© Roger M Tagg 2009 revised 2015
Welcome to FROLIO – a new attempt to merge philosophy and the "semantic web" . This website is under continuing development.
I think we have to be aware today that most - if not all - of the people we deal with, listen to or watch have their own motives, ideas and view in dealing with us. They are not connecting with you or me primarily for our benefit, but for their own.
A lot of people want:
It appears not just in the use of words, but also
For more on the first 3 categories, see Thouless's book "Straight and Crooked Thinking".
| Bullshit Example | What's the insinuation? |
|---|---|
| New paradigm, paradigm shift | Your previous thinking doesn't apply any more, it's "old hat" |
| I'm glad you asked that question | I had hoped you wouldn't ask it, but give me time to think of a response |
| Bourgeois | Middle class is undesirable - you should be either with us (the proletariat) or with them (the capitalists) |
| I couldn't help it | I'm not ready or willing to face some personal responsibility |
| Vibrant | Not boring like other options (related to cities, it more often means 'busy, noisy, hustling') |
| Get a life | Your disapproval of my actions shows you are boring |
| Secularism | Not relating everything to God isn't 'holy' enough |
| Imperatives | Things we must do because either I (or some authorities) say we must, implying a threat of dire consequences if we don't do them |
| <a person> IS <some concept> | The person is a very, very big name in the concept (e.g. "Irving Berlin IS American music") |
| Holistic (especially "Wholistic") | Your normal health cures don't address the whole person (even if they do at least alleviate the symptoms) |
| Law of averages | If things have been bad for so long, they must surely be about to improve |
| The statistics prove ... | The particular statistics I have selected should convince you that |
| Transcend | Bypass all your personal concerns and objections |
| Timeless, eternal | Until circumstances change |
| Once in a lifetime (opportunity, trip) | Something we want you to spend your money on NOW |
| Freedom | Nobody stopping me doing what I want |
| Democracy | Rule by representatives elected through parties with money, who try to persuade gullible voters |
| Peoples Democracy | Rule by representatives elected from the one party approved by the ruling elite |
| Politicians | Salespersons |
| Managers and Directors | Advertisers, promotion staff, public relations executives |
| Spokespersons (for Business or Government) | Marketing executives |
| People in religious hierarchies | Members of gangs, militias, juntas |
| Education experts | Academics (when under pressure to publish or perish) |
| Pressure groups and activists | Fundamentalists (especially religious) |
| Journalists with an axe to grind | Conservatives |
| Members of cliques or coteries, drinking mates | Dogmatic leftists |
| Leaders of fan clubs, celebrity followers | Time servers (wanting to hang on to a non-job) |
| Fashion writers | Adults - and children - faced with explaining failure or error |
Here are a few other websites that address the issue.
The last two are maybe a joke, but the rest are pretty serious. It's widely recognized - especially in the USA where it is widespread - that we are in danger of drowning in our own "BS".
I think it can. It provides a framework for "reading between the lines". It could help you work out why and how what you are being told is bullshit.
Index to more of these diatribes
Some of these links may be under construction – or re-construction.
This version updated on 9th March 2015
If you have constructive suggestions or comments, please contact the author rogertag@tpg.com.au .