The entitlement trap (Joe Rogan, 360 and the modern man)

There is so much stuff in the world.

Sometimes too much.

I hear often about the lack of things available to modern men and women and although I am one of the blessed few with so much, I also can't comprehend this feeling.

Or can I?

Well, I can understand it.

But I must admit, it is very hard to truly respect such a position.

Let me explain.

My life has been full of twists and turns.

I have taken myself down some incredibly traumatic paths that quite frankly I was lucky to escape. Often I reflect to consider how lucky I was to get out alive.

Don't get me wrong...

I have been the crying boy saying "what about me?" because I was overlooked or under appreciated.

Now I sit here as a 36 year old man and see that I have everything.

And always have.

The world is wondrous and vast and I stop and smell the roses each and every single day.

As I get older, accumulate more wealth and garner my perspective I can't help but feel grateful for the things I have and am in no way concerned with the things I lack.

The same cannot be said for many people in my generation.

Recently a video surfaced from rapper 360 titled 'Barbarian Freestyle'.

It was 360 in a pretty raw and unfiltered way doing what he does best—rapping and doing it well. However the content of his bars drew a lot of criticism with huge backlash (and some support) from all facets of the hip-hop and Aus music landscape.

In the video 360 appeared to be venting some frustrations with how he perceived what was going on in the rap scene.

Essentially claiming that gimmicks were preferred to skill.

But the way he did it was considered widely distasteful as he made mentions of skin tone playing some role in what was being elevated.

I think you can see where this is going...

Now let me just put this on record right here:

• I have idolised this man for 15 years

• I love and have always appreciated his work

• I always saw him as someone vulnerable and authentic

• I believed he was always someone that seen and understood the plight of minorities

• I don't believe him to be racist or hateful at all

My diagnosis of what drove 360 to say what he said is much simpler.

He is simply gratitude deficient.

Even if he was not being outright racist or bigoted in his bars, he was at the very least sounding very entitled.

You see it is a tough tightrope to walk.

In a rap song we only have so many words to express our thoughts, this can be a blessing and a curse. In this freestyle, 360 attempted to vent a frustration that so many of us have felt in the last few years.

"Why not me?"

"I'm better than them!"

"Is it because of some agenda?"

"Am I not hitting their diversity quote?!"

Etc etc.

But the mistake he made was not stopping to think—to consider his privilege, his entitlement and the many many blessings he has.

1. Alive and healthy

2. Fans and family that love him

3. An illustrious and decorated career

4. Wealthy beyond whatever he could have imagined

5. Living in a country free from war and terror where freedom of speech is vastly respected

Like it literally does not get any better!

But, instead of seeing the good, he saw the bad... and that... that is what I call the entitlement trap!

The reality is that he is not alone.

Far too many people in 2025 see what has been taken, see what they are missing and what has been withheld. Similarly to popular voices like Joe Rogan and Russel Brand, I saw this gentle creep toward the woke right coming a mile away.

"They locked us down!"

"They forced us to take the jab!"

"They are taking over our cities and jobs!"

"They forced girls to compete against boys!"

They they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they!!!

Not me.

Not I.

Now don't get me wrong, the woke left took shit waaay too far!

But how far really?

Further than world leaders that are linked to pedophilia?

Further than a live-streamed genocide in the Middle East?

Further than a class and financial system that incentives privilege?

Further than the broad acceptance of assault and violence as a means to get what they want?

Look, I'm not saying that any of the above is acceptable behaviour from either side. But give me a world where boys beat girls in sport everyday of the week over a world where the rich and wealthy run rampant, while the middle and lower classes are left to starve.

I understand where 360 is coming from, I don't hate him for how he sees the world, but I do expect more from him.

I expect more from everyone.

The lack of gratitude is pervasive, but the way we rebuild a world where people see the good and rejoice as opposed to whinge because they don't have enough is by rebuilding yourself.

Do not allow yourself to become entangled in the entitlement trap.

When you win—be grateful.

When you get more—give more.

When you're down—build others up.

Ok that is enough of my ranting for this week, I'm going to leave you now with a quote from Marcus:

“When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive – to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.”

With gratitude,

Sav.