The Study Of Bullshit

We thank Ronald Bailey of Reason for passing along this seeming parody:

Conservatives More Susceptible to Bullshit Than Liberals

The article itself is amusing and if it is a spoof it is fooling me. I loved this clarification of the nomenclature:

Whereas philosophers have been primarily concerned with the goals and intentions of the bullshitter, we are interested in the factors that predispose one to become or to resist becoming a bullshittee.

However, other issues remain:

Importantly, pseudo-profound bullshit is not trivial. For a real-world example of pseudo-profound bullshit and an application of our logic, consider the following:

“Attention and intention are the mechanics of manifestation.”

This statement bears a striking resemblance to (a), but is (presumably) not a random collection of words. Rather, it is an actual “tweet” sent by Deepak Chopra, M.D., who has authored numerous books with titles such as Quantum Healing (Chopra, 1989) and The Soul of Leadership (Chopra, 2008) and who has been accused of furthering “woo-woo nonsense” (i.e., pseudo-profound bullshit; e.g., Shermer, 2010).

Ah, well, but then again, sometimes pseudo-profound BS contains real profundity. I recall this classic John Madden tale from 1980:

Gesturing at the "motivational slogans" on the walls, Madden adds, "I never believed in pep talks. Once, though, in desperation, I invented an inspirational saying that made absolutely no sense—'Don't worry about the horse being blind, just load up the wagon'—and the amazing thing was that John Matuszak understood it."

Now wait, I understood it too. Although as a life-long conservative I would, wouldn't I?

Comments

[peter]

That saying is pretty apropos for this election, I'd say.

[jimmyk on iPhone]

Let's see....

Climate change catastrophe...BS
$15 minimum wage...BS
Obamacare...BS
Transgender bathroom mandates...BS
NIRP/ZIRP/QE123/Stimulus...BS

And remember the gibberish article those physicists managed to get published in that high-fallutin literary journal? BS

[daddy]

Bernie's currently up by 26 votes out of 380,000 cast, but as we've all been told here before, an individuals vote does not count.

[narciso]

carried over from the previous thread,

https://twitter.com/marcorubio

anonymous sources are generally the worse, sometimes on the record ones aren't that good either,

[maryrose]

Daddy
If Hil loses she will want a recount

[maryrose]

Like your doctor You can keep your doctor--BS

[daddy]

195,212 versus 195,015. Bernie over Hillary.

I think it's time for Hillary to pull out that crooked coin for flipping again, to get all the undecided votes in her column, like back in Iowa.

[maryrose]

Benghazi caused by a video- BS

[henry]

OK, religion defined as bullshit in study setup. Social science not defined as bullshit in study setup. YMMV.

[narciso]

yes, it's a little less known than old blackwater, and some other hits,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVN8VT53Ebs

[maryrose]

Black lives matter-b s
Police officers guilty in Gray case BS

[Beasts of England]

Such language!!

[Captain Hate]

Keeping Iran from getting a nuke - BS

[maryrose]

Bern up by a thousand

[narciso]

A scribe from an earlier age, understood,

21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

[maryrose]

Mike Brown not a shakedown thug BS

[daddy]

I hope the Hillary Clinton speaker on Brett's current Election Show, Randi Weingarten, head of the American Federation of Teachers, keeps talking. She is a total imbecile.

[peter]

38 million without health insurance--BS
being "swift-boated" -- BS
"Sheriff Joe" will make sure there's no corruption in the Omnibus Spending Bill--BS
"shovel ready jobs"=BS

This is really fun!

[henry]

Never confuse the OED definition of a word in a social science study with whatever it is used as a label for. They gave a specific operational definition of "bullshit", and distinguished it from "lies" for the study. The examples you cite are "lies" per the study, but not "bullshit." That is what makes social science a steaming pile of bullshit (OED usage here).

[maryrose]

Trayvon Martin a little angel-BS
Eugene Robinson says a Win for Bernie is problematic for him.
Is he nuts?

[Threadkiller]

I released my Birth Cert--BS

[maryrose]

Henry
Define BS

[Beasts of England]

Hey, I'm getting my list!! lol

[Miss Marple 2]

Hillary now up 2500 in Kentucky. 99% votes in.

I take it the Louisville precincts just came in.

[narciso]

is this a common core question,

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3594527/Is-trickiest-interview-question-EVER.html

[Dave (in MA)]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CiiRAQsXIAAyKsJ.jpg

http://howiecarrshow.com/product/fauxcahontas-elizabeth-warren-graphic-tee/

[maryrose]

Daddy
She is a complete moron

[Beasts of England]

Bergdahl a hero - BS.

Had to be traded before the end of the war - BS.

Released terrorists wouldn't return to fight - BS.

[Jack is Back!]

After that dunk by James I am going to bed. Better that the Raptors let the Leafs stick to hockey. Some great athletes on both teams.

Slaap Lekker, tots morgen.

[Captain Hate]

Michael Steele finished in last place in celebrity Jeopardy behind Lara Logan and Anderson Cooper; none of them did particularly well and I'm positive everybody here would have done better.

[maryrose]

This happens all the time.
They hold back Hil's votes until the end just like in Milwaukee and Racine

[maryrose]

Should be Iowa

[maryrose]

Connecticut is another example

[Miss Marple 2]

Brett Baier says there are 43 precincts left to be counted in Kentucky.

Hillary's lead has dropped to 2000.

[henry]

MaryRose, the article above included this as the OED def of bullshit:

The Oxford English Dictionary defines bullshit as, simply, “rubbish” and “nonsense”, which unfortunately does not get to the core of bullshit.

The authors chose to define "bullshit" as something specific (anything from Deepak Chopra -- or religion in general) that is then tested against college undergrads (the substitute for humans in all social science papers).

[Jack is Back!]

narc,

Not if you know geometry. But my first interview for my job out of the Aiir Force was this: "Can you be to work by 6am and are you ready to work 12 hours a day and Saturdays?"

There is too my BS even in interviews.

[maryrose]

Mess bc has called it for Hil and there is still 1 percent out and she is ahead by 1869 votes
Fox has not called it.

[Jack is Back!]

...too much BS....

[daddy]

Here's the Panel on Brett's Election special: Let's see what they have to say.

Steve Hayes starts off by saying, in so many words, "Randi Weingarten is an imbecile," plus makes the point that Dem turnout in Kentucky is half what the Dem turnoff was in 2008.

Good. There's hope for Steve yet.

A good point made by AB Stoddard on Bernie's support.

AB: The Kentucky win in 2008 was 35 points. She won 118 of 120 counties. This has got to be a huge disappointment, with Low turnout, and a closed Primary, where independents couldn't come in and vote for Bernie Sanders. Its a huge statement that it's to close to call and she might lose. But look, this is the problem when Randi Weingarten and other Dems say "We're going to unite and it's going to be great, because Hillary did it for Barack Obama in 2008.' She supported him and enthusiastically campaigned for him and ultimately nominated him at the Convention, why? because she had Presidential ambitions and they weren't going away, and she had no choice. Bernie Sanders isn't running again. We have no idea how enthusiastically he's going to unite behind her and ask his supporters to dos too. Thats a real outstanding question for her, about Philadelphia and November.

[Miss Marple 2]

I am heading to bed.

Pretty sure Hillary will be declared the winner.

Good night, everyone!

[daddy]

Where'd Hillary get that quick 3000 votes in the last few seconds?

[maryrose]

4200
Vote lead
Don't these people know Hil will destroy their way of life by eliminating coal?
How can they vote for her?

[maryrose]

Fraud and manufactured votes
Ask for a recount Bernie
Her reason for being in the state over the weekend was to put the fix in

[narciso]

it's par for the course,

http://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/280196-melania-trump-unbelievable-chris-matthews-commented-on-me

[maryrose]

Hillary can only win closed primaries
Independents hate her guts.

[narciso]

well we'd know by now, wouldn't we,

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3595219/Earth-like-planets-neighbouring-galaxy-survive-BILLION-years-Study-Alpha-Centauri-boosts-bid-alien-life.html

[maryrose]

1700 vote difference now.

[maryrose]

It is a tie in Kentucky just like Iowa
It makes me sick

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--Where'd Hillary get that quick 3000 votes in the last few seconds?-

Is The Walking Dead on tonight?

[daddy]

DrK: It (Kentucky) will make no difference in the end. I think Hillary does pull it out. At least psychologically it breaks the losing streak...It shows her profound weakness. We know she's a weak candidate, but she is now especially weak in these states. West Virginia, Kentucky, Michigan, the industrial midwest, is essentially going to be up for grabs. And that I think it points to Trump's strategy. That's where he goes. Those are the States he wants to flip. Pennsylvania of course added to that list. And that's where he goes if he's going to make it to the White House. That's how he's going to do it.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Sometimes it takes a person a whole lifetime to finally find her true calling;
I’m thinking of directing porn, says Sarandon

[Skoot]

re-post: Looks like they found a bag of ballots marked Clinton in the trunk of a Fleetwood behind a union hall in Louisville. Will it be enough!

Time to toss some chairs Berners!

[maryrose]

Skoot
I am sure that is true and that is what is so unfair about this election process
No safeguards for fraud

[narciso]

this is how they stumbled into the crimean war, one hundred and sixty some years ago,

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/17/britain-has-become-semi-pacifist-under-cameron-says-retired-gene/

cameron saying brexiters ride with volodya and the islamic state, is disgraceful;

[jimmyk]

I’m thinking of directing porn, says Sarandon

Let's hope, for the sake of anyone watching, that she doesn't do a cameo.

[daddy]

DrK continues in his low opinion and low expectations of Trump. Says it is a good thing that Trump will have a sit down with Henry Kissinger, but that Trump will not spend enough time with him to learn anything.

DrK: I think anyone can profit immensely from even 1 hour with Henry Kissinger. He's the best strategic thinker our country has had for half a century. And every time you sit with him you learn something. One sit-down with Henry Kissinger however, will have no effect on Donald Trump. He would need a very long sessions (plural) with a team of Foreign Policy leaders. He's not quite prepared to do that. That would make a difference.

[maryrose]

daddy
Real wisdom from Dr K
That is why Ohio is so important as is Michigan,Wisconsin Indiana even Minnesota which is why Frankenmight get the nod.

[maryrose]

TM
Thanks for the new thread

[daddy]

--Where'd Hillary get that quick 3000 votes in the last few seconds?-

My 2 yellow dogs are nowhere near a Kentucky Polling place.

[narciso]

I think kissinger is overrated, so we came in contact with a decaying communist state, win, and in exchange we got partial custody of the khmer rouge's horror, loss, they provided some weapons in afghanistan, and even some weapons in central america,

[Thomas Collins]

Sixers get rewarded for continued tanking, and get the número uno overall pick. Lakers get the number two pick, and Celtics the number three (from Brooklyn). The last time the Celtics had the number three pick, they got a good one in Chauncey Billups, but then traded him away.

[clarice]

Trump's chief foreign policy adviser is John Bolton--no slouch.

[narciso]

no good deed goes unpunished.

[Beasts of England]

Poor ol' Dr. K - his horse(s) got slattered, and he's still working through the stages of grief while trying to maintain his personal relevance. I'm not sure his ego will ever let him, uh, see the light.

[narciso]

otoh, there is little use from this fellow,

http://www.breitbart.com/2016-presidential-race/2016/05/17/exclusive-rand-paul-james-baker-backed-selective-engagement-worldwide-would-have-prevented-rise-of-isis/

[daddy]

As we watch magic Hillary vote totals pop up, Trump puts up a timely tweet:

I look so forward to debating Crooked Hillary Clinton! Democrat Primaries are rigged, e-mail investigation is rigged-so time to get it on!

It appeals directly to angered Bernie voters, and aims directly at everyone scratching their heads, wondering where those sudden 4,000 Hill votes came from.

[Lurker Susie]

Who's hyping a book

T. Becket Adams
T. Becket Adams – Verified account ‏@BecketAdams

Kelly's EXCLUSIVE tonight with Trump will be capped off with her saying, “Buy my book! Buy my book! Buy my book!"

[narciso]

I thought he could have used more tactful terms, but what is the yiddish word for idiot,

http://www.breitbart.com/big-journalism/2016/05/17/geller-trump-jews-david-horowitz-right/

[clarice]

Looks like Sanders is sweeping Oregon..NYT still not calling KY Dem race

[narciso]

nothing but clinton, doesn't agree,

https://twitter.com/BrentHBaker/status/732721509698023424

[daddy]

Donald Trump Jr, (one of the sons) is on with Hannity. Man, he carries himself well and talks so confidently and to the point. Speaks a little bit too fast in my opinion, but he reinforces to the viewer that Trump knows how to raise, smart, confident, well-spoken children. That he is out there on Hannity also shows you the confidence and trust Trump has in his kids.

[sbw]

The authoritative word on BS is, from Wikipedia:

"On Bullshit", by Harry G. Frankfurt, is a philosophical essay that presents a theory of bullshit that defines the concept and analyzes the applications of bullshit in the contexts of communication.

I have read the book and think he he bang on. The difference between Bullshit and a lie is that a bullshitter doesn’t care about validity or invalidity of what is said. A liar knows the difference and cares greatly.

All the examples listed tonight are LIES not bullshit.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--He's the best strategic thinker our country has had for half a century.--

Holy crap.
The guy who engineers a defeat in SE Asia and plays patty cake with the USSR is a better thinker than the guy who engineered the defeat of the USSR, our greatest [and only] victory since WWII?

[Janet S.]

a repost from the last thread. My daughter told us about it this evening. -

Here's an interesting bit about this article - "Take it or leave it: Trump's rise puts moderate Republicans in a tough spot"

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/may/12/moderate-republicans-donald-trump-hillary-clinton

My daughter said The Guardian came & interviewed some of her coworkers...this was one -

"The frustration extends to young Republicans. Becky, 27, who did not wish to give her surname, has decided not to vote this year. “I always vote Republican but I’m not a huge fan of Trump,” she said. “He’s very out there with his opinions. Having a celebrity as president scares me a bit.

Yet asked if she would consider Clinton instead, Becky, a sales executive at a tech company, is blunt: “Hell no. I don’t trust her. She’s snaky. She’s a liar. I don’t think she’s fit for office.”"

My daughter said the person interviewed some pro-Trump people but they weren't used in the article. Her one friend is a BIG Trump supporter & she was interviewed, but they didn't quote her at all.

[narciso]

every publication has at least one clueless fool,

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/tom-johnson/2016/05/16/new-republic-writer-conservative-mythmaking-about-facebook-irs

[maryrose]

Janet
Media are out to diminish Trump and give Hillary a leg up.
I don't believe it is going to work this time.
Trump will take his case to the people calling for a retraction of the NYT story.

[narciso]

he was a little blanc mange earlier,

https://www.yahoo.com/news/opposition-leader-urges-venezuelans-defy-state-emergency-131853542.html?ref=gs

[Threadkiller]

Speaks a little bit too fast in my opinion,

That is the only way to finish your thought uninterrupted. Hannity likes the sound of his own voice way too much.

Speaking of which, when does The Magpie start chirpping on the west coast?

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Has no one called bullshit yet?

[clarice]

narciso--Schlamazel? Schlamiel? We have lots of words for idiot.

[narciso]

this is one of them at this publication,

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/05/16/how-the-cia-sold-out-nelson-mandela.html

[daddy]

Now Hannity has on another beauty that the Times mischaracterized in their "Trump The Womanizer" column yesterday, Carrie Prejean Boller (Miss california USA 2009).

She refused to give the Times an interview when they were doing their hit piece, so they took an out of context bit from her book and tried to use it to make Trump look bad.

She says she has nothing but great respect and thanks to Trump. She said Trump even helped her write her book that the NYTimes pulled the out of context half-blurb from. She says Trump really stood by her after the Left came after her for saying "Marriage should be between a Man and a Woman."

[daddy]

That is the only way to finish your thought uninterrupted. Hannity likes the sound of his own voice way too much.

Good point, TK. Hard to remember the last guest Hannity had on who he did not interrupt and talk over.

[Lurker Susie]

Bill Kristol's new party

The Renegade PartyFollow
The Renegade Party –
@RenegadeParty
Because the American Dream must live on. #NeverTrump + #NeverHillary.

United States
7 FOLLOWING2,157 FOLLOWERS

[narciso]

yes, it's hard not to read this any other way,

http://www.la-croix.com/Religion/Pape/INTERVIEW-Pope-Francis-2016-05-17-1200760633

[Threadkiller]

The RectumMade Party?

Perfect for the BS thread.

[Janet S.]

Has Hillary or Bernie been questioned directly about the transgender agenda?

Not a statement by a campaign person or some generic "I love LGBT"...but actual specific questions?
Do they support 12 yr. old girls having to undress in front of a boy?
What is the scientific basis for transgenderism?
How would they know if someone is faking it?
Will law enforcement be able to prosecute peeping toms, voyeurs, stalkers, perverts, etc any more?
Is a boy that "feels" like a girl, a girl? Explain.

Do they expect all of society - men, women, & children - to accommodate a few people with delusions?
Is making one delusional child comfortable worth making every other child uncomfortable?
Are there other "feelings" that society will have to accommodate? What if an individual "feels" like a dog...will we have to accommodate that? Why not?

[Lurker Susie]

Issue that could destroy Hillary

http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2016/05/the-one-issue-that-could-destroy-hillary-clinton

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Yeah, there's only one.

[Lurker Susie]

Ok, more than one

[Janet S.]

Are all the Dems that ran to mosques after the San Bernardino massacre...my Rep. Beyer (D-VA) included, being asked how their buddies at the mosques like the new transgender decrees?

Will the Imams be okay with their daughters undressing in front of boys?

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Kristol and the GOPe should start the Button Down Mind Party.

[clarice]

Hillary endorsed the transgender "guidance".

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--Will the Imams be okay with their daughters undressing in front of boys?--

Hmm, won't they have to kill the offender....their daughters?

[daddy]

Good for Doug Schoen. Hardcore Democrat supporter that he is, he just finished the segment discussing Trump's possible Cabinet picks by really praising John Bolton.

Schoen: One name you didn't mention Sean, who I think is of great importance, John Bolton. We need a Secretary of State who is unabashedly tough on Isl

Hannity: You support him? You think he'd be good?

Schoen: He's a dear friend of mine. This isn't partisanship, Islamic Fascism has nothing to do with ideology or Party. Vladimir Putin, the Chinese, they're out to destroy us. We have to fight back. Bolton's about the(Hannity interrupts so I couldn't hear what Schoen said.)

To the dogs.

[Beasts of England]

I know that when I hear the term 'renegade', I immediately think of Bill Kristol. Was 'outlaw' unavailable?

[narciso]

is that the final answer,

http://www.frontpagemag.com/point/262889/palestinians-attempt-appropriate-star-david-muslim-daniel-greenfield

[daddy]

Rats. Part of my 11:03 didn't post. Hannity interrupted Schoen twice, so 2 important points Doug Schoen was trying to make never got made.

Hannity really is aggravating.

[jimmyk]

All the examples listed tonight are LIES not bullshit.

I disagree. In most of these cases the people making the propositions don't care whether they are true or not, they are merely useful for the larger purpose of expanding government, and empowering and enriching Democrats and their cronies.

[narciso]

being on a show that is inkind contribution doesn't help matters,

http://www.breitbart.com/video/2016/05/14/scandal-actor-tony-goldwyn-hollywood-doesnt-give-conservatives-a-fair-shot-conservative-friends-of-mine-feel-ostracized/