Active Thinking Topic 19 - Fake It 'Till Your Make It
Monday 8
November 2021, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Any replies to the organizer - thormay@yahoo.com
Venue: Cafe Brunelli, 187 Rundle St · Adelaide (You must buy a drink or something. We are 'renting' the space for 2 hours)
About Focus Questions: a) Please read them before you come to the meetup. Think about them so you have more than "instant opinions" to offer. b) Feel free to add more focus questions. c) THE FOCUS QUESTIONS ARE JUST A MENU TO CHOOSE FROM. From this menu we can discuss whatever seems interesting. d) Focus questions are not intended to push one viewpoint! You can adopt any position you wish. We actually like friendly disagreement - it can lead to deeper understanding
Focus Questions
1. Where have you had to fake it 'till you made it? [Example: in 1988 I was asked to lecture socioliguistics in a university for the first time. They were short staffed. That hadn't been my plan. I was astonished. I sort of knew something about the subject, but students and staff assumed I knew EVERYTHING. I had to pedal very fast until the wheels actually started turning ... ]
2. What is your present favourite 'fake it 'till you make it' political promise?
3. Human beings are contrary creatures who rarely agree on everything. When large numbers of people are involved, is it possible to achieve anything much without a 'fake it 'till you make it' performance? (Politics has been defined as the art of the possible). Examples?
4. Individuals, marriages, companies, and even countries sometimes continue to fake it long after their lies have become clear to everyone, and it is equally clear that they will never 'make it' as per their claimed status. Examples? Why do they persist with the charade when it would work far better to just start over with some sober reality?
5. A few people try never to lie. Many lie reluctantly. Some individuals are pathological liars. Which of these types seems most typically successful in daily or lifetime achievement? Why?
6. What proportion of companies, do you think, are not what they seem to be? For example, how many are just shell companies? How many are just pretty web pages run from somebody's bedroom? What are the pluses and minuses of this kind of chicanery?
7. 'Influencer' seems to be the new job category of the hour. What exactly is an influencer? If an influencer has half a million followers (electronically defined), how real is their influence? What can actually be faked about influencers, and does it matter?
8. Young adults by definition are still finding a foothold in the human world, so a large proportion of them feel chronically insecure. Some show it, often to their own disadvantage (that was surely me). Others 'fake it 'till they make it' in various disguises. What are some of the ways in which this shape-shifting can occur? At what point does the faking become toxic and self-destructing?
9. The preference for fakery (or 'appearances' as it is often called) and its close relative, hypocrisy, is strongly influenced by personality, upbringing and culture. However, some occupations are a natural home for the 'fake it 'till you make it' syndrome. Some other occupations leave little scope for fakery. Can you identify examples of these two categories of employment? Where do you fit personally on the scale, and how has it influenced your outlook?
10. "Really, it's not complicated. Just do this ..[click here]"; "This simple trick will fix your [name illness]"; "BONUS: $50 Pfizer Vaccine Survey Gift Card Opportunity .."; "Dear beloved friend, I know this message will come to you as surprise but permit me of my desire to go into business relationship with you ..". Maybe you will say that these pitches are obviously fake. But they are not aimed at you. You are too smart. They are aimed at dummies, and they net billions of dollars every year. They are gold plated examples of letting criminals make it by faking it. How far should we go in trying to protect gullible people (who a legion)?
Extra Reading
Wikipedia (2021) "Fake it 'till you make it" @ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fake_it_till_you_make_it [Quote: ""Fake it till you make it" (or "Fake it until you make it") is an English aphorism which suggests that by imitating confidence, competence, and an optimistic mindset, a person can realize those qualities in their real life and achieve the results they seek." ... "In the Law of attraction movement, "act as if you already have it", or simply "act as if", is a central concept: How do you get yourself to a point of believing? Start make-believing. Be like a child, and make-believe. Act as if you have it already. As you make-believe, you will begin to believe you have received".]
Thor May (2014) "Fakes, liars, cheats, deceivers, animals in the forest". The Passionate Skeptic website @ http://thormay.net/unwiseideas/FakesLiarst.htm [Quote: "It’s all around us. From face lifts to luxury cars on hire purchase, from inflated CVs to exaggerated job titles, from company publicity material to the spin that governments put on their failures and deceptions. At what point does fakery become fraud? Would the world be a duller place without it?"
Thor May (2014) "Crime without Punishment – the journey from means to ends". The Passionate Skeptic website @ http://thormay.net/unwiseideas/CrimeWithoutPunishment.htm [Quote: "In the real world of events, as opposed to philosophical statements of “should”, decisions about ends and means always come down to who, if anybody, is responsible for consequences. Where consequences are not clear for actors, and especially if consequences are not personal, almost any ends can be argued for, and almost any means might be rationalized". ]
Annabel Crabb (31 October 2021) "Morrison's climate 'plan' reveals a spectacular new model of political leadership in Australia". ABC @ https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-31/morrison-climate-plan-net-zero-new-model-political-leadership/100576698 [Thor, comment: I have no idea what your political preferences are, but if you track through the details of this analysis it is a classic illustration of "fake it 'till you make it" in politics ... except that it is not clear (yet) whether the hero of this saga will make it through the next election]
Niclas Aznares (2019) "A booming market for charlatans". El Pais @ https://elpais.com/elpais/2019/01/09/the_global_observer/1547030862_215361.html [Quote: "Charlatans and conmen have always existed. They are scoundrels who, leveraging their skills for persuasion, manage to sell some type of product, remedy, elixir, business, or ideology to unsuspecting people who believe that the charlatan will – without much effort – redeem their sorrows, alleviate their pains, or make them wealthy. Lately, the market for quackery – especially in politics – has reached new heights. The demand for (and supply of) simple solutions to complex problems has skyrocketed. Demand is being driven by one crisis after another, while social networks are boosting the quacks’ ability to supply simplistic solutions to large audiences".]
James Adonis (April 21 2017) "This is how easily you're deceived." Brisbane Times @ http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/small-business/managing/work-in-progress/this-is-how-easily-youre-deceived-20170420-gvon47.html [Quote: "Researchers from Harvard University have conducted a series of studies and experiments, which have culminated in what they call 'paltering'. Paltering is when people use factual statements to mislead others. It then becomes very difficult to accuse them of lying when they can justifiably say they were telling the truth. It's just they did so in a manipulative way". ]
--------------------
Any replies to the organizer - thormay@yahoo.com
Venue: Cafe Brunelli, 187 Rundle St · Adelaide (You must buy a drink or something. We are 'renting' the space for 2 hours)
About Focus Questions: a) Please read them before you come to the meetup. Think about them so you have more than "instant opinions" to offer. b) Feel free to add more focus questions. c) THE FOCUS QUESTIONS ARE JUST A MENU TO CHOOSE FROM. From this menu we can discuss whatever seems interesting. d) Focus questions are not intended to push one viewpoint! You can adopt any position you wish. We actually like friendly disagreement - it can lead to deeper understanding
Focus Questions
1. Where have you had to fake it 'till you made it? [Example: in 1988 I was asked to lecture socioliguistics in a university for the first time. They were short staffed. That hadn't been my plan. I was astonished. I sort of knew something about the subject, but students and staff assumed I knew EVERYTHING. I had to pedal very fast until the wheels actually started turning ... ]
2. What is your present favourite 'fake it 'till you make it' political promise?
3. Human beings are contrary creatures who rarely agree on everything. When large numbers of people are involved, is it possible to achieve anything much without a 'fake it 'till you make it' performance? (Politics has been defined as the art of the possible). Examples?
4. Individuals, marriages, companies, and even countries sometimes continue to fake it long after their lies have become clear to everyone, and it is equally clear that they will never 'make it' as per their claimed status. Examples? Why do they persist with the charade when it would work far better to just start over with some sober reality?
5. A few people try never to lie. Many lie reluctantly. Some individuals are pathological liars. Which of these types seems most typically successful in daily or lifetime achievement? Why?
6. What proportion of companies, do you think, are not what they seem to be? For example, how many are just shell companies? How many are just pretty web pages run from somebody's bedroom? What are the pluses and minuses of this kind of chicanery?
7. 'Influencer' seems to be the new job category of the hour. What exactly is an influencer? If an influencer has half a million followers (electronically defined), how real is their influence? What can actually be faked about influencers, and does it matter?
8. Young adults by definition are still finding a foothold in the human world, so a large proportion of them feel chronically insecure. Some show it, often to their own disadvantage (that was surely me). Others 'fake it 'till they make it' in various disguises. What are some of the ways in which this shape-shifting can occur? At what point does the faking become toxic and self-destructing?
9. The preference for fakery (or 'appearances' as it is often called) and its close relative, hypocrisy, is strongly influenced by personality, upbringing and culture. However, some occupations are a natural home for the 'fake it 'till you make it' syndrome. Some other occupations leave little scope for fakery. Can you identify examples of these two categories of employment? Where do you fit personally on the scale, and how has it influenced your outlook?
10. "Really, it's not complicated. Just do this ..[click here]"; "This simple trick will fix your [name illness]"; "BONUS: $50 Pfizer Vaccine Survey Gift Card Opportunity .."; "Dear beloved friend, I know this message will come to you as surprise but permit me of my desire to go into business relationship with you ..". Maybe you will say that these pitches are obviously fake. But they are not aimed at you. You are too smart. They are aimed at dummies, and they net billions of dollars every year. They are gold plated examples of letting criminals make it by faking it. How far should we go in trying to protect gullible people (who a legion)?
Extra Reading
Wikipedia (2021) "Fake it 'till you make it" @ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fake_it_till_you_make_it [Quote: ""Fake it till you make it" (or "Fake it until you make it") is an English aphorism which suggests that by imitating confidence, competence, and an optimistic mindset, a person can realize those qualities in their real life and achieve the results they seek." ... "In the Law of attraction movement, "act as if you already have it", or simply "act as if", is a central concept: How do you get yourself to a point of believing? Start make-believing. Be like a child, and make-believe. Act as if you have it already. As you make-believe, you will begin to believe you have received".]
Thor May (2014) "Fakes, liars, cheats, deceivers, animals in the forest". The Passionate Skeptic website @ http://thormay.net/unwiseideas/FakesLiarst.htm [Quote: "It’s all around us. From face lifts to luxury cars on hire purchase, from inflated CVs to exaggerated job titles, from company publicity material to the spin that governments put on their failures and deceptions. At what point does fakery become fraud? Would the world be a duller place without it?"
Thor May (2014) "Crime without Punishment – the journey from means to ends". The Passionate Skeptic website @ http://thormay.net/unwiseideas/CrimeWithoutPunishment.htm [Quote: "In the real world of events, as opposed to philosophical statements of “should”, decisions about ends and means always come down to who, if anybody, is responsible for consequences. Where consequences are not clear for actors, and especially if consequences are not personal, almost any ends can be argued for, and almost any means might be rationalized". ]
Annabel Crabb (31 October 2021) "Morrison's climate 'plan' reveals a spectacular new model of political leadership in Australia". ABC @ https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-31/morrison-climate-plan-net-zero-new-model-political-leadership/100576698 [Thor, comment: I have no idea what your political preferences are, but if you track through the details of this analysis it is a classic illustration of "fake it 'till you make it" in politics ... except that it is not clear (yet) whether the hero of this saga will make it through the next election]
Niclas Aznares (2019) "A booming market for charlatans". El Pais @ https://elpais.com/elpais/2019/01/09/the_global_observer/1547030862_215361.html [Quote: "Charlatans and conmen have always existed. They are scoundrels who, leveraging their skills for persuasion, manage to sell some type of product, remedy, elixir, business, or ideology to unsuspecting people who believe that the charlatan will – without much effort – redeem their sorrows, alleviate their pains, or make them wealthy. Lately, the market for quackery – especially in politics – has reached new heights. The demand for (and supply of) simple solutions to complex problems has skyrocketed. Demand is being driven by one crisis after another, while social networks are boosting the quacks’ ability to supply simplistic solutions to large audiences".]
James Adonis (April 21 2017) "This is how easily you're deceived." Brisbane Times @ http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/small-business/managing/work-in-progress/this-is-how-easily-youre-deceived-20170420-gvon47.html [Quote: "Researchers from Harvard University have conducted a series of studies and experiments, which have culminated in what they call 'paltering'. Paltering is when people use factual statements to mislead others. It then becomes very difficult to accuse them of lying when they can justifiably say they were telling the truth. It's just they did so in a manipulative way". ]
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