The term ‘alpha male’ was coined to describe behavior in packs of animals — canines like wolves or coyotes, or great apes like gorillas and chimpanzees.

 

Which makes it interesting that Elon Musk, who would like to take control of our country’s finances, thinks that a few “highly intelligent alpha males” should be allowed to tell all the rest of us what to do.

 

Set aside the argument about intelligence, which comes in many forms. And set aside the fact that most forms of intelligence do not lead to obsessions with Mars or misogynism or a lust for power.

 

Just ponder the fact that someone so desperate for attention he buys his own social media platform thinks “alpha males” are really cool.

 

The internet was supposed to lead to good things. It was supposed to further human evolution. But unless we’re more careful from here on out, the internet will further our de-volution. Our algorithms will herd us into packs of snarling animals, fighting constantly for supremacy over one another.