.@jackbutcher's "Checks" captures the timeless theme of humans clinging onto arbitrary symbols to justify feeling better than others.
It's a tale told many times before.
Perhaps best by the inimitable Dr. Seuss in his children's story Sneetches.
↓
It's a tale told many times before.
Perhaps best by the inimitable Dr. Seuss in his children's story Sneetches.
↓
Sneetches are yellow bird-like creatures dwelling on beaches.
They all look the same, except for a minor detail.
"Star-Bellied Sneetches have bellies with stars, but Plain-Bellied Sneetches have none upon thars."
They all look the same, except for a minor detail.
"Star-Bellied Sneetches have bellies with stars, but Plain-Bellied Sneetches have none upon thars."
The stars weren't so big — really quite small. You wouldn't think such a thing would matter at all.
But, because they have stars, the Star-Bellied Sneetches think of themselves as the best kind of Sneetches on the beaches.
But, because they have stars, the Star-Bellied Sneetches think of themselves as the best kind of Sneetches on the beaches.
So when the Star-Bellies are walking, they walk past the Plain-Bellies without talking.
They'd sniff and they'd snort — wanting nothing to do with the Plain-Belly sort.
They'd sniff and they'd snort — wanting nothing to do with the Plain-Belly sort.
One day, as the Plain-Belly Sneetches were moping alone on the beaches, wishing their bellies had stars, an undertaker zips up in the strangest of cars.
"You want stars on your bellies like a Star-Bellied Sneetch? You can have them for three dollars each!"
"You want stars on your bellies like a Star-Bellied Sneetch? You can have them for three dollars each!"
The Plain-Bellies now have stars upon thars.
"We're exactly like you, you can't tell us apart."
The Star-Bellies are upset. How will the world know they are special now?
If everyone is notable, no one is notable.
If everyone is verified, no one is verified.
"We're exactly like you, you can't tell us apart."
The Star-Bellies are upset. How will the world know they are special now?
If everyone is notable, no one is notable.
If everyone is verified, no one is verified.
So the undertaker turns to the original Star-Bellies:
"I'll make you again the best Sneetches on the beaches, it'll only cost you ten dollars eaches."
His reverse machine takes away their stars and the doubt.
Now, the best kind of Sneetches are those without.
"I'll make you again the best Sneetches on the beaches, it'll only cost you ten dollars eaches."
His reverse machine takes away their stars and the doubt.
Now, the best kind of Sneetches are those without.
As those with stars get mad, the undertaker proposes to remove their stars as well.
Sneetches change stars every minute or two, until neither Plain nor Star-Bellies knew
Whether this one was that one... or that one was this one
Or which one was what one... or what one was who.
Sneetches change stars every minute or two, until neither Plain nor Star-Bellies knew
Whether this one was that one... or that one was this one
Or which one was what one... or what one was who.
The rat race went on until every last cent was spent.
Then the undertaker packed up and went.
"They will never learn. You can't teach a Sneetch."
Then the undertaker packed up and went.
"They will never learn. You can't teach a Sneetch."
But he was wrong.
As soon as he was gone, the Sneetches decided that Sneetches are Sneetches and no kind is the best on the beaches.
As soon as he was gone, the Sneetches decided that Sneetches are Sneetches and no kind is the best on the beaches.
W.H. Auden once remarked that "there are no good books that are only for children."
Writing for children forces simplification — cutting obfuscating fat to bring out the essence.
What's left are far-reaching truths that feel obvious yet profound: what we think of as wisdom.
Writing for children forces simplification — cutting obfuscating fat to bring out the essence.
What's left are far-reaching truths that feel obvious yet profound: what we think of as wisdom.
This rhymes with Charles Bukowski:
"An intellectual says a simple thing in a hard way. An artist says a hard thing in a simple way."
Great artists capture monumental stories in a matter of seconds. So it instantly rings true with millions of beholders.
"An intellectual says a simple thing in a hard way. An artist says a hard thing in a simple way."
Great artists capture monumental stories in a matter of seconds. So it instantly rings true with millions of beholders.
Simplicity scales the total addressable market of an idea.
More likely to resonate, quicker to read, quicker to replicate.
Dr. Seuss captures the absurdity of status symbols with stars on Sneetches.
@jackbutcher does it with Checks on Twitter.
More likely to resonate, quicker to read, quicker to replicate.
Dr. Seuss captures the absurdity of status symbols with stars on Sneetches.
@jackbutcher does it with Checks on Twitter.
In Sneetches, the folly of status games is confrontingly obvious.
Most so at the end:
When you realize that while Sneetches get smart enough to pop their own bubble, most human adults are not that self-aware.
It seems it's us who "never learn."
Most so at the end:
When you realize that while Sneetches get smart enough to pop their own bubble, most human adults are not that self-aware.
It seems it's us who "never learn."
I left out the part where Star-Belly Sneetches drill their children to not allow the Plain-Bellies to play with them.
Kids don't care about status until their parents condition them so.
History is full with horrible examples of what can happen when we feel superior to others.
Kids don't care about status until their parents condition them so.
History is full with horrible examples of what can happen when we feel superior to others.
Following the Bosnian war and genocide, NATO translated+distributed 500,000 copies of Sneetches in Bosnia and Herzegovina. To inspire the value of tolerance.
We can learn a thing or two from children and their native unprejudice.
We can learn a thing or two from children and their native unprejudice.
I didn't know about Sneetches until yesterday.
It was my dear friend @TheYoungGooner_ who got a wonderful brain synapse when I told him about Checks.
It fits: his very personality constantly reminds me that the real secret of life is play — not status.
It was my dear friend @TheYoungGooner_ who got a wonderful brain synapse when I told him about Checks.
It fits: his very personality constantly reminds me that the real secret of life is play — not status.
My friend's brain synapse became the artwork in the opening tweet, his very first NFT.
Mint the verified Sneetch.
↓
create.zora.co/collections/0x…
Mint the verified Sneetch.
↓
create.zora.co/collections/0x…
An adaptation of Sneetches and other Dr. Seuss stories is coming to Netflix later this year.
For now, you can watch on YouTube.
For now, you can watch on YouTube.
Thank you for reading.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
