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vgr's profile
Venkatesh Rao
Venkatesh Rao
Venkatesh Rao
@vgr

Tweets

Venkatesh Rao

@vgr

Conversational account. For work follow @ribbonfarm, @breaking_smart, @artofgig. Tweets are 90% vacuous views, apathetically held. Mediocritopian. IKEA builder.

Los Angeles, CA
venkateshrao.com
Joined August 2007

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    1. Joel D  🕯 🦴‏ @joeld 10 Dec 2019
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      Does anyone know of anyone who has actually used @vgr’s Gervais Principle (https://www.ribbonfarm.com/2009/10/07/the-gervais-principle-or-the-office-according-to-the-office/ …) to materially change their career situation?

      2 replies 1 retweet 4 likes
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    2. Joel D  🕯 🦴‏ @joeld 10 Dec 2019
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      Put another way: there is a category of explanatory theory that delights but is not actionable (nor is it supposed to be). I put René Girard’s mimetic desire stuff in this category. I expect the Gervais Principle to be similar but am curious if anyone knows otherwise.

      2 replies 0 retweets 1 like
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    3. Dominique Irigaray‏ @DomIrigaray 10 Dec 2019
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      Replying to @joeld @vgr

      Well, Girard said that Shakespeare, Stendhal, Dostoïevski, handled his mimetic theory; it has been actionable for them.

      1 reply 0 retweets 2 likes
    4. Joel D  🕯 🦴‏ @joeld 10 Dec 2019
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      Replying to @DomIrigaray @vgr

      I wouldn't dispute mimetic theory is “artistically actionable” in that it can inform world-building. The Gervais Principle was obviously actionable for Ricky Gervais in the same way. But I’m talking about ways non-artists would change their behavior in response to such theories.

      1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes
    5. Venkatesh Rao‏ @vgr 10 Dec 2019
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      Replying to @joeld @DomIrigaray

      huh afaik ricky gervais hasn't even heard of the gervais principle. I named it that in his honor, but obviously he came up with the characters and plot of the show before I came up with the theory

      1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes
    6. Joel D  🕯 🦴‏ @joeld 10 Dec 2019
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      Replying to @vgr @DomIrigaray

      Yes. I doubt Shakespeare heard of mimetic theory either ;) I believe @Domlrigaray was saying the substance of mimetic theory was “actionable” for Shakespeare et. al. even before Girard formalized it, ’cos their works incorporated it. If we allow that, then yeah, same for Gervais.

      1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes
    7. Venkatesh Rao‏ @vgr 10 Dec 2019
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      Replying to @joeld @DomIrigaray

      Yeah I don't find that kind of retconning useful, but Girard has clearly been actionable to Thiel and those influenced by him at least, as is clear from the specifics of things he's done (go after Gawker, support Trump, fund various subcultures, hereticon etc)

      1 reply 0 retweets 1 like
    8. Joel D  🕯 🦴‏ @joeld 10 Dec 2019
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      Replying to @vgr @DomIrigaray

      I hadn't heard of this connection before!

      1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes
    9. Venkatesh Rao‏ @vgr 10 Dec 2019
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      Replying to @joeld @DomIrigaray

      huh... Thiel is the main reason Girard is known at all. Without him, he'd be a totally obscure and irrelevant philosopher.

      2 replies 0 retweets 2 likes
    10. Dominique Irigaray‏ @DomIrigaray 10 Dec 2019
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      Replying to @vgr @joeld

      To be known because Girard made Thiel's fortune says too that the mimetic theory works. But if you admit such results it's strange to dub him an irrelevant philosopher. There's many good things to do with his theory: I converted to Xtianity, worked out a theory of sexuality...

      2 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
      Venkatesh Rao‏ @vgr 10 Dec 2019
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      Replying to @DomIrigaray @joeld

      I’m not saying it made his fortune. I’m saying he claims it has guided him and the influence is objectively visible in some decisions. I strongly doubt the theory is any good for guiding money making or investing.

      1:33 PM - 10 Dec 2019
      • 3 Likes
      • Joel D 🕯🦴 thebateman R.P.
      1 reply 0 retweets 3 likes
        1. New conversation
        2. Dominique Irigaray‏ @DomIrigaray 10 Dec 2019
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          Replying to @vgr @joeld

          Money making and investing is hardly a good thing. We are in money’s chains and carefully, systematically, stupidly destroying our beautiful planet because of this slavery. Mimetic world is too the tool to get to a much needed post capitalist world.

          2 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
        3. Dominique Irigaray‏ @DomIrigaray 10 Dec 2019
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          Replying to @DomIrigaray @vgr @joeld

          Mimetic *theory* is...

          0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
        4. End of conversation

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