5 ms·

I think you use a different definition of bullshit than the discussion here.

seoulmetro 5y ago
I'll never know. My definition of bullshit follows every definition of the people I've ever discussed with though. That is: Something that does not actually have substance, but may be propped up to be perceived as so.
- mmahemoff 5y ago
  OP wasn't making any value judgement like this. They were simply questioning if there is actually a story here. The media tends to notice little phenomena like this and paint them as if it's a cultural megatrend.
  - howaboutnope 5y ago
    Even then, the misunderstanding is in reading the question "is this story BS?" as "is influencing BS?", not in the definition of bullshit.
    - Dylan16807 5y ago
      Using different criteria is more or less a different definition of being BS.
  - seoulmetro 5y ago
    I don't see a way to confirm the story if you do not investigate the likelihood of the value it is "presenting" though. I'm still confused by these two comments. I don't think we can verifiably claim any personal story on any media outlet is BS or not.
    - Dylan16807 5y ago
      You're talking about whether this kind of account is a scam. They're wondering whether this specific account is making money. Those are very different questions. An account can be both, neither, or one or the other.
      - seoulmetro 5y ago
        No. I'm talking about whether it's bullshit. Scam is not the same as bullshit. I guess Americans use the word bullshit differently to the rest of the English speaking world? Or something else? If one were to speak bullshit, they'd be doing exactly what I just wrote. No money is involved.
        notanzaiiswear 5y ago
        What do you mean by bullshit? People who like it and follow the fake personae on social media are wasting their time? Or what exactly? Are all invented things bullshit, so also books, music, movies, paintings...? Maybe posting this artificial person on social media is just another way to tell a story?
        seoulmetro 5y ago
        If I photoshop the moon into a picture and post it to a photography forum, most people will pick it up as a bullshit photo. If I post the same thing to Instagram, most people will applaud me for being such a great photographer. Everyone is wasting their time. Lots of people like bullshit.
        Dylan16807 5y ago
        > No. I'm talking about whether it's bullshit. Scam is not the same as bullshit. You called it a ponzi scheme! Either way, please listen to the distinction I'm making. You're talking about ways the industry is bad. They're asking if the article is flat-out wrong about this single account being successful inside that industry. Those are two separate ideas to call bullshit on. A bullshit industry can have bullshit success stories, but it can also have true success stories.
- FabHK 5y ago
  According to Harry Frankfurt, author of On Bullshit, it's when someone makes statements without any regard to their truth.
- notanzaiiswear 5y ago
  But how do you define substance? It seems to me if they make money, they have substance, whether what they do is useful in the greater scheme of things or not. I must admit I don't quite understand your attitude. I personally for example have no interest in "the Kardashians" and would consider their story "bullshit" in a way. On the other hand, they clearly made a shitload of money. So maybe it would be better to analyse what is going on and why it works. Another example that I personally consider mostly BS is professional sports. But clearly billions of people are into it and a lot of money is being made. Rather than calling it BS, perhaps it is more interesting to think about what might be going on, and what human need seems to be fulfilled by these things. I was also reminded of "Hello Kitty" which seems to have been going strong for decades. Maybe, among other things, people just buy into this phantasy of a happy world were everything is fine. I personally bought some Hello Kitty mugs for fun a while ago because using them gave me a little jolt of happiness. Even though it is "commercial BS".
  - seoulmetro 5y ago
    Substance is much more than money (to me). Why use the word if we all use it differently indeed...

I'll never know. My definition of bullshit follows every definition of the people I've ever discussed with though. That is: Something that does not actually have substance, but may be propped up to be perceived as so.

mmahemoff 5y ago
OP wasn't making any value judgement like this. They were simply questioning if there is actually a story here. The media tends to notice little phenomena like this and paint them as if it's a cultural megatrend.
- howaboutnope 5y ago
  Even then, the misunderstanding is in reading the question "is this story BS?" as "is influencing BS?", not in the definition of bullshit.
  - Dylan16807 5y ago
    Using different criteria is more or less a different definition of being BS.
- seoulmetro 5y ago
  I don't see a way to confirm the story if you do not investigate the likelihood of the value it is "presenting" though. I'm still confused by these two comments. I don't think we can verifiably claim any personal story on any media outlet is BS or not.
  - Dylan16807 5y ago
    You're talking about whether this kind of account is a scam. They're wondering whether this specific account is making money. Those are very different questions. An account can be both, neither, or one or the other.
    - seoulmetro 5y ago
      No. I'm talking about whether it's bullshit. Scam is not the same as bullshit. I guess Americans use the word bullshit differently to the rest of the English speaking world? Or something else? If one were to speak bullshit, they'd be doing exactly what I just wrote. No money is involved.
      - notanzaiiswear 5y ago
        What do you mean by bullshit? People who like it and follow the fake personae on social media are wasting their time? Or what exactly? Are all invented things bullshit, so also books, music, movies, paintings...? Maybe posting this artificial person on social media is just another way to tell a story?
        seoulmetro 5y ago
        If I photoshop the moon into a picture and post it to a photography forum, most people will pick it up as a bullshit photo. If I post the same thing to Instagram, most people will applaud me for being such a great photographer. Everyone is wasting their time. Lots of people like bullshit.
      - Dylan16807 5y ago
        > No. I'm talking about whether it's bullshit. Scam is not the same as bullshit. You called it a ponzi scheme! Either way, please listen to the distinction I'm making. You're talking about ways the industry is bad. They're asking if the article is flat-out wrong about this single account being successful inside that industry. Those are two separate ideas to call bullshit on. A bullshit industry can have bullshit success stories, but it can also have true success stories.
FabHK 5y ago
According to Harry Frankfurt, author of On Bullshit, it's when someone makes statements without any regard to their truth.
notanzaiiswear 5y ago
But how do you define substance? It seems to me if they make money, they have substance, whether what they do is useful in the greater scheme of things or not. I must admit I don't quite understand your attitude. I personally for example have no interest in "the Kardashians" and would consider their story "bullshit" in a way. On the other hand, they clearly made a shitload of money. So maybe it would be better to analyse what is going on and why it works. Another example that I personally consider mostly BS is professional sports. But clearly billions of people are into it and a lot of money is being made. Rather than calling it BS, perhaps it is more interesting to think about what might be going on, and what human need seems to be fulfilled by these things. I was also reminded of "Hello Kitty" which seems to have been going strong for decades. Maybe, among other things, people just buy into this phantasy of a happy world were everything is fine. I personally bought some Hello Kitty mugs for fun a while ago because using them gave me a little jolt of happiness. Even though it is "commercial BS".
- seoulmetro 5y ago
  Substance is much more than money (to me). Why use the word if we all use it differently indeed...