Great one, Sam. I’ve had a copy of “On Bullshit” in my bathroom for over a decade now (for obvious reasons). It’s classic for a reason.
When I did a relay swim crossing of the North Channel, our team motto was “HIC SVNT BOS” — for the same reasons you wrote about here (and the fact we all went to Tufts).
That is a hilarious... perfect place for daily reminders. That is a hardcore swim. Are you still into open water swimming? That is one of the best activities for keeping mind and body engaged.
I somehow manage to find myself wrangled into doing another open water swim every couple of years, just after I've told myself I'm finished with aquatic exercise. But I do enjoy being in the water; now, though, I'd rather spend my ocean time doing more low key activities (like surfing or spearfishing haha).
The story of John Paul Jones makes me wonder if the word “hardship” came from battle conditions and/or attributes of men who fight on ships during those times. Brilliant piece as always Sam
It's an interesting thought. That fighting was brutal, possibly even more mental since you would literally go down with the ship—there was no way out. Thanks, Kyle.
I have to think it is. Virtue signaling seems to have nothing to do with truth and everything to do with self advancement, a pretty toxic combination. I appreciate the different angle, Barry.
"Both liars and the honest know the truth while the former betrays it and the latter owns it. Bullshitters are not liars—they are worse, for they do not care whether what they say is true or false."
Great piece, Sam! The easiest, and often first, person to bullshit is ourselves. The John Paul Jones example really drives home what it is to live versus be alive.
A novice political candidate was running for congress in a district that contained a large Indian reservation. She was new to the political process, but knew that she had to gain voters among the Indians, so she went to the reservation to make an appearance.
She met up with one of the chiefs who invited her to speak at the council meeting that was about to begin. She was a little nervous, but she went ahead and started speaking. She told them that Indian issues were of great concern to her. The members immediately reacted with shouts of "Hoya!"
Encouraged, she said that she would make Indian schools better than ever. More shouts of "Hoya!" Promises to bring jobs to the reservation brought still more shouts of "Hoya!". She finished up, very pleased with herself and confident that she had won votes.
After the meeting, the chief offered to take her on a tour of the reservation, which she accepted. He took her to the coral where they were keeping some of their prize cattle. He opened the gate so that they could inspect them more closely. She was a little hesitant at first, fearful of the beasts. "Don't worry," said the chief. "They won't hurt you. Just be careful not to step in the hoya."
There are lots of versions of bullshit. The postmodern one is the hyper-reality simulation. It is what is projected through the media and public figures. It is captured in what I call The Spectacle of the Real (https://edbrenegar.substack.com/p/the-spectacle-of-the-real).
Its relevance to John Paul Jones is that he knew that his situation was fragile. He was very close to defeat, yet he stood firm in his attention to winning the battle. This is the true character of a leader.
With Bullshit and The Spectacle, the "leader" and the organization or the nation is actually hiding the fact of their fragility. As a result, there are all kinds of diversions that take place to convince people that their position is righteous and inevitable. In my essay, I quote French theorist Jean Baudrillard, from Simulacra and Simulation, who describes how the portrayal of what is real has become hyper-real.
"To dissimulate is to pretend not to have what one has. To simulate is to feign to have what one doesn't have. One implies a presence, the other an absence. But it is more complicated than that because simulating is not pretending. "Whoever fakes an illness can simply stay in bed and make everyone believe he is ill. Whoever simulates an illness produces in himself some of the symptoms" (Littre'). Therefore, pretending or dissimulating, leaves the principle of reality intact: the difference is always clear, it is simply masked, whereas simulation threatens the difference between the "true" and the "false," the "real" and the "imaginary." Is the simulator sick or not, given that he produces "true" symptoms?"
This is especially seen in the Bullshiter's defense being about the evil or the unrighteousness of their opponent. You rarely hear how their position is strong and good. If their Spectacle is a lie, then their position is even more fragile. This is the world we have been living in. This is why I wrote The Spectacle of Trump Hatred last summer. It revealed not that Trump was good or right but rather that his opponent's position was so weak and fragile that all they could do is attack his character - Orange Man Bad. And whether one agrees with Trump and Musk's actions, we are certainly witnessing a moment of no bullshit transparency.
Great one, Sam. I’ve had a copy of “On Bullshit” in my bathroom for over a decade now (for obvious reasons). It’s classic for a reason.
When I did a relay swim crossing of the North Channel, our team motto was “HIC SVNT BOS” — for the same reasons you wrote about here (and the fact we all went to Tufts).
That is a hilarious... perfect place for daily reminders. That is a hardcore swim. Are you still into open water swimming? That is one of the best activities for keeping mind and body engaged.
I somehow manage to find myself wrangled into doing another open water swim every couple of years, just after I've told myself I'm finished with aquatic exercise. But I do enjoy being in the water; now, though, I'd rather spend my ocean time doing more low key activities (like surfing or spearfishing haha).
The story of John Paul Jones makes me wonder if the word “hardship” came from battle conditions and/or attributes of men who fight on ships during those times. Brilliant piece as always Sam
It's an interesting thought. That fighting was brutal, possibly even more mental since you would literally go down with the ship—there was no way out. Thanks, Kyle.
Hard men and a hard ship was needed to ensure that hardship. Only way out was through.
Love reading your perspectives, considering what you’ve been through, on past and present hardships
Perfect for our times. Is “virtue signaling”, so common now, bullshitting?
I have to think it is. Virtue signaling seems to have nothing to do with truth and everything to do with self advancement, a pretty toxic combination. I appreciate the different angle, Barry.
"Both liars and the honest know the truth while the former betrays it and the latter owns it. Bullshitters are not liars—they are worse, for they do not care whether what they say is true or false."
⬆️
Nailed it, Sam! 👏
Thank you Baird!
If you want to utilize the fruit of life going well, prepare for life going poorly. Great piece, Sam.
Rock on Andrew, well said.
Great piece, Sam! The easiest, and often first, person to bullshit is ourselves. The John Paul Jones example really drives home what it is to live versus be alive.
Thank you Dan!
For some reason, Obama's statement about drawing a 'red line in the sand' suddenly comes to mind.
When you think about it, Obama didn't begin to fight, either.
According to the definition of bullshit, the majority of politicians are truly the masters of this way of life.
Did you ever hear the joke about 'hoya'?
I have not... but am interested.
OK, you asked for it:
A novice political candidate was running for congress in a district that contained a large Indian reservation. She was new to the political process, but knew that she had to gain voters among the Indians, so she went to the reservation to make an appearance.
She met up with one of the chiefs who invited her to speak at the council meeting that was about to begin. She was a little nervous, but she went ahead and started speaking. She told them that Indian issues were of great concern to her. The members immediately reacted with shouts of "Hoya!"
Encouraged, she said that she would make Indian schools better than ever. More shouts of "Hoya!" Promises to bring jobs to the reservation brought still more shouts of "Hoya!". She finished up, very pleased with herself and confident that she had won votes.
After the meeting, the chief offered to take her on a tour of the reservation, which she accepted. He took her to the coral where they were keeping some of their prize cattle. He opened the gate so that they could inspect them more closely. She was a little hesitant at first, fearful of the beasts. "Don't worry," said the chief. "They won't hurt you. Just be careful not to step in the hoya."
This was stellar and just about sums it up. Thank you!
Excellent!!
Thank you Don!
Excellent!
There are lots of versions of bullshit. The postmodern one is the hyper-reality simulation. It is what is projected through the media and public figures. It is captured in what I call The Spectacle of the Real (https://edbrenegar.substack.com/p/the-spectacle-of-the-real).
Its relevance to John Paul Jones is that he knew that his situation was fragile. He was very close to defeat, yet he stood firm in his attention to winning the battle. This is the true character of a leader.
With Bullshit and The Spectacle, the "leader" and the organization or the nation is actually hiding the fact of their fragility. As a result, there are all kinds of diversions that take place to convince people that their position is righteous and inevitable. In my essay, I quote French theorist Jean Baudrillard, from Simulacra and Simulation, who describes how the portrayal of what is real has become hyper-real.
"To dissimulate is to pretend not to have what one has. To simulate is to feign to have what one doesn't have. One implies a presence, the other an absence. But it is more complicated than that because simulating is not pretending. "Whoever fakes an illness can simply stay in bed and make everyone believe he is ill. Whoever simulates an illness produces in himself some of the symptoms" (Littre'). Therefore, pretending or dissimulating, leaves the principle of reality intact: the difference is always clear, it is simply masked, whereas simulation threatens the difference between the "true" and the "false," the "real" and the "imaginary." Is the simulator sick or not, given that he produces "true" symptoms?"
This is especially seen in the Bullshiter's defense being about the evil or the unrighteousness of their opponent. You rarely hear how their position is strong and good. If their Spectacle is a lie, then their position is even more fragile. This is the world we have been living in. This is why I wrote The Spectacle of Trump Hatred last summer. It revealed not that Trump was good or right but rather that his opponent's position was so weak and fragile that all they could do is attack his character - Orange Man Bad. And whether one agrees with Trump and Musk's actions, we are certainly witnessing a moment of no bullshit transparency.
Ed, I appreciate these thoughts and the direction you're taking this. Also your piece on The Spectacle is great.
I have Simulacra and Simulation on my shelf staring down at me. I can't wait to dig into it.
Thank you for jumping in and giving me some more thinking material.
Thanks for bringing clarity to our world.