I am still trying to make reading lots of non-fiction books into a cool geeky thing but so far, I have failed. But The Traeger smoker geeks arguing with the Green Egg geeks, yes that is real.
There is a level of “being interesting” at a geek consumer level that isn’t defining, but rather supplemental, and based on real effort of research, experience and practice. I see it as more a manifestation of passionate interest and a desire to share information.
Please never refer to women as "females" again, thanks.
Also, only insecure people give an F about being "interesting." Be you and the genuine will flock to you. Don't put on a show and definitely don't spend money to impress others in the name of "individualism."
No wonder we're all talking about Rene Girard now. Amusingly, I thought that talking about mimetic theory was geekily interesting until I noticed that everyone was on the bandwagon.
You have to be reasonably well off to be able to afford multiple Substack subscriptions instead of relying on one general newspaper or two to cover all the different viewpoints, as used to be the case. And pretty geeky too to be motivated enough to seek them out.
Mountain biking and skiing are bad about this. So many different component/gear combinations, rich guy brands vs normie affordable brands, used/older model vs brand new, all sorts of costumes, fashions and anti fashions, core vs weekender, etc.
My role in society is listening to others in order to help them feel interesting. Plenty of people who want to be interesting, not enough people to help them feel interesting. Excess supply, insufficient demand. The demand side is where I can do the most good.
But there are limits. Ultimately the quest for interestingness becomes simply another form of narcissism. In fact, strike the "ultimately" - that's exactly what it is.
An ex-girlfriend used to say that self-obsessed people are the easiest to manipulate. You see what they want, ration it out, and lead them around by the nose.
What’s historically new is the scale of this self-curation behavior, because it’s larger than the population of clinical narcissists...like the aristocrats before them, it’s a lifestyle.
Is this type of status-seeking behavior different from any other time though? Haven’t there always been fashions and trends in consumption?
Or maybe what you’ve identified is a craving for expertise? Maybe everyone wants to be recognized as having special knowledge in something? You opened this essay with a nod to your decades of scholarship in this area, which felt very meta.
I’ve been wondering lately if all this “me, me, me” behavior is a result of growing loneliness? (Another trending topic). I felt sorry for the guy who blurted out that he’s interesting. That sounds to me like someone who is terrified that nobody gives a damn about him and hopes that maybe a new smoker will win him the love and respect that we all need from each other.
I believe it is qualitatively different...status seeking used to be primarily about displaying material goods in a limited set of categories by the 1%, now it is about any middle class person burrowing into niche zones of expertise in usage and a market that supplies a broad range of products for amateurs and advanced prosumers...it gives us more people more choice to find something we can be an expert in...you might want to check out my piece on America as a choice multiplier...
I love this article! (I’m coming into it late.) My husband has long gone off on what calls the “substitute personality people”—for example, the guy at work who thinks he’s cool because he’s in a band. Like no, you’re just a dork with a bass guitar. This type of person really doesn’t have much going for him or her, but the fake hobby or interest at least gives the person something to talk about.
My brother and I were talking the other day about how you can’t just have a hobby or interest anymore; you have to be completely obsessed with it—particularly an arcane aspect of it—in order to enter a conversation about it.
You can’t just crochet or play DnD or whatever anymore.
Thanks for reading. It’s all linked to the master trend of the Prosumer…capitalism convincing us all to pseudo professionals and spend a ton of hobby stuff…
Hello James, I found you from Kirsten Powers, Changing the Channel. It is so refreshing, inspiring to know that others feel and think the same. I feel like I have been in a tunnel, alone, and yelling and the only thing I hear are water drops. I look forward to reading all your thoughts. I too wrote about similar things - but in a more sarcastic comedic way...I always insist on entertaining myself first.
Struggle to be interesting is a sickness like starving yourself.
Great article, as always. And for anyone who doubts the logic, just ask them, how many times have you read a book, and NOT told someone about it?
good point...counting on that for my next one...
I am still trying to make reading lots of non-fiction books into a cool geeky thing but so far, I have failed. But The Traeger smoker geeks arguing with the Green Egg geeks, yes that is real.
Absolutely!
There is a level of “being interesting” at a geek consumer level that isn’t defining, but rather supplemental, and based on real effort of research, experience and practice. I see it as more a manifestation of passionate interest and a desire to share information.
good point!
Je suis votre « geek ».
Please never refer to women as "females" again, thanks.
Also, only insecure people give an F about being "interesting." Be you and the genuine will flock to you. Don't put on a show and definitely don't spend money to impress others in the name of "individualism."
No wonder we're all talking about Rene Girard now. Amusingly, I thought that talking about mimetic theory was geekily interesting until I noticed that everyone was on the bandwagon.
Rene is great...but David Brooks was all over this in 1999, even before me...he should also be on Substack instead of making the NYT rich.
You have to be reasonably well off to be able to afford multiple Substack subscriptions instead of relying on one general newspaper or two to cover all the different viewpoints, as used to be the case. And pretty geeky too to be motivated enough to seek them out.
Ctnd
Maybe he cares more about reaching a wide audience for his ideas, than preventing the New York Times from getting rich.
Mountain biking and skiing are bad about this. So many different component/gear combinations, rich guy brands vs normie affordable brands, used/older model vs brand new, all sorts of costumes, fashions and anti fashions, core vs weekender, etc.
Cycling as well! Or computer tech!
My role in society is listening to others in order to help them feel interesting. Plenty of people who want to be interesting, not enough people to help them feel interesting. Excess supply, insufficient demand. The demand side is where I can do the most good.
But there are limits. Ultimately the quest for interestingness becomes simply another form of narcissism. In fact, strike the "ultimately" - that's exactly what it is.
An ex-girlfriend used to say that self-obsessed people are the easiest to manipulate. You see what they want, ration it out, and lead them around by the nose.
What’s historically new is the scale of this self-curation behavior, because it’s larger than the population of clinical narcissists...like the aristocrats before them, it’s a lifestyle.
Is this type of status-seeking behavior different from any other time though? Haven’t there always been fashions and trends in consumption?
Or maybe what you’ve identified is a craving for expertise? Maybe everyone wants to be recognized as having special knowledge in something? You opened this essay with a nod to your decades of scholarship in this area, which felt very meta.
I’ve been wondering lately if all this “me, me, me” behavior is a result of growing loneliness? (Another trending topic). I felt sorry for the guy who blurted out that he’s interesting. That sounds to me like someone who is terrified that nobody gives a damn about him and hopes that maybe a new smoker will win him the love and respect that we all need from each other.
I believe it is qualitatively different...status seeking used to be primarily about displaying material goods in a limited set of categories by the 1%, now it is about any middle class person burrowing into niche zones of expertise in usage and a market that supplies a broad range of products for amateurs and advanced prosumers...it gives us more people more choice to find something we can be an expert in...you might want to check out my piece on America as a choice multiplier...
I will read that piece, thank you. Thanks for the thoughtful reply.
I love this article! (I’m coming into it late.) My husband has long gone off on what calls the “substitute personality people”—for example, the guy at work who thinks he’s cool because he’s in a band. Like no, you’re just a dork with a bass guitar. This type of person really doesn’t have much going for him or her, but the fake hobby or interest at least gives the person something to talk about.
My brother and I were talking the other day about how you can’t just have a hobby or interest anymore; you have to be completely obsessed with it—particularly an arcane aspect of it—in order to enter a conversation about it.
You can’t just crochet or play DnD or whatever anymore.
Everyone is Comic Guy from the Simpsons
Thanks for reading. It’s all linked to the master trend of the Prosumer…capitalism convincing us all to pseudo professionals and spend a ton of hobby stuff…
Hello James, I found you from Kirsten Powers, Changing the Channel. It is so refreshing, inspiring to know that others feel and think the same. I feel like I have been in a tunnel, alone, and yelling and the only thing I hear are water drops. I look forward to reading all your thoughts. I too wrote about similar things - but in a more sarcastic comedic way...I always insist on entertaining myself first.
Struggle to be interesting is a sickness like starving yourself.
plenty of humor in my new book ! https://www.amazon.com/Our-Worst-Strength-Individualism-Discontents/dp/B0D3891LSL
/Users/laurasottile/Desktop/Screenshot 2024-06-02 at 2.52.07 PM.png
BRILLIANT!!!!!!