so guilty of not succeeding at this one, by the way.

3. Yes, I’m a sentimental soul. What of it!!??