[frmersdog]

>Mastroianni’s explanation is that the weirdos and freaks who actually move culture forward with new music and books and movies and genres of art have disappeared, potentially because life is just so comfortable and high-quality now that it nudges people against risk-taking.

Feels like it's the opposite. Things are so precarious that risk-taking becomes out-of-the-question.

There's been a cultural de-emphasis on risk-taking, too. Millennials went to college not because it was seen as a risky bet on gaining the skills and knowledge to change the world, but because it was supposed to be a reliable way to earn lucrative credentials. Now that we know college actually is quite risky, what do Zoomers do? Stop attending.

An interesting angle: look at the closure and consolidation in the thrill-seeking industry (theme parks, extreme sports, etc.). Those were a staple of the American recreation diet as a reflection and reinforcement of our penchant for seeking the novel and scary and visceral. Regional facilities are closing, and what's left are too expensive for most families to go to. A lot of Americans are being taught that risk isn't for them.

On the other hand, you do have the rise of sports betting... So maybe we're still being sold a kind of risk, but only the safe, addictive kind that always makes the house money.