Mahogany

In my friend group there's this in-joke called "Mahogany". It comes from this Joel Haver sketch where a man quits social media and reaches a specific state of mind.

I recommend you watch the video before continuing as much of the following writing will be in reference to it.

The reason this blog post exists is because the idea of "Mahogany" is interesting and useful but also vague and unclear.

What is Mahogany?

Sumthin like:

Mahogany: To abandon simulations and by doing so live in the real world

Mahogany is a state you achieve through abandoning simulations.

In the context of the video Social Media acts as this distraction for Patrick.

Patrick instead listens to NPR, discovers Vivaldi, drinks filtered water and engages in hobbies.

The relationship drama his friends let him in on get labelled as "Trivial" while Patrick describes a more pressing concern, the Amazon Rainforest.

Patricks connection with his friends become more intimate (albeit to an exaggerated extent) as they engage with him as an individual instead of a "Social Node"

Social media is a simulation of socialising and Patrick's brief abandonment of it let him live in the real world.

What are "Simulations"?

In this context, simulations are things that artificially satisfy some desire.

There are many different models for "desire" but the one you are probably most familiar with is Maslows Hierarchy of Needs.

Maslows Hierarchy of Needs is a theory that describes 5 human needs with each one needing to be satisfied before the next one can be.

In order these desires are:

Physiological (basic biological requirements such as food, water and sleep)
Safety (security and resources)
Belonging (sense of connection, friendship, intimacy)
Esteem (respect, status, self-esteem)
Self-actualisation (becoming the best you can be)

While I think basic needs and self-actualisation can be simulated in some way, my primary concern here is the psychological needs of esteem and belonging

Listening to a podcast may be a simulation of belonging as it can make you feel as if you are in a group having fun but you are really in your car alone with a recording. (This, of course, depends on the nature of the podcast)

In my interpretation of the video, Patrick was using Social Media to satisfy his desire for belonging and esteem. By abandoning Social Media he was able to self-actualise experiencing creativity and purpose.

Under a rigid reading of Maslows Hierarchy, Patrick could not reach self-actualisation until satisfying esteem and belonging. I believe this is why he ultimately returns to social media.

I believe that by abandoning social media he also abandoned his artificial source of belonging and esteem. Without successfully replacing the source for those needs he falls back into the social media hole putting a pause on his self-actualisation but not without making some progress.

A Mahogany Lifestyle

The principle question that comes up when trying to achieve a "Mahogany Lifestyle" is "Is what I am engaging with real?"

Can I get what I get out of X activity in a better, more healthy way?

I think its important to know that it is okay to engage with simulations. The question is whether or not your life is dominated by them.

One problem I have solved is my use of "Instagram Reels".

I solved it by cutting out the use of the official Instagram app and instead using another app called "Beeper" to feed my messages to me.

Theres this saying, "One drink is too many and a thousand is never enough"

If you can't enjoy something without it ruining your life its not worth engaging with.

I use this framework to evaluate if something that may be a simulation or distraction is worth doing.

Reaching a state of unadulterated Mahogany may be possible but I think for most people learning to spend most of their time in the real world, doing real things with real people, learning, growing and becoming the best they can be.

I think that is enough.