The Civilization of Downhillers: A World Dominated by Screamer

During my school years, I observed a striking distinction among my peers—one that became increasingly apparent over time. People seemed to naturally divide into two distinct categories: Doers and Screamers. This division was neither arbitrary nor forced; rather, it was so evident that it could be recognized at a glance.

On one side were the Doers—individuals who approached tasks with dedication, diligently fulfilled assignments, and continually honed their skills. They sought to improve, embraced challenges, and found genuine interest in learning. Their educational pursuits extended beyond merely meeting teachers' requirements; they actively explored subjects in greater depth, recognizing that knowledge and expertise were not burdens but invaluable assets that would yield substantial long-term benefits.

Conversely, there existed another group—those whom I refer to as Screamers. These individuals exhibited a lack of self-discipline, perseverance, and intrinsic motivation for growth. Their cognitive processes were often superficial, yet they seldom perceived any deficiencies in themselves. Rather than engaging in meaningful labor, they thrived on intellectual parasitism—appropriating the ideas, efforts, and achievements of others, either by repackaging them as their own or merely transmitting them as if they had arrived at these insights independently. Their primary strategy revolved around attaching themselves to the success of Doers, seizing opportunities without a comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms that facilitated such achievements.

Years have passed, yet the observations I made in my school years have proven to be more than just a youthful hypothesis. This phenomenon persists throughout all stages of life, manifesting itself in various domains and societal structures.

Today, I would like to share some thoughts on this dichotomy—not with undue seriousness, but, I hope, with relevance.

Energy Strategy: Why Screamers Choose Parasitism

Before criticizing Screamers for their approach to life, one must acknowledge an undeniable fact: this behavior is entirely natural. In the world of living organisms, everything adheres to the fundamental principle of energy conservation, and humans, as a biological species, are no exception.

Mammals expend an immense amount of energy daily, and humans rank among the most energy-intensive organisms. Even when engaging in no physical activity—simply lying on a couch and staring at the ceiling—the human body still requires approximately 1.5 kW of energy per day just to maintain basic physiological functions such as respiration, circulation, and thermoregulation.

However, when we engage in intensive cognitive activity—solving complex problems, analyzing information, or developing new ideas—the brain becomes one of the most energy-consuming organs. Active mental exertion can increase daily energy consumption by an additional 0.5 kW. This means that serious intellectual effort is not merely an abstract “complication of life” but a genuine physical load requiring more resources than many types of physical exercise.

For this reason, alongside the strategy of independently acquiring resources, parasitism has emerged as an evolutionary survival mechanism—relying on the labor of others without making a meaningful contribution oneself. This phenomenon is ubiquitous in nature:

• Predators and scavengers. Wolves hunt and secure their food, while crows and hyenas feed on the remains.
• Creators and exploiters. Bees collect nectar and produce honey, whereas wasps arrive and simply take it.
• Workers and opportunists. Ants build elaborate colonies, while some insects merely inhabit their tunnels without contributing.

Human society operates under the same fundamental laws. Doers shoulder the primary burden: they develop ideas, solve complex problems, acquire specialized skills, and create new technologies. Screamers, on the other hand, have adapted to an alternative strategy—avoiding unnecessary energy expenditure while still benefiting from the efforts of others.

From a strictly biological perspective, Screamers are not necessarily "lazy" in the conventional sense. Rather, they are executing their own survival strategy, which, from an evolutionary standpoint, is just as viable as that of Doers. The real concern is what happens to a society when Screamers outnumber those who truly generate value.

The Invisibility of Intellectual Labor: Why Screamers Fail to Recognize Its Value

One of the defining characteristics of intellectual work is that its results are not immediately apparent. If one takes a sledgehammer and drives a stake into the ground, the outcome is instantly visible. The stake is secured, the task is completed, and compensation follows. The process is transparent: a specific action leads to an immediate result, which in turn leads to a reward.

However, intellectual labor operates under a much more complex framework. The development of a master plan, a strategic project, a technological innovation, or even a comprehensive data analysis often yields results that only become evident over time. This delay in tangible outcomes may span weeks, months, or even years.

This creates a fundamental issue:

• For Screamers, who are accustomed to immediate results and rapid feedback, this type of work is simply invisible.
• They are incapable of valuing the process itself, as they only recognize the instant manifestation of outcomes.
• They conflate visibility with value—if something does not produce immediate effects, they dismiss it as "pointless busywork."

This is why, in a society that increasingly prioritizes demonstrative activity, Screamers often find themselves at the forefront. They craft an illusion of productivity through grandstanding, polished presentations, eloquent speeches, and flashy reports. They generate noise, create the appearance of action, yet contribute little of substantive value.

Meanwhile, Doers—the individuals who engage in meaningful, long-term work—often remain in the background, as their contributions only become evident over time.

This fundamental difference in perception explains why:

• Individuals engaged in long-term projects are frequently undervalued.
• Screamers easily ascend to managerial roles, where perception matters more than actual results.
• Valuable ideas and solutions often become buried beneath layers of unnecessary noise and bureaucracy.

In a world increasingly driven by rapid consumption, this phenomenon is becoming the norm. After all, it is far easier to market a flashy cover than to sell something that requires time and effort to truly understand.

Why Screamers Are Incapable of Systematic Work

The fundamental issue with Screamers lies in their inability to engage in systematic, creative labor. This is not merely a matter of personal choice or preference but rather a consequence of an underdeveloped ability to engage in structured thought.

While Doers spend years learning to organize information, analyze cause-and-effect relationships, and seek optimal solutions, Screamers take the opposite approach—they do not cultivate independent thinking but instead adapt to pre-existing solutions, adopting them without a deep understanding of their underlying principles.

1. Lack of Habitual Systematic Thinking

When an individual lacks regular mental exercise, they simply do not develop the ability to think deeply and logically. Their thought process becomes chaotic and reactive, and, most notably, they often do not even realize this deficiency.

If one were to ask a Screamer to explain how they make decisions, the response would typically fall into one of the following categories:

• They evade the question, as they do not understand their own cognitive process.
• They rely on a set of pre-learned, borrowed phrases, repackaging external ideas as their own.
• They openly admit that they have never given it any thought.

Such individuals struggle with complex analytical tasks because their cognitive abilities have never been properly exercised. This parallels physical conditioning:

• If you never engage in sports, you will not be able to run a marathon.
• If you never lift weights, your muscles will not develop the strength to endure significant loads.
• If you never train your mind by solving intellectual problems, your brain will remain sluggish and ineffective.

2. Fear of Complexity and Contempt for Labor

The cognitive laziness of Screamers is frequently accompanied by an aversion to physical labor. From childhood, they tend to fear both manual work and complex intellectual challenges:

• They resist exerting effort—every additional task is perceived as an unnecessary burden.
• They avoid challenges—if a simpler path exists, they will always choose it.
• They ridicule hardworking individuals—Doers appear to them as “overly diligent nerds” or “slaves of the system.”

At this point, an interesting argument often arises. Many Screamers claim that their inability to engage in intellectual work stems from neurophysiological differences. Some argue that individual brain structures vary—some people are naturally inclined toward logic, while others are more attuned to emotions or physical activities.

However, the counterargument is straightforward:

Even if a person has more developed motor or emotional centers, they can—and should—train their cognitive abilities.

3. Can the Mind Be Trained?

The brain, like muscles, is a trainable organ. If subjected to daily mental exercise, cognitive function improves, becoming more efficient and agile.

Consider the following examples:

• Chess players are not born with an innate understanding of complex combinations—they play thousands of games and analyze their mistakes.
• Mathematicians do not intuitively see formulas in the air—they solve equations for years and gradually learn to recognize patterns.
• Entrepreneurs do not possess an inherent sense for business—they study markets, analyze competitors, and test new models.

Yet what do Screamers do? They actively avoid effort, preferring to copy, mimic, and conform to existing solutions. They flee from personal growth, justifying their stagnation with excuses that thinking "is simply not for them."

This is precisely why a Screamer-dominated civilization is dangerous. If society ceases to cultivate intellectual discipline and continues to reward superficiality, we face the risk of total cognitive degradation.

The Flexibility of Human Nature: How a Doer Can Become a Screamer and Vice Versa

One of the most intriguing and, in some ways, reassuring aspects of human nature is that Doers and Screamers are not fixed, innate traits. Contrary to popular belief, there is no “Doer gene” or “Screamer chromosome.” These are not predetermined identities but rather fluid states shaped by environment, motivation, and life circumstances.

Moreover, an individual can transition from one category to the other. A Doer can become a Screamer if they lose motivation and settle into an environment that eliminates the need for effort. Likewise, a Screamer can transform into a Doer if life forces them into circumstances where they have no choice but to act.

1. How Doers Become Screamers

Even individuals who are initially disciplined, hardworking, and goal-oriented are not immune to deterioration. This transformation can occur for several reasons:

• A life of comfort. When there is no longer any need to exert effort, when others take care of everything, and when success is no longer tied to one’s actions, a person begins to stagnate.
• Lack of challenges. If the brain ceases to engage with complex tasks, it loses its sharpness—just like muscles that weaken without physical exercise.
• Social environment. If an individual is surrounded by people who value connections, status, and rhetoric over skills and intelligence, they gradually conform to these new standards.

Examples of this phenomenon are numerous:

• Startup founders who sell their companies and retire at 30, only to find themselves unable to create anything meaningful after a few years, as their brains have become accustomed to comfort.
• High achievers who, after reaching the peak of their fields, become surrounded by parasites and gradually lose their drive, drowning in background noise.
• Heirs to family businesses who inherit companies but, within a generation, see them collapse because they were never trained in discipline and effort.

2. How Screamers Become Doers

The opposite transformation is also possible. If a Screamer is placed in an environment where parasitism is not an option, they have no choice but to work.

There is one mechanism that consistently forces Screamers to become Doers—severe crises and disasters. History has shown that after devastating wars, economic collapses, and major upheavals, Screamers tend to disappear, while Doers rise to the forefront.

Why does this happen?

• No one is left to rescue the Screamers. They can demand assistance and attention all they want, but when resources are scarce even for the Doers, parasites simply do not survive.
• Harsh selection for usefulness. If you cannot create, solve problems, or make decisions, you become irrelevant.
• Shift in motivation. When people realize that without effort they will not survive, they begin to work, develop, and acquire skills.

3. Wars and Crises as a Mechanism for Resetting Society

History shows that most severe societal crises are caused by Screamers:

• They push society toward extreme parasitism, where consumers dominate over creators.
• They dismantle long-term strategies in favor of immediate gratification.
• They undermine the value of labor, replacing it with empty rhetoric and demagoguery.

As a result, societies that accumulate too many Screamers inevitably face collapse. Only when parasitism is no longer an option does the system reset, and Doers reclaim control of reality.

4. Conclusion: Being a Doer or a Screamer Is a Choice, Not a Fate

We are not born as Doers or Screamers—we become them based on our environment, habits, and life choices.

• If a Doer stops exercising their mind and ceasing to challenge themselves, they will gradually degrade.
• If a Screamer is placed in conditions where parasitism is impossible, they will start acting.

The key question is: how long will it take for society to recognize the difference between these two groups and start rewarding creators rather than parasites? Because if this realization does not occur, we are inevitably heading toward another crisis—one where Doers will once again be tasked with rebuilding from the ruins.

The Civilization of Downhillers: The Final Stroke in the Portrait of a Screamer’s World

I have been hiking in the mountains for a long time. For me, hiking is not merely a way to stay in shape or admire the scenery—it is a metaphor for life itself. In the mountains, everything is simple: you either climb upward, overcoming resistance and strengthening yourself, or descend effortlessly, surrendering to inertia.

For many years, I ascended these trails alone or among like-minded individuals—people who understood the value of the journey. People who did not fear fatigue, did not seek shortcuts, and did not demand privileges. People who realized that the path upward is an effort, not a right.

But recently, these trails have become increasingly crowded. Yet, it was not the Doers who had filled the routes—it was the Downhillers—throngs of cyclists speeding down at reckless speeds, destroying trails, tearing through bushes, scattering dirt and rocks across the slopes. They ride the same paths dozens of times a day, with no regard for the fact that these trails were not created yesterday, that others once carved them through the mountains, that hikers making their way upward also have a right to the road.

Yet, in their worldview, everything operates differently.

Downhillers Behave Like They Own the Mountains

Downhillers act as though they are the rightful owners of the mountains, while everyone else is merely an obstacle. When you hike upward and notice another cyclist barreling toward you at full speed, you must immediately jump aside—because they have no intention of slowing down or yielding the path. This is not just a lack of consideration for others; it is an unshakable belief that the world should adjust to them.

Yet, their egoism is not even the most striking aspect—it is their method of movement that truly reveals their nature.

They Do Not Climb the Mountain Themselves

Every morning, specialized jeeps transport them to the summit, straight to the starting point. They do not even bother with the ascent. They have no idea what it means to climb step by step, feeling their legs ache with strain, their lungs demand air, and each meter of elevation become a personal triumph. They simply sit in a vehicle, reach the top, and then gleefully coast downhill.

Their “ascent” is not labor, not struggle, not overcoming—it is merely comfortable relocation.

And that is when it struck me.

This World Has Become a Civilization of Screamer-Downhillers

If Downhillers simply rode down and quietly enjoyed themselves, it would not be such a big deal. But they demand universal recognition:

• They expect everyone to step aside for them.
• They do not want anyone obstructing their descent.
• They insist that trails be modified to suit their needs.
• They seek to establish their lifestyle as the only valid one.

Just like the Screamers in the intellectual sphere, these individuals live off the work of others, yet behave as though the world owes them. They did not build these trails, yet they consider them their own. They invested no effort, yet they demand privileges. They do not understand the value of the journey—because they have never walked it themselves.

And if you are not a Screamer-Downhiller, there is no place for you in this system.

Where Does This Lead?

Honestly? I don’t know.

I changed my route. I found a new trail, one where, for now, there are no trucks hauling parasites to the top. But I am well aware of the reality:

• This process will not stop on its own.
• Screamers and Downhillers will continue to claim more space.
• They will not stop until they destroy everything that existed before them.

What kind of future awaits a civilization where no one wants to climb upward, yet everyone insists on coasting downhill, destroying everything in their path?