11 Comments
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Betsy's avatar

What an excellent essay. Exactly. This is why I found Sons of Anarchy so engrossing, even though I had to close my eyes a lot; good people walking step by clanking iron step down into Hell, able to stop and turn around right until the end, but for a variety of reasons unwilling to. I read an essay recently (maybe yours, can't recall) with the premise that bullshitters are worse than outright evil-doers, who at least are honest about their actions. Excellent essay.

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J. Daniel Sawyer's avatar

I haven't seen Sons of Anarchy, but as I understand it's a mashup of Hamlet and King Lear, I'm not surprised at all :-)

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Brandy's avatar

It's good. You should watch.

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The Radical Individualist's avatar

You've made me realize that the people I truly despise are the bullshitters, not the sinners.

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Sarah's avatar

I think we know it in some sense but it's a bit hidden in the characters we like or dislike. The brute versus the backstabber etc.

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Betsy's avatar

Wish I could point you to the Substack essay - it was so interesting.

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Brandy's avatar

Really great essay. Always been a sin boldly kinda girl. My mom almost lost her mind.

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J. Daniel Sawyer's avatar

I knew there was a reason I liked you!

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Brandy's avatar

😛

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Malenkiy Scot's avatar

> The corrupt soul is the slave to his cowardice

From a personal conversation long time ago in a galaxy far, far away:

Me: "I did it because I had promised..."

The wise person: "OK, so you find yourself in this situation because you did not have the guts to break your promise."

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Sarah's avatar

This is why the "don't judge anyone for anything" anthem is so nefarious. To watch someone close to you slowly descend step by step is not kindness. It's helpful to have someone present alternatives to weigh our decisions against so if, we are to "sin" we're standing on our own two feet about it.

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