SCHADEN-FRAT
It’s Been a Bad Week for Bros
Shkreli’s going to jail. The bodega bros had to apologize for their stupid startup. And Speaker Bro Paul Ryan is playing cleanup while Trump cavorts with Dems.
A representative quote:
I know that the use of "bro" is really shorthand for insensitive, entitled, privileged, a-hole, but it puts undue focus on the fact that they're men, and I think it's stupid. Considering differences in background, education, career, family, notoriety and probably a shit-ton of other stuff I have no idea about, Shkreli, the founders of Bodega, and Paul Ryan are a pretty heterogenous grouping of people. Moreover, Shkreli is pretty much a villain, and even if you don't like the bodega founders (not sure) or Paul Ryan (I don't), they don't even approach the same level of entitled a-hole as Shkreli. It seems like the only real thing these guys have in common is that they are guys. Grouping them under one derogatory "bro" label that focuses on their gender is not cool, and it seems about as far away from a truly progressive mindset as you could get.The year 2017 giveth and the year 2017 taketh away. And for those who like seeing bros get their due, the last 24 hours have giveth, and giveth, and giveth.
For bros, it taketh. Bros from the halls of Congress to the Valley of Silicon suffered defeats. It was the worst day for bros in quite some time.
. . .
Generally speaking, things aren’t great. And generally speaking, taking joy in others’ misfortune is an ugly feeling. But in these hamster-on-adderall times, we must take wins where we find them and cherish them like a bro cherishes the poster of his favorite sports stadium, the one that hangs over his bedroom dresser. The last 24 hours were kind of funny, if bro failure is funny. Who knows what joys or horrors the next 24 will bring.
Between this and the "Bodega" thing, I feel like a freaking cultural warrior this morning. This is annoying.