Originally Posted by TheSquealer

This is a funny thing... in both evolutionary biology and economics, a simple problem has to be overcome for the group/system to survive. All successful animals that live in groups have, in one way or another eliminated this problem... that is the "free rider". For a group to survive and succeed, they can't have those who will take more than they offer. That behavior is discouraged and often brutally eliminated. After all, if the tribe goes to war and _Richard_ stays home because he's a cowardly pussy and he then reaps the rewards of being a pussy in the form of the wealth and goods left behind, increased mating opportunities etc, the tribe will ultimately fail when it becomes a tribe of pussies and is inevitably ran over by a tribe full of 12clicks. This is why _Richards_ are treated harshly, imprisoned or even killed. This why they will be branded a coward, be said to have no honor etc etc etc - everything possible will be done to discourage this behavior as it is a great detriment to the survival of the tribe.

We now however, have evolved to an odd point that for the first time ever... we are the first social animals to go from ruthlessly eliminating free riders and celebrating success and wealth, to celebrating and protecting free riders. They've basically taken over. Theirs is now the loudest voice.

Instead of being shamed, they are being empowered. Instead of being characterized as losers as we had seen in our younger days, they are now viewed as noble. As a society and thanks to political correctness, we've come to embrace the lowest common denominator in every form... as every voice against them was slowly silenced. We've even allowed them characterize success in business as a horrible crime against humanity.