Cogito ergo sum

Dance challenges, lip syncs, recipes, pranks: TikTok contains all sorts of things. But the latest viral trend might be the strangest yet.

The social media platform is full of people asking men a simple question: "How often do you think about the Roman EmpireLasting from 27BC to 476AD, the Roman Empire controlled regions around the Mediterranean in Europe, North Africa and Western Asia. ?"

The trend originated after an influencer challenged women to ask the question to their male partners and relatives. The hashtag #romanempire now has 1.1 billion views.

Many were shocked by just how many men think about Ancient Rome - and just how often. One said "every day". Another said "constantly."

An interest in the Roman Empire is nothing new. The ancient civilisation left behind grand monuments and incredible poetry. Today, many films, TV shows and novels are inspired by its bloody sport and bloodier politics.

But not all roads lead to Rome. The trend has encouraged people to share their "Roman Empire", the thing they think about all the time.¹

Many revealed their own secret thoughts. Basketball player Aliyah Boston said soca, a Caribbean musical genre. Playwright Sandy Rustin thinks about stopping gun violence. And for comedian Natasha Vaynblat it is both alien life and motherhood.

The things we think about are one of the things that define us. Our interests form part of our personalities. They affect the activities we do, the books we read and the things we watch. They also shape who we spend time with.

Yet others claim there is much more to us than our interests. Our personalities also include our reactions to others and emotional patterns.

Two people fascinated by one thing might differ hugely. America's Founding FathersThe men generally thought to have played the most important role in creating the United States of America, by leading its military forces during the War of Independence or by writing the documents on which it is founded and still guide the country today. and Italian fascistFollowing fascism, a set of ideologies that advocates dictatorial power, political violence, suppression of opposition, traditional gender roles, and official racism. leader Benito Mussolini shared an obsession with the Roman Empire. But few would consider them similar.

Are we defined by our "Roman Empire"?

Yes: Lots of things define us. But our interests have a particularly big influence on our lives. They shape the places we go, the people we meet, the views we form and the conversations we have.

No: The things that fill our mind are important. But our actions define us. They are things that actually affect others and the world around us. No one is defined by their thoughts alone.

Or... Defining a person is impossible. Each of us is a mix of thoughts and emotions, interests and instincts. We change all the time, sometimes gradually, sometimes moment to moment.