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Our world is just a fiction

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For a while, I presented the idea that our world is a fiction. It is a fiction based upon beliefs. We have shared beliefs. We believe the world is the way the world is. But the world isn’t this way.

Borders.

Borders don’t exist. We – humans – created borders. They don’t exist.

Business.

Business doesn’t exist. We – humans – created business. Business doesn’t exist.

Companies.

Companies don’t exist. We – humans – created companies. Companies don’t exist.

If I ask you about your country: what is your country? America? Canada? You are one land mass. You don't exist. England? Scotland? Wales? You don't exist. You are just acres of land that are all one, but separated by human fiction. Germany? Poland? France? You don't exist. We just made you up.

The same is true when you think about HSBC or IBM. They're not physical things. They're fictional things that we made up, and gave legality to, by shared constructs. Shared beliefs. Our acceptance of contracts and structures. That's all it is.

It’s only when you enter an existential crisis, as we are now, that you realise this. Nothing is normal, but nothing is the way that we think. We made it all up.

Think about this world. This world is the one we created. We made it all up. Humans created laws, governments, structures and relationships that are purely endorsed by our belief in government, laws and agreements between all of us. When a crisis of global levels hits, we lose our belief in all of these things. It becomes personal.

We don’t believe in governments, laws, contracts, money, or anything anymore. All we can believe in is survival. Covering our own ass, and getting rid of any baggage that might hit us.

The world is a fiction.

There are no borders, no countries, no businesses, no companies. We made it all up. They don’t exist.

As for banks, money, trade, currencies and all that stuff. Really? You believe in the euro, the pound, the dollar? What means more to you, the money in your pocket or the food in your house?

Seriously guys, in this crisis, that’s the really stark choice. And, if I were you, I’d rather have food in my fridge than money in my pocket.

Never thought I’d be blogging like this but never thought I’d see a day like this. Borders are closing, the world is decoupling, we are losing all sanity and moving into a war-like moment. It’s not the Third World War. We are not fighting with each other. It’s the Global War. We are fighting a thing.

We are fighting a thing ... but the thing is that, in fighting this thing, we are raising questions about everything.

Do you still have your shared belief? Do you still believe in your government, your business, your company, your currency? Do you still believe ...

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Chris M Skinner

Chris Skinner is best known as an independent commentator on the financial markets through his blog, TheFinanser.com, as author of the bestselling book Digital Bank, and Chair of the European networking forum the Financial Services Club. He has been voted one of the most influential people in banking by The Financial Brand (as well as one of the best blogs), a FinTech Titan (Next Bank), one of the Fintech Leaders you need to follow (City AM, Deluxe and Jax Finance), as well as one of the Top 40 most influential people in financial technology by the Wall Street Journal's Financial News. To learn more click here...

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