They’re everywhere. They serve you coffee and lunch at the diner. They’re blocking the aisles at the grocery store. They’re receptionists at any business you enter. They’re nurses at the local hospital. They’re the primary school teachers. They’re the librarians.
I am carrying 30 extra pounds myself; I'm chubby. And I've been actually fat.
This is not a "point and laugh at fat people" post. This a "what the hell is wrong with you that you walk around so obese that you're likely to die in your 30s, and you think you're 'hot' because you're wearing whore makeup and showing off your rolls" post.
You won't see me--like so many fat gay men these days---wearing skin tight shirts and skinny jeans so that my fat waist bulges out.
No one has any self-respect. Or any respect for other people.
And all of us, collectively as a society, have agreed to say nothing. Even *noticing* is "abuse."
It's not right. It's not OK. It's not healthy, it's not normal, it's not pro-social. It's out of control.
I hear you. It's not poking fun at those who have physical flaws or different sexual proclivities; it's rejecting their efforts to enshrine those things as part of their identity and then demand that everyone else pay attention to it and celebrate them for it. Like Lizzo. I wouldn't care if she was just fat, nor would I even judge her for it, but when she puts on clothes that would be skimpy on a normal woman a fraction of her size and then flaunts her flab publicly and demands to be celebrated for it, she has made her obesity a legitimate target for ridicule. Same thing with autogynophiles, aka, trannies. Dress like a chick if you want, but why do you have to involve the rest of us (or far worse, involve our children) in it?
I would have been exceedingly happy and satisfied to live the rest of my life without ever knowing WTH a "Lizzo" was. But other people insisted on bringing that thing up just about everywhere until I was forced to know. That's the sort of thing I'd like to avoid (in addition to the things you mentioned, Daniel D) ... having to know about useless crap nobody cares about just because a bunch of other people know about it.
I was a fashion model as a teen, a tiny waif around 10 pounds underweight (too much to spare, really). It wasn’t my choice (my own Mommie Dearest wanted and demanded it), but I did it for a couple of years, with the required anorexia and everything. I’ve also been 70+ pounds overweight when I was at my worst, emotionally and psychologically, unable to afford my psych meds and frankly getting most of my calories from booze. I gave up alcohol once I was in a better living situation, got back on my meds, and was able to get in really good shape.
We have the reactions we have for legitimate reasons, and being a judgmental jerk does not even have to come into it. Some things are just obviously unhealthy, and the way some people act says a lot about their inner mental state.
It’s perfectly reasonable to assume that someone who is dangerously overweight or underweight is *not well* in some way. If we were all habitually honest and less suspicious of each other, bringing it up would be the *caring* thing to do. I know what being REALLY BIG feels like, where I was rollin’ down the sidewalk like the Michelin Man, and it’s not something a mentally healthy person would EVER choose to be; everything is a struggle, going out is embarrassing, nothing looks right on you, and doctors act like they just don’t see the point of helping you. When I see a person that overweight, it makes me both sad and a little impatient. I always wonder what happened that made them lose touch with their body to such an extreme. I also wonder if they even understand how badly they are compromising themselves, and if they care. Part of me wants to help, but I know they won’t take it that way.
Regardless of all that, people need to put on ALL their clothes before going out, ffs. Being a troll might provide a little rush of sadistic pleasure, but it solves nothing. It doesn’t make them healthy, and the only people who will admire them for it are other trolls. It certainly doesn’t make anyone want to empathize or understand you.
You are assuming that everyone who is overweight became that way due to lack of self care though. If we can accept that dog breeds come in different shapes and sizes, why can't we accept that humans are the same?
Genetics is actually the largest contributor to body weight in that it determines one's basement and ceiling. The reality is few people will reach 400 lbs without some significant mental issues and/or poor diet. However, they also have to have the genetics that allows them to hit that ceiling. And ironically restrictive diets are a risk factor for weight gain. Hence the multi billion dollar diet industry.
Plus, many people can eat healthily and exercise and not be thin. They won't be 400 lbs but they also won't be 120 lbs.
"When I see a person that overweight, it makes me both sad and a little impatient. I always wonder what happened that made them lose touch with their body to such an extreme. I also wonder if they even understand how badly they are compromising themselves, and if they care. "
I am referring to this passage above. While few people will reach 400/500lbs without some type of food addiction, many people will be chubby or even fat without neglecting themselves in that way.
I’m not sure why you feel the need to correct my perception, especially since I went out of my way to make it clear that I myself have been all different weights. I know what I said, and I was clear in my meaning. I don’t need to change my POV or how I described it.
This is absoltley brilliantly written, and so very true. You are nailing what the real problem are with your observations, and with the courage and honesty to write down what you see! 🎯🎯🎯 I think thats nothing are gonna change and better itself in society... for nobody, except the short rush of supply for those who drive on that instead of normal decency, respect and constructive human intersctions. Its totally overtaken. I am not happy that reality actually has became this way, but I am very happy that there are people like you to describe it do very well and adress it. I do think the time seem to be more ripe for people to suppport some more, and maybe do some of the observations some of has done for a while. I just hope its for real, and that those who do not just do it to look at another set of signifiers, cause its hard to ignore that the last set they listened to are so full of lies and bullshit, and still dont bother to check out whats beeing signified! I dont attempt to be negative of what seems to be a little but comforting step in a right direction, but I seriously do wish that people, when they are considering changing their minds do a focused job with it, and not just turns to superficially follow next thing. Then all this kind of shit keeps turning up in only barely new wrappings, with the same core, and the emperor could keep strolling around without any clothing. Or other nede emeperors could easily full the last ones Seat! I love the way you scutinize the surroundings and pick out the poison Ivy where ever its at! The spread is so sever, so I guess thats the only way society could have a new go of having a healthier lady out, is if more of us do like you, and observe and point out where ever its at! 🙂👍🏻 Especially done in such a very enjoyable way like you do. Its great how you are able to adress something sinister and grave, with a fun and inspiring pen! 🙂 I love your voice and do think its a very important one. All the best to you from Anlaug in Norway. 🙂
Aug 24, 2023·edited Aug 24, 2023Liked by Josh Slocum
I can't help myself. I thoroughly enjoy reading your assessments and viewpoints and scalding critiques of these nearly less than human beasts/freaks who assault our spaces, sporting privilege no sane person would ever ascribe to themselves. But I can only take so much. For awhile I watched a lot of Odin's Men videos, a bit like one does when observing something so bizarre one can't look away, featuring in all their freakish glory every degenerate piece of human garbage you can imagine. After a few, I had to mute the sound because the words coming out of their mouths were an assault on my intelligence and common sense. Eventually, and it didn't take long, I could not look at them anymore. I don't like to think of these things living freely among us, so I thank my lucky stars that I rarely have to encounter them irl. Your biting descriptions really make me appreciate that.
These Goblin's you speak of are in more places than you can imagine. They are the middle management of the entertainment industry. They work for some of the biggest multinational entertainment conglomerates on the planet. You have definitely given money and time to these companies. They have been for awhile, angry, heavy set, heavily tattooed and full of hate for men, themselves and women who don't follow their lead. I know I spent years working around them. I realized I needed to leave in 2017, so I slowly backed out to focus on my own business, and the pandemic freed me from that world for good. Sad, because there are a lot of good people there, I miss terribly, many are blue collar, men, closet conservatives and working class. They get horribly abused by these types who sit in an air conditioned offices all day dumping their work on interns, flaunting their eating disorders, while the crew are up very early and out in the bitter cold or burning sun to work and they are in all areas of this industry which is full of very cult like behavior which helps perpetuate a lot of bad behavior. I am sure they also exist in academia/education, healthcare, tech and a few other places I haven't guessed. They will bitterly complain that they have no power, that they are victims but expect you to take care of them despite their protestations that they are girl bosses. They are the gate keepers of the industry and I surmise why so much entertainment is so bad now, it is extreme and full of preaching and patronizing messages to normal people. If they don't like the look of you they will not let you get your foot in the door, or grow professionally. I've seen it happen to others and experienced it myself. I have seen exactly what you see I had to babysit it for way to long.
First, this is very powerfully written. I love it when you write longer pieces than usual. Second, yes. I appreciate your bearing witness to reality. I remember watching the social contagion spread through the grocery store where I went almost every day during lockdown (just to get out of the tiny room I was renting), hunching over Zoom and trying to finish my degree. By October 2020 the trans employees outnumbered the others, and I once checked out with three checklanes open, four employees present on the front end -- all four of them young women with frog voice and wispy facial hair. Typical Aidan/Oliver/Ethan/Jack types.
I have been noticing this for a while, because I too lean on the heavier side - and I used to feel like it is not my place to judge another woman’s body. Key difference- I am strong. I lift. I move. I am active and healthy at my weight. I still work at it. I refuse to give in and become a goblin.
But I have noticed something else.
People who move here from other countries start off slim, and the longer they’re here, the fatter they get. They develop health issues they didn’t have before and attribute it to aging.
The culture here is one of obvious poison, but so is much of the food, water, and the way much of those seeking solutions are instead handed unnecessary pharmaceuticals.
Western diets are not food. I believe Mike is saying eat real food, you know...fruits, veg, clean meats, eggs, yogurt. Organic and local whenever possible. So, right, not wrong.
Alas, the word "food" these days needs this clarification, real food etc. If so, then yes. Anything real. Even better, if they could eat it 500 years ago it is probably fine.
It really is like this. The depravity, the exhibitionism, the grotesque obesity is everywhere. I sat in my car yesterday observing all these dysfunctional ‘goblins’ which waited for me as soon as I opened my car door. Suddenly I had a flashback to 1981. I was about 14 and I was waiting for my boyfriend to come pick me up and take us to a party. When he arrived I noticed that his green and white striped boxer shorts were showing above the waistband of his green OPI board shorts. Then I saw his boxers were even peeking out from the hem of his shorts! I was SO EMBARRASSED and mortified. I blushed from head to toe ( and mind you I was no Victorian ) But this sort of thing was just SO not done before. I debated telling him about his sartorial faux pas but I froze. We get to the party and all the cool boys are rockin; the same look. My gf informed me it was new fast times at ridgemont high surfer chic and I should roll with it. So I did. But I never cared for it. No one would bat an eye today. We have come a long way baby. Oooof.
Josh, once again you hit the nail on the head. I live in Florida, a "red" state, and see the same sorts of things, although not as often (thankfully). Bravo.
There was a time I'd have thought this was a bit harsh, but that time has long passed. I'm in total agreement. No sympathy. No compassion. I just want them away from me. The bit about the "two options, of which being a normal person is neither" hit me particularly hard. It's the same where I am. People here rag on nearby Seattle as being this hive of dysgenic freaks, vagrants, drug-addicts, and all stripe and manner of degenerate, but I feel like they don't realize that many of the people in our own towns around here are, like, maybe one step above any of the Seattle trash they claim they wanted to get away from. If that. No self respect. Almost no higher awareness. It's tragic, but, you're right - there's really nothing any of us can do for them. They've made it explicitly clear they want to wallow in the gutter, and I would be perfectly willing to let them, if they weren't doing it at our expense and on our dimes, in many cases.
Your opening lines are me to a "t", for real. Most people are useless. They're aware of the social ills but dag-nab-it they still want to be "compassionate", which was how we got here in the first place. It's not lost on me that many of the "sane liberals/center" notice how crazy things are while out of the other corner of the mouth saying "hey, I'm all for you living your life you want/living your truth." Like, you are part of the problem. The inability to be harsh or judgmental is not a virtue.
I've seen a lot of unrepentant spice from Josh lately which has me thinking "I should become a paid subscriber already."
You're not wrong. Being open to allowing anything and everything will only allow the worst elements of a person's personality to flourish. I'm not saying people need to be whipped and micro-managed to be successful, but a little bit of societal pressure to maintain even a baseline of decency is necessary to maintain social cohesion.
As I mentioned elsewhere in the thread, norms aren't really an option for a society. This isn't an opinion. It's how we evolve as a species.
From all the time living in the NW I really wish I had left the city more often. I might might not have felt so isolated. ESPECIALLY during the scamdemic. I was completely shocked the first time I saw the Uncle Sam billboard outside Chehalis. "What?? Normal people?" The few times I did go out before I moved away it was night and day leaving the city. Normally salty sea air is refreshing but in those cases it was a reminder that I'll soon be home with the zombies.
I think it is an unwillingness to assert ourselves, both individually and as a society. More commonly, we are afraid to say what we stand for.
Where I live we spend considerable sums on the homeless, yet we still have people begging on the streets, taking drugs and generally creating visible dysfunction. It seems we have lost the ability to say enough is enough. If we are spending money the goal must be to have zero homeless on the streets. Yet when anyone does they are hammered for lacking compassion.
Aug 27, 2023·edited Aug 27, 2023Liked by Josh Slocum
Courage is uncommon, sadly. It's just human nature and statistical distribution. I recently had a disagreement with my sister on this, broadly speaking. All people have a modicum of it, but effecting positive change requires extraordinary amounts, which most individuals just don't have.
Regarding your example of homelessness probably the main reason I, like Josh, have a lot less tolerance, is because it's ultimately rooted in ego, i.e. how one is perceived. Nobody wants to be *seen* as hard or not compassionate, even in the face of absolute squalor. Taking others' feelings into account can be useful but not at all the virtue people assume it is. Social points/stigma explains a LOT of society's ills.
I agree. However, perhaps it is time for less agreeable types to assert themselves on behalf of the rest. I do suspect many people will be relieved when someone stands up.
As for homelessness there is room for compassion of course. I just think the will to do it is not there, for the reasons you stated. I don't have a particular issue with it, but it is one of those areas of public policy where we do actually spend money and it fails to solve the problem.
Even though I accept that about human nature I still highly disdain it, both the bystander effect and diffusion of responsibility. It's not earth-shattering to say that almost all people care what others think about them but recent years show us the detriment of it.
Not entirely unrelated but when Norm Macdonald died Bill Burr talked about how everyone says "I don't give a fuck," and how rare it actually is, Norm being one of them. Understanding Norm as an adult Bill's assessment is true. It's on Youtube. I personally lean this way, I don't fear judgment of others. But one friend of mine is very agreeable and sensitive. She always says "you think I won't understand" except I know it to be true lol. We're opposites in this regard. You just can't explain it. It feels great, honestly.
I get that. Most want to fit in and have a mortal fear of standing out. There is a gender split too, with women generally more agreeable.
I do sense things changing. I think this substack is important in that regard. Josh says things plainly and directly. And that is sorely needed. Especially in the realm of mental illness. Again, compassion has a place, but obviously disturbed people should not be allowed to dictate the terms of public debate, what we can and can't discuss.
Beauty comes from well-ordered structure. If all constraint is oppression, then one is in revolt against structure and ordering at its most basic level. All you can produce is ugliness, external and internal.
The term "disorder" is more broadly applicable than one might expect. Disorders of personality, dis-order of the built world, dis-order of socializing and business.
They have taken away all rules, all protocols, all etiquette. They hate to be constrained.
This is how you go to hell.
Order is life. Nothing in the world is worth having that doesn't rely on order.
This is why I look down on liberalism aka "hey man don't judge!" "Hey man do what you want" has never sustained a civilization. Get this: all societies require norms. This is not opinion. This is anthropology.
Creativity requires constraint. It forces the artist to dig deeper, to overcome the constraints. Poetry is an accessible example; you can't just write anything, it must rhyme or scan etc.
This is a problem with modern art where anything goes. Modern movies with massive budgets are the same. Anything is possible so they produce crap.
Ok I just became a paid subscriber. In the name of all that is just and right in this universe, this has to be heard aloud - read by the author. Release on podcast channel?
I am carrying 30 extra pounds myself; I'm chubby. And I've been actually fat.
This is not a "point and laugh at fat people" post. This a "what the hell is wrong with you that you walk around so obese that you're likely to die in your 30s, and you think you're 'hot' because you're wearing whore makeup and showing off your rolls" post.
You won't see me--like so many fat gay men these days---wearing skin tight shirts and skinny jeans so that my fat waist bulges out.
No one has any self-respect. Or any respect for other people.
And all of us, collectively as a society, have agreed to say nothing. Even *noticing* is "abuse."
It's not right. It's not OK. It's not healthy, it's not normal, it's not pro-social. It's out of control.
You will know who has power in a society by who you cannot critique.
🎯🎯🎯🎯
I hear you. It's not poking fun at those who have physical flaws or different sexual proclivities; it's rejecting their efforts to enshrine those things as part of their identity and then demand that everyone else pay attention to it and celebrate them for it. Like Lizzo. I wouldn't care if she was just fat, nor would I even judge her for it, but when she puts on clothes that would be skimpy on a normal woman a fraction of her size and then flaunts her flab publicly and demands to be celebrated for it, she has made her obesity a legitimate target for ridicule. Same thing with autogynophiles, aka, trannies. Dress like a chick if you want, but why do you have to involve the rest of us (or far worse, involve our children) in it?
She's a pig and a whore. A sane society would have shamed her off the stage before she even got going.
My lesbian hair dresser can’t stand Lizzie, but whispers to me about it in an apologetic tone.
I’m a normie. I can’t keep up. I don’t even try. I’m the one looking right through them and avoiding them like the plague they are.
Demonic. The whole sick, side show freaking lot of them.
I blame day care. Oh, and the fact that it’s END TIMES.
I would have been exceedingly happy and satisfied to live the rest of my life without ever knowing WTH a "Lizzo" was. But other people insisted on bringing that thing up just about everywhere until I was forced to know. That's the sort of thing I'd like to avoid (in addition to the things you mentioned, Daniel D) ... having to know about useless crap nobody cares about just because a bunch of other people know about it.
I was a fashion model as a teen, a tiny waif around 10 pounds underweight (too much to spare, really). It wasn’t my choice (my own Mommie Dearest wanted and demanded it), but I did it for a couple of years, with the required anorexia and everything. I’ve also been 70+ pounds overweight when I was at my worst, emotionally and psychologically, unable to afford my psych meds and frankly getting most of my calories from booze. I gave up alcohol once I was in a better living situation, got back on my meds, and was able to get in really good shape.
We have the reactions we have for legitimate reasons, and being a judgmental jerk does not even have to come into it. Some things are just obviously unhealthy, and the way some people act says a lot about their inner mental state.
It’s perfectly reasonable to assume that someone who is dangerously overweight or underweight is *not well* in some way. If we were all habitually honest and less suspicious of each other, bringing it up would be the *caring* thing to do. I know what being REALLY BIG feels like, where I was rollin’ down the sidewalk like the Michelin Man, and it’s not something a mentally healthy person would EVER choose to be; everything is a struggle, going out is embarrassing, nothing looks right on you, and doctors act like they just don’t see the point of helping you. When I see a person that overweight, it makes me both sad and a little impatient. I always wonder what happened that made them lose touch with their body to such an extreme. I also wonder if they even understand how badly they are compromising themselves, and if they care. Part of me wants to help, but I know they won’t take it that way.
Regardless of all that, people need to put on ALL their clothes before going out, ffs. Being a troll might provide a little rush of sadistic pleasure, but it solves nothing. It doesn’t make them healthy, and the only people who will admire them for it are other trolls. It certainly doesn’t make anyone want to empathize or understand you.
You are assuming that everyone who is overweight became that way due to lack of self care though. If we can accept that dog breeds come in different shapes and sizes, why can't we accept that humans are the same?
Genetics is actually the largest contributor to body weight in that it determines one's basement and ceiling. The reality is few people will reach 400 lbs without some significant mental issues and/or poor diet. However, they also have to have the genetics that allows them to hit that ceiling. And ironically restrictive diets are a risk factor for weight gain. Hence the multi billion dollar diet industry.
Plus, many people can eat healthily and exercise and not be thin. They won't be 400 lbs but they also won't be 120 lbs.
I’m not assuming anything about imaginary people who are within a range that is healthy for them.
"When I see a person that overweight, it makes me both sad and a little impatient. I always wonder what happened that made them lose touch with their body to such an extreme. I also wonder if they even understand how badly they are compromising themselves, and if they care. "
I am referring to this passage above. While few people will reach 400/500lbs without some type of food addiction, many people will be chubby or even fat without neglecting themselves in that way.
I’m not sure why you feel the need to correct my perception, especially since I went out of my way to make it clear that I myself have been all different weights. I know what I said, and I was clear in my meaning. I don’t need to change my POV or how I described it.
Have a great day.
We can only put up barriers against them. We may have to fight them. There is no negotiation.
I do not care about their fate. I care about what they are doing to me and society. They are in the enemy category, and will be treated as such.
Social parasites that can’t make, grow or produce anything except more lies and psychosis.
“Open air insane asylum” 🤣 Brilliant description.
Wow. Very poignant. I think we are all seeing it. You are the first to put it into words.
This is absoltley brilliantly written, and so very true. You are nailing what the real problem are with your observations, and with the courage and honesty to write down what you see! 🎯🎯🎯 I think thats nothing are gonna change and better itself in society... for nobody, except the short rush of supply for those who drive on that instead of normal decency, respect and constructive human intersctions. Its totally overtaken. I am not happy that reality actually has became this way, but I am very happy that there are people like you to describe it do very well and adress it. I do think the time seem to be more ripe for people to suppport some more, and maybe do some of the observations some of has done for a while. I just hope its for real, and that those who do not just do it to look at another set of signifiers, cause its hard to ignore that the last set they listened to are so full of lies and bullshit, and still dont bother to check out whats beeing signified! I dont attempt to be negative of what seems to be a little but comforting step in a right direction, but I seriously do wish that people, when they are considering changing their minds do a focused job with it, and not just turns to superficially follow next thing. Then all this kind of shit keeps turning up in only barely new wrappings, with the same core, and the emperor could keep strolling around without any clothing. Or other nede emeperors could easily full the last ones Seat! I love the way you scutinize the surroundings and pick out the poison Ivy where ever its at! The spread is so sever, so I guess thats the only way society could have a new go of having a healthier lady out, is if more of us do like you, and observe and point out where ever its at! 🙂👍🏻 Especially done in such a very enjoyable way like you do. Its great how you are able to adress something sinister and grave, with a fun and inspiring pen! 🙂 I love your voice and do think its a very important one. All the best to you from Anlaug in Norway. 🙂
I can't help myself. I thoroughly enjoy reading your assessments and viewpoints and scalding critiques of these nearly less than human beasts/freaks who assault our spaces, sporting privilege no sane person would ever ascribe to themselves. But I can only take so much. For awhile I watched a lot of Odin's Men videos, a bit like one does when observing something so bizarre one can't look away, featuring in all their freakish glory every degenerate piece of human garbage you can imagine. After a few, I had to mute the sound because the words coming out of their mouths were an assault on my intelligence and common sense. Eventually, and it didn't take long, I could not look at them anymore. I don't like to think of these things living freely among us, so I thank my lucky stars that I rarely have to encounter them irl. Your biting descriptions really make me appreciate that.
I wouldn't blame you skipping over these posts. They're grim as hell, I know.
These Goblin's you speak of are in more places than you can imagine. They are the middle management of the entertainment industry. They work for some of the biggest multinational entertainment conglomerates on the planet. You have definitely given money and time to these companies. They have been for awhile, angry, heavy set, heavily tattooed and full of hate for men, themselves and women who don't follow their lead. I know I spent years working around them. I realized I needed to leave in 2017, so I slowly backed out to focus on my own business, and the pandemic freed me from that world for good. Sad, because there are a lot of good people there, I miss terribly, many are blue collar, men, closet conservatives and working class. They get horribly abused by these types who sit in an air conditioned offices all day dumping their work on interns, flaunting their eating disorders, while the crew are up very early and out in the bitter cold or burning sun to work and they are in all areas of this industry which is full of very cult like behavior which helps perpetuate a lot of bad behavior. I am sure they also exist in academia/education, healthcare, tech and a few other places I haven't guessed. They will bitterly complain that they have no power, that they are victims but expect you to take care of them despite their protestations that they are girl bosses. They are the gate keepers of the industry and I surmise why so much entertainment is so bad now, it is extreme and full of preaching and patronizing messages to normal people. If they don't like the look of you they will not let you get your foot in the door, or grow professionally. I've seen it happen to others and experienced it myself. I have seen exactly what you see I had to babysit it for way to long.
First, this is very powerfully written. I love it when you write longer pieces than usual. Second, yes. I appreciate your bearing witness to reality. I remember watching the social contagion spread through the grocery store where I went almost every day during lockdown (just to get out of the tiny room I was renting), hunching over Zoom and trying to finish my degree. By October 2020 the trans employees outnumbered the others, and I once checked out with three checklanes open, four employees present on the front end -- all four of them young women with frog voice and wispy facial hair. Typical Aidan/Oliver/Ethan/Jack types.
Yep. You can't get out of Target in South Burlington without being checked out by Aydin-Kyler-Oliver. It's like they only hire "trans men."
Ugh. I always half expect them to take arbitrary offense to something I say without thinking. They’re so high strung.
I have been noticing this for a while, because I too lean on the heavier side - and I used to feel like it is not my place to judge another woman’s body. Key difference- I am strong. I lift. I move. I am active and healthy at my weight. I still work at it. I refuse to give in and become a goblin.
But I have noticed something else.
People who move here from other countries start off slim, and the longer they’re here, the fatter they get. They develop health issues they didn’t have before and attribute it to aging.
The culture here is one of obvious poison, but so is much of the food, water, and the way much of those seeking solutions are instead handed unnecessary pharmaceuticals.
It is definitely an era where you need to do your own research on diet and lifestyle. The government approved lifestyle is suicide.
You don't need research. Eat food, not too much and move.
Wrong. Moving, good. Eating mindlessly, not so good. Western diets are killing people and aging them prematurely. Definitely room for improvement.
Western diets are not food. I believe Mike is saying eat real food, you know...fruits, veg, clean meats, eggs, yogurt. Organic and local whenever possible. So, right, not wrong.
Alas, the word "food" these days needs this clarification, real food etc. If so, then yes. Anything real. Even better, if they could eat it 500 years ago it is probably fine.
They are filled with self-loathing
It really is like this. The depravity, the exhibitionism, the grotesque obesity is everywhere. I sat in my car yesterday observing all these dysfunctional ‘goblins’ which waited for me as soon as I opened my car door. Suddenly I had a flashback to 1981. I was about 14 and I was waiting for my boyfriend to come pick me up and take us to a party. When he arrived I noticed that his green and white striped boxer shorts were showing above the waistband of his green OPI board shorts. Then I saw his boxers were even peeking out from the hem of his shorts! I was SO EMBARRASSED and mortified. I blushed from head to toe ( and mind you I was no Victorian ) But this sort of thing was just SO not done before. I debated telling him about his sartorial faux pas but I froze. We get to the party and all the cool boys are rockin; the same look. My gf informed me it was new fast times at ridgemont high surfer chic and I should roll with it. So I did. But I never cared for it. No one would bat an eye today. We have come a long way baby. Oooof.
We have come a long way the wrong way, and all self-respect has been lost along that way.
Josh, once again you hit the nail on the head. I live in Florida, a "red" state, and see the same sorts of things, although not as often (thankfully). Bravo.
Josh is the Brett Easton Ellis of Substack.
There was a time I'd have thought this was a bit harsh, but that time has long passed. I'm in total agreement. No sympathy. No compassion. I just want them away from me. The bit about the "two options, of which being a normal person is neither" hit me particularly hard. It's the same where I am. People here rag on nearby Seattle as being this hive of dysgenic freaks, vagrants, drug-addicts, and all stripe and manner of degenerate, but I feel like they don't realize that many of the people in our own towns around here are, like, maybe one step above any of the Seattle trash they claim they wanted to get away from. If that. No self respect. Almost no higher awareness. It's tragic, but, you're right - there's really nothing any of us can do for them. They've made it explicitly clear they want to wallow in the gutter, and I would be perfectly willing to let them, if they weren't doing it at our expense and on our dimes, in many cases.
subsidize failure and you get more of it
Very true!
Your opening lines are me to a "t", for real. Most people are useless. They're aware of the social ills but dag-nab-it they still want to be "compassionate", which was how we got here in the first place. It's not lost on me that many of the "sane liberals/center" notice how crazy things are while out of the other corner of the mouth saying "hey, I'm all for you living your life you want/living your truth." Like, you are part of the problem. The inability to be harsh or judgmental is not a virtue.
I've seen a lot of unrepentant spice from Josh lately which has me thinking "I should become a paid subscriber already."
You're not wrong. Being open to allowing anything and everything will only allow the worst elements of a person's personality to flourish. I'm not saying people need to be whipped and micro-managed to be successful, but a little bit of societal pressure to maintain even a baseline of decency is necessary to maintain social cohesion.
As I mentioned elsewhere in the thread, norms aren't really an option for a society. This isn't an opinion. It's how we evolve as a species.
From all the time living in the NW I really wish I had left the city more often. I might might not have felt so isolated. ESPECIALLY during the scamdemic. I was completely shocked the first time I saw the Uncle Sam billboard outside Chehalis. "What?? Normal people?" The few times I did go out before I moved away it was night and day leaving the city. Normally salty sea air is refreshing but in those cases it was a reminder that I'll soon be home with the zombies.
I think it is an unwillingness to assert ourselves, both individually and as a society. More commonly, we are afraid to say what we stand for.
Where I live we spend considerable sums on the homeless, yet we still have people begging on the streets, taking drugs and generally creating visible dysfunction. It seems we have lost the ability to say enough is enough. If we are spending money the goal must be to have zero homeless on the streets. Yet when anyone does they are hammered for lacking compassion.
Courage is uncommon, sadly. It's just human nature and statistical distribution. I recently had a disagreement with my sister on this, broadly speaking. All people have a modicum of it, but effecting positive change requires extraordinary amounts, which most individuals just don't have.
Regarding your example of homelessness probably the main reason I, like Josh, have a lot less tolerance, is because it's ultimately rooted in ego, i.e. how one is perceived. Nobody wants to be *seen* as hard or not compassionate, even in the face of absolute squalor. Taking others' feelings into account can be useful but not at all the virtue people assume it is. Social points/stigma explains a LOT of society's ills.
I agree. However, perhaps it is time for less agreeable types to assert themselves on behalf of the rest. I do suspect many people will be relieved when someone stands up.
As for homelessness there is room for compassion of course. I just think the will to do it is not there, for the reasons you stated. I don't have a particular issue with it, but it is one of those areas of public policy where we do actually spend money and it fails to solve the problem.
Even though I accept that about human nature I still highly disdain it, both the bystander effect and diffusion of responsibility. It's not earth-shattering to say that almost all people care what others think about them but recent years show us the detriment of it.
Not entirely unrelated but when Norm Macdonald died Bill Burr talked about how everyone says "I don't give a fuck," and how rare it actually is, Norm being one of them. Understanding Norm as an adult Bill's assessment is true. It's on Youtube. I personally lean this way, I don't fear judgment of others. But one friend of mine is very agreeable and sensitive. She always says "you think I won't understand" except I know it to be true lol. We're opposites in this regard. You just can't explain it. It feels great, honestly.
I get that. Most want to fit in and have a mortal fear of standing out. There is a gender split too, with women generally more agreeable.
I do sense things changing. I think this substack is important in that regard. Josh says things plainly and directly. And that is sorely needed. Especially in the realm of mental illness. Again, compassion has a place, but obviously disturbed people should not be allowed to dictate the terms of public debate, what we can and can't discuss.
Beauty comes from well-ordered structure. If all constraint is oppression, then one is in revolt against structure and ordering at its most basic level. All you can produce is ugliness, external and internal.
https://www.notonyourteam.co.uk/p/negating-achievement
The term "disorder" is more broadly applicable than one might expect. Disorders of personality, dis-order of the built world, dis-order of socializing and business.
They have taken away all rules, all protocols, all etiquette. They hate to be constrained.
This is how you go to hell.
Order is life. Nothing in the world is worth having that doesn't rely on order.
Nicely put.
excellent comment
This is why I look down on liberalism aka "hey man don't judge!" "Hey man do what you want" has never sustained a civilization. Get this: all societies require norms. This is not opinion. This is anthropology.
Benny Goodman once said that you begin to deteriorate as a human being when you fail to write the thank you note.
Creativity requires constraint. It forces the artist to dig deeper, to overcome the constraints. Poetry is an accessible example; you can't just write anything, it must rhyme or scan etc.
This is a problem with modern art where anything goes. Modern movies with massive budgets are the same. Anything is possible so they produce crap.
Ok I just became a paid subscriber. In the name of all that is just and right in this universe, this has to be heard aloud - read by the author. Release on podcast channel?
Thank you Jim!
Welcome!
Josh has a knack for this, telling radical truth, that is.
Exactly what I was going to request!
Ask and you shall receive! I'm going to make it a segment on this Sunday's show.