The article is a perfect encapsulation of our current cultural pathologies. The author pathologizes "manifestation". Well, is it pathological? No. It won't "af

The article is a perfect encapsulation of our current cultural pathologies. The author pathologizes "manifestation". Well, is it pathological? No. It won't "affect the universe", or whatever, but it gets people to have hope, and focus on their goals. It's a reaction to a world where the media (defined loosely) constantly harps on the opposite: you're ugly, plus you're fucked, and the world is fucked, here's an advert. Suicidal ideation has gone up dramatically in teens, especially girls, and this "manifestation" stuff is a small part of people's defense mechanisms against a sick culture. But the piece never reflects on that. It keeps bitterly harping on about "thin, beautiful, privileged women". Now, are they privileged? Sure. But that's for journal articles to discuss. You feed terms like "privilege" into pop-culture, and all you do is reify the gap. The vast majority of people, including women, including "thin, beautiful women" have tragically low self-esteem. This constant talk of "female privilege" accomplishes nothing but increase girls' guilt and shame over something they can't control. Incels might be the most unexpected consequence: they, more than anyone, have internalised this idea that beauty is everything for sexual, social, and financial success. And they're killing themselves in droves over it.[0] The way Vox uses it, "privileged" is just a way to stereotype and dismiss these girls as shallow, brainless, undeserving. That's a total misuse of the concept. I don't expect mainstream media to produce analytical cultural critiques, but this is just awful. It's like a Stoic trying to interact with a grieving person. Misses the mark completely. [0]: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/12/09/us/where-the-despairing-log-on.html https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/12/09/us/where-the-...