Maybe not exactly what you asked for, but I think these two might be close contenders:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Coughlin

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_McCarthy

You’ll go crazy if you dwell on this. The corporate world is the same way. Generally speaking, the less actual work a person does, the more they tend to get paid. It’s a tale as old as time.

I’d like to say something noble like warn Amelia Earhart, or hookup Adolph with some Bob Ross videos. But if I’m being honest, I would probably be selfish. I would tell past me to not fuck up quite a few things that past me royally fucked up.

Fun bit of trivia. In some Christian churches, regular attendees have a nickname for the folks who only show up on Christmas and Easter. They call them the “Hollies and the Lilies”.

Life is cheap on the internet, because people feel far removed (and/or “above it”). Social media “engagement” algorithms divide and isolate people from each other.

(I think as far as Lemmy is concerned, it’s just spillover / remnant behaviors from that stuff. There’s no engagement algorithm here other than what we bring in ourselves.)

Here are a some studies on it from people a lot smarter than me. (Note these are more about general toxicity and hate speech and not zeroed in on your exact question, but they may be helpful).

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.744614/full

https://firstmonday.org/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/11547/10076

https://scholars.org/contribution/countering-online-toxicity-and-hate-speech

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10734-021-00787-4

This one looks at the “why” question from a political POV:

https://academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/article/2/11/pgad382/7405434?login=false

20 years ago I would have said invest regularly in an index fund.

Today I think you should learn all you can about DIY water filtration and growing edible mushrooms in caves.

Probably a good idea. I keep a book nearby with the intention of less phone time, but it’s not working.

That’s also true. It’s less of a problem in pedestrian-heavy walkable cities and towns. But in the average American city or town covered in stroads where car is king, it’s a big problem.

Humans are bad at it, too. If you’ve ever ridden a bike or motorcycle, you quickly learn that car and truck drivers simply aren’t looking for 2 wheelers. And therefore they don’t see them. (I think this reinforces your point).

Don’t many game engines kinda sorta do this?

I think of it as low effort but still has some slight potential to get a few laughs or start a conversation.

I can’t remember how I did it but I finally figured out a way to turn that shit off. My phone is pretty old, though. They probably took that away on the newer phones.

Doctor, why do I have cataracts.

Also, I recommend watching Ricky Royal’s play-through on YouTube. His channel is “Box of Delights”. The play-through is from several years ago but is very well done.

You’re welcome. I hope you enjoy it!

Can you do trains instead? Having ridden thousands of miles in busses I can tell you it gets extremely cramped and uncomfortable, and this gets worse the longer you’re on it. Sleeper trains in the US and Canada are really nice. Not sure about Europe.

The weird window has shifted. Having purple hair and a nose ring used to be “very weird”. Now nobody blinks an an eye at that stuff.

But being attracted to your own daughter (and admitting it publicly) and fucking a couch (and admitting it publicly) are still considered very weird.

Work on diagnosing and fixing the problem first, worry about appointing blame later (if at all).

Solo: Mage Knight

2 player: Star Trek Fleet Captains

4 player: Shadows of Brimstone

Stupid-fun dice chucker for 4 or 5: Project Elite

I’ll also add that I very much appreciate nurse practitioners. I have to go in every 6 months for routine “old man maintenance” checkups, and there’s really no need for me to see a doctor for these types of visits. You’re filling a much-needed role. (And I’m sure you do a lot more than just “old man maintenance” consults, LOL).