You don't have to scroll much through social media before stumbling upon the hundredth clone of the thread that says "the system is designed for us to fail".

That's loser talk, bro. (I sincerely hope you're not familiar with this reference and just think I'm an idiot)

What if the problem isn't the system, but that we all act like our actions have no consequences?

It's yet another irony. We live in an age where we have more information about the impact of every decision —from the coffee we drink to the politicians we choose— but at the same time, we've perfected the art of washing our hands of it. After all, it's everyone's fault, right? And when it's everyone's fault, as Hannah Arendt rightfully said, no one is to blame.

Modern cynicism: we know, yet we still do it

Peter Sloterdijk presents a concept that blows my mind: the "enlightened false consciousness". It’s the mindset that recognizes the problems but remains powerless against them. It's the person who knows perfectly well that ordering Uber Eats every day is killing their budget and the planet but still does it because "how much can my individual order really affect?" The same goes for fast fashion from Shein or the fiftieth floral dress you buy at Zara.

This isn't ignorance. It's worse. It's active cynicism.

Ancient cynicism at least had dignity. The Greek cynics lived in barrels and urinated in public to criticize the system. What about us? We tweet our indignation from an iPhone made with conflict minerals while keeping twenty monthly subscriptions that we don't even use, but "it's a hassle to cancel".

Garrett Hardin formulated the "Tragedy of the Commons" in 1968, explaining how rational individuals acting in their own interests can destroy shared resources. But siblings, not even Hardin could've imagined what this would become with social media and globalization.

Today, the tragedy is manifest in every aspect of our lives.

• Environmentally: Each individual perceives their contribution as insignificant while the big “corporations” and billionaires wash their hands with greenwashing.

• Socially: The diffusion of responsibilities means no one intervenes when someone needs help. A retweet can do it all.

• Politically: We vote (or don't vote) thinking "one vote doesn't change anything".

And here comes the kicker: the larger the group, the smaller the individual effort. It's social loafing at a planetary scale.

Responsibility is a revolutionary act

And speaking of living without consequences, let's address the elephant in the room: modern progressivism.

Progressivism, that political doctrine oriented toward the development of the welfare state and the defense of civil rights, is in crisis. Why? Because it adopted the same cynical logic it criticizes: acting as if silencing the other had no consequences.

The cancel culture, emerged as an attempt to hold people accountable, became the perfect example of how denying consequences creates the exact opposite of what you seek. You cancel someone hoping they'll disappear, but the "canceled" individuals often gain new audiences that see them as victims.

It's like when alcohol was banned in the U.S. during Prohibition: the prohibition didn't eliminate consumption, it created modern organized crime. By denying the real consequences of prohibition, they created a problem much worse than the original.

So, what the hell do we do?

First, understand that assuming individual responsibility in 2024 is almost a revolutionary act. It's not sexy, it doesn't get likes, but it's the only thing that breaks the cycle.

Check the data: when people perceive that their individual actions matter, the motivation to act increases exponentially. It's the difference between Instagram activism and the person who actually gets up every Saturday to clean the beach.

Second, we need to realize that individual and collective responsibility are not opposites, but complements. It's not "just me" or "everyone together". It's "I do my part and demand the system to function".

Anti-cynicism living

Personally

• Stop buying crap you don't need "because everyone else does".

• If you see someone in trouble, don't wait for someone else to help. The spectator effect kills, literally.

• Take responsibility for your screw-ups without looking for someone else to blame. (KEY)

Socially

• Instead of canceling, educate. Education transforms, humiliation radicalizes.

• Create spaces for dialogue where divergent perspectives can coexist. Give your nearest conservative/liberal a hug. You'll realize that behind radicalization there's always just one word: fear and deep traumas.

• Recognize that problems are complex and solutions, im per fect.

“Systemically”

• Demand accountability mechanisms that make individual contributions visible. We can't turn a blind eye to political corruption just because the other side scares us.

• Support initiatives that connect direct consequences with decision-makers.

The biggest irony is that modern cynicism requires more energy than responsible action. Maintaining the facade that nothing matters while internally knowing it does is exhausting. It's living in constant cognitive dissonance.

Sloterdijk was right: we are enlightened cynics who know exactly what we're doing wrong, yet keep doing it. But here's the hack: recognizing this is the first step to breaking the pattern.

Can we stop cynicism? Yes, dude. But it requires something most people hate: taking responsibility. Not for the whole world, but for your own square meter. For your decisions. For your consequences.

Because at the end of the day, when everyone's to blame, no one is. But when someone —even just one person— decides to take real responsibility, it creates a domino effect that can change the whole game.

And if you don't believe me, ask yourself: how many times have you seen one person change the dynamic of an entire group simply by refusing to play the cynicism game?

That person could be you. Or you can keep scrolling and complaining that the system is broken while actively contributing to breaking it.

Your decision has consequences. They all do.