Unlocking the Power of Aura: Aristotle’s Influence on the New Currency of Cool | Life & Style

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You can track your calories, steps, and even the number of streams on your favorite songs. Now, you can also quantify your awesomeness with Aura Points, which determine your level of attractiveness. (It’s basically charisma, and if you didn’t know that, you just lost 100 Aura points.)

Asking someone out and getting a “yes” results in losing 100 aura points. Using Snapchat after the age of 19 is frowned upon and leads to a deduction of 1,000 aura points. Answering a question confidently in class, even if it’s wrong, puts you in the negative.

According to a TikTok explanation, this trend has caused a 378% spike in posts with the hashtag #aurapoints between May and June. It’s all about exuding a positive, carefree, and confident attitude to earn points and gain entry into the cool-kids club.

The concept of Aura Points is a modern twist on the elusive “it” factor, popularized by stars like Clara Bow and Evelyn Nesbitt, now reimagined for the younger generation. Gain your Aura Points to join the cool club, or risk losing them and facing consequences.

Stories on TikTok illustrate how people earn and lose points. Acting breezy and confident in tough situations earns you points, while staying with a cheating partner results in a deduction that no aura person would accept. Some scenarios are absurd but entertaining.

While Aura Points are mostly light-hearted, some creators use them to symbolize personal growth moments. It can be a way to reflect on important life choices and behaviors that define one’s character positively.

Young TikTok users share anecdotes of their point-earning and losing experiences. The trend aligns with Gen Z’s interest in cosmic belief systems like astrology. It offers a playful yet insightful approach to evaluating personal growth and character development.

Aura Points may seem like a modern TikTok fad, but they draw parallels to ancient virtue ethics from Greek and Roman philosophy. It’s more than just a superficial trend; it encourages self-reflection and moral alignment with personal values.

The concept of Aura Points also relates to moral credit, where positive actions counterbalance potential negative ones. It serves as a gamified system to assess behavior and invite constructive criticism.

Just like Alain de Botton’s notion of “status anxiety,” Aura Points reflect the ongoing concern for how others perceive us and our quest for self-worth. It’s a way for individuals to navigate social evaluation and engage in status transactions.

Understanding the philosophy behind this TikTok trend? Congratulations, you’ve earned 1,000 Aura points!

Source: www.theguardian.com

Retired employee sues bank after losing virtual currency fund in Hyperverse

Catalina de Solieu had high hopes for a comfortable retirement. She had completed her career as a nurse, paid off the mortgage on a property in regional Victoria, and had savings in the bank.

A friend from a network marketing group introduced her to an investment opportunity called Hyperfund, with the promise of using the returns as a source of income for her retirement. After initially investing small amounts, she eventually invested $80,000.

Within a few months, the money vanished.

“I lost my home,” she says three years later. “I lost all my money. I couldn’t pay the mortgage. When I actually sold the house and paid off the rest of the mortgage, I was in a lot of debt. By that time I had no money. There wasn’t much left.”

Now 71, de Solieu says she lives on a pension that barely covers her rent.

“Right now, I don’t have a nickel in the bank or in my pocket. I can’t go to the dentist. I can’t get my car serviced properly.

“It goes on and on. I can’t get it either. [hearing] Checked out. I even had a friend deliver groceries to my door. I have nothing left. ”

This experience left de Solieu feeling depressed and suicidal.

“I became so depressed that I wanted to commit suicide. It’s a terrible thing for anyone to admit, but that’s how I felt.

“I still wake up every morning and sob. Ever since that happened, every morning I can’t get up because I don’t forgive myself and I want to beat myself up.”

After losing $70,000, Des Solieu was unable to pay his dentist fees. Photo: Steve Wormersley/The Guardian

Mr. De Solieux is one of several Australians who have suffered losses from the HyperVerse project and is taking part in a legal effort to recover the losses from the banks that oversaw the transfer of money to the project.

UK-based investment fraud law firm Wealth Recovery Solutions has identified an Australian who transferred funds to a cryptocurrency exchange to become a member of Hyperfund, later renamed Hyperverse. This person is leading Mr. Des Solieu’s legal action.

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Source: www.theguardian.com