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It's cool how people think CGP Grey is a scholar on so many topics just because he sounds calm and confident when he talks. It's like a stick figure hypno toad.

by ebbv 9y ago

JumpCrisscross 9y ago
> people think CGP Grey is a scholar on so many topics just because he sounds calm and confident His "Rules for Rulers" video is an excellent summary of The Dictator's Handbook [1], itself a summary of well-regarded selectorate theory [2]. I have yet to watch a CPG Grey video which does not honestly separate fact from opinion, and ensure the former is well sourced. His delivery is excellent. But that, alone, is not substitute for well-written and -researched material. [1] https://www.amazon.com/Dictators-Handbook-Behavior-Almost-Politics/dp/1610391845 https://www.amazon.com/Dictators-Handbook-Behavior-Almost-Po... [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selectorate_theory https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selectorate_theory
- ebbv 9y ago
  Some of his videos are better than others. But his videos are as slanted towards his view as anything else. What facts you present and how you present them is both a conscious and unconscious result of your own worldview (some things you will see as relevant or irrelevant, and some things you won't even be aware of because of who you are and what you've read, etc.) But regardless, replying to someone with "Hey watch this 40 minute CGP Grey video which explains why you're wrong." is both hilarious and insulting on multiple levels.
  - JumpCrisscross 9y ago
    > is both hilarious and insulting on multiple levels CPG Grey's summaries are just that, summaries. They miss nuance by design. In many cases nuance isn't necessary. If someone is arguing over what is on what continent, CPG Grey's "What Are Continents?" video [1] is an acceptable response. It's just a summary. But even the summary adequately shows the baselessness of the question. TL; DR CPG Grey's videos are, on average, of better quality than many newspapers, blogs and other secondary sources. It's perfectly fine to reference them. [1] http://www.cgpgrey.com/blog/what-are-continents.html http://www.cgpgrey.com/blog/what-are-continents.html
  - dfabulich 9y ago
    OK, how about: hey, read The Dictator's Handbook which explains why you're wrong. It's $12, 354 pages long, and not the least bit insulting.

It's cool how people think CGP Grey is a scholar on so many topics just because he sounds calm and confident when he talks. It's like a stick figure hypno toad.

by ebbv 9y ago

It's cool how people think CGP Grey is a scholar on so many topics just because he sounds calm and confident when he talks. It's like a stick figure hypno toad.

JumpCrisscross 9y ago

> people think CGP Grey is a scholar on so many topics just because he sounds calm and confident His "Rules for Rulers" video is an excellent summary of The Dictator's Handbook [1], itself a summary of well-regarded selectorate theory [2]. I have yet to watch a CPG Grey video which does not honestly separate fact from opinion, and ensure the former is well sourced. His delivery is excellent. But that, alone, is not substitute for well-written and -researched material. [1] https://www.amazon.com/Dictators-Handbook-Behavior-Almost-Politics/dp/1610391845 https://www.amazon.com/Dictators-Handbook-Behavior-Almost-Po... [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selectorate_theory https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selectorate_theory

ebbv 9y ago
Some of his videos are better than others. But his videos are as slanted towards his view as anything else. What facts you present and how you present them is both a conscious and unconscious result of your own worldview (some things you will see as relevant or irrelevant, and some things you won't even be aware of because of who you are and what you've read, etc.) But regardless, replying to someone with "Hey watch this 40 minute CGP Grey video which explains why you're wrong." is both hilarious and insulting on multiple levels.
- JumpCrisscross 9y ago
  > is both hilarious and insulting on multiple levels CPG Grey's summaries are just that, summaries. They miss nuance by design. In many cases nuance isn't necessary. If someone is arguing over what is on what continent, CPG Grey's "What Are Continents?" video [1] is an acceptable response. It's just a summary. But even the summary adequately shows the baselessness of the question. TL; DR CPG Grey's videos are, on average, of better quality than many newspapers, blogs and other secondary sources. It's perfectly fine to reference them. [1] http://www.cgpgrey.com/blog/what-are-continents.html http://www.cgpgrey.com/blog/what-are-continents.html
- dfabulich 9y ago
  OK, how about: hey, read The Dictator's Handbook which explains why you're wrong. It's $12, 354 pages long, and not the least bit insulting.