Here’s an entertaining take on BS in a wider sense than Frankfurt’s definition, namely bullshit jobs:
His delivery is far from polished, almost conversational, and his political views do get a bit grating, but the talk is engaging nonetheless. As someone who has sought meaning in everything I do, I find this trend funny, but also a bit frightening. What is happening to people?
I tried, if only to study a sample of high density distillate of BS, but I couldn’t make it past the 3 minute mark. Actually listening to that was just too offensive to my sense of logic. He constructs every sentence as a zero sum game, so that you end up with a lot of words with exactly no meaning, which still somehow makes him seem knowledgeable and connected if you only listen with half an ear. A true master of the craft.
That guy gets a mention in this piece.
(I’m pretty sure Current Affairs is not your kind of source but there are some interesting points in this piece about creativity, modern marketing, attitudes to work in general.)
I tried reading Frankfurt’s essay.
Got about half way down the first paragraph before I began to loose the will to live. He seems to be one of those who follow the, “why use a sentence when a paragraph will do” approach. Which seems ironic.
BS: Have a seat and the doctor will be right with you.
Interesting set of observations by one of my favorite bloggers:
Cheers,
Earl
A friend of mine (now dead from cancer of the brain) used to be an almost classic case of over estimation of his own abilities.
Lovely man!
