When I meet a new person, I like to ask some open ended questions to see if they're a bullshitter or not. If they are, I avoid further contact with them. I make exceptions for younger people or social functions like parties where conversation is meant to amuse rather than inform, of course.
It's an obnoxious habit, in my view; then again frankness seems to offend many. By this I meant he frankly admitting you don't know something or haven't made up your mind, not being rude or callous. I don't consider circumspection or diplomatic tact to be bullshit; that's more of a tacit agreement to avoid painful for disagreeable topics for the sake of expediency.
I don't agree with Martins' conflation of bullshitting with human nature; I think it's a learned behavior that reflects prevailing social mores.
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[ 3.7 ms ] story [ 10.0 ms ] threadIt's an obnoxious habit, in my view; then again frankness seems to offend many. By this I meant he frankly admitting you don't know something or haven't made up your mind, not being rude or callous. I don't consider circumspection or diplomatic tact to be bullshit; that's more of a tacit agreement to avoid painful for disagreeable topics for the sake of expediency.
I don't agree with Martins' conflation of bullshitting with human nature; I think it's a learned behavior that reflects prevailing social mores.