72 Degrees North

72 Degrees North explores the intersections of society, technology, and individual well-being, scrutinizing capitalism, workplace dynamics, social norms, and mental health. It combines analysis of current events with literature and elements of gaming, offering critical perspectives on the impact of societal structures on personal and collective identities.

Society and Culture Technology and AI Workplace Dynamics Mental Health Capitalism and Economy Social Media and Internet Culture Literature and Gaming Neurodiversity

The hottest Substack posts of 72 Degrees North

And their main takeaways

"A Problem With Authority"—The Person You Think You Are Punching May Not Exist

58 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
💼 Business Management Workplace dynamics Corporate culture Bureaucracy Hierarchy
  1. There may not be people who inherently have a problem with authority, it could be a construct created by workplace environments.
  2. Disobeying authority doesn't necessarily stem from resistance to orders, but could be rooted in impatience, arrogance, or ego.
  3. Corporate hierarchy and authority can sometimes be arbitrary and driven by societal norms rather than individual merit or charisma.

We Live in a Jaeger's World

78 implied HN points • 31 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture Society Psychology Workplace Hierarchy
  1. Nature has elements of competition and aggression that are seen as characteristics of a Jaeger bird in the animal kingdom.
  2. Mental health issues like depression can affect anyone and are not just for the 'mentally ill', but can be worsened by societal pressures like burnout.
  3. Corporate structures often promote a culture of competition to suffer rather than competition to excel, leading to negative impacts on employees' well-being and favoring those with psychopathic traits.

Final Fantasy Elements—version 1.1

39 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
  1. Intelligence and Luck stats are now working.
  2. All spells in the game work.
  3. Classes have been balanced for a more challenging but fair gameplay.

Hellban

78 implied HN points • 22 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Social media Internet Online Content Digital Communication
  1. Hellbanning is a common practice on social media where users are banned without warning or notification.
  2. Quality content is harder to find on social media platforms due to an abundance of junk and ads.
  3. The internet has not fulfilled its promise of democratization, instead leading to a world where exposure and success require payment and connections.
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Work, Abuse, and Unwinnable Games

39 implied HN points • 14 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Work Abuse Games Relationships Capitalism
  1. Life can sometimes present unwinnable situations where moving on is the best option.
  2. People may engage in unwinnable games like pursuing unattainable goals in relationships or falling into abusive patterns.
  3. Corporate work under capitalism shares similarities with abusive relationships, using small rewards and big punishments to keep workers captive.

Monotactism: The Real Reason Neurodivergent People Get Fucked Over in the Workplace.

58 implied HN points • 06 Dec 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Workplace Challenges Social Interaction Consciousness
  1. Neurodivergent individuals can struggle in the workplace due to differences in communication and social interaction, leading to misunderstandings and disadvantages.
  2. Monotropism, intense focus on single tasks, can be an asset in deep work but a challenge in office environments requiring multitasking and social skills.
  3. Monotactism, the tendency to lack awareness of social hierarchy and norms, can lead to poor workplace outcomes for neurodivergent individuals, even if they are well-meaning and capable.

Splitting Versus Blending: An AI-Inspired Theory of Neurotypical Advantage

19 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Social Behavior Corporate culture Autism
  1. Neurodiversity includes a range of communication styles, each with unique advantages and disadvantages.
  2. Allistic individuals tend to blend multiple possibilities in social interactions, which can lead to quicker decision-making but also vulnerability to manipulation.
  3. Psychopaths may exploit neurodivergent and neurotypical social tendencies for personal gain, highlighting the importance of understanding and navigating various communication styles.

The Self-Reliance Disorder

19 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-Reliance Mental health Social Skills Employment
  1. Autism is a complex condition with variations and benefits, not defined by a single cause or symptom.
  2. Neurodivergent individuals exist in a diverse space outside the neurotypical 'center', with both groups contributing value to society.
  3. Self-reliance is a common trait among the neurodivergent population, stemming from a history of exclusion and valuable insights that can benefit society.

October 7

39 implied HN points • 11 Nov 23
🌍 World Politics Middle East Religion Conflict Peace Human Rights
  1. The recent massacre in Israel was fueled by hatred towards Jews, not government actions.
  2. Ultimate fault is pinned on the capitalist world system, leading to poverty, miseducation, and violence.
  3. A global political realignment is happening, and it's crucial for the Left to prioritize support for vulnerable minorities like Jews.

Programming With 5 Bits of RAM

19 implied HN points • 16 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Programming Programming Languages Efficiency
  1. Programming in constrained environments like 5 bits of RAM can be challenging but feasible.
  2. Turing machines provide a simple, yet powerful model of computation that can perform any computation.
  3. Efficiency and complexity in programming languages can be evaluated based on state count and read-only memory needed for interpretation.