rant · moment 18 of 21

Narcissism, Participation Trophies, and the Death of Expertise

from 2017, A Year Of Love And Peace · #76

Audio-only archive episode — no video to seek.

4 min

Tim argues kids today are taught they're irreplaceable and unique without earning perspective, contrasting that with old-school classically educated thinkers and 'I don't care' guys like Christopher Hitchens, then stresses the importance of fact-checking anything learned from the show.

In this bit9 moments
  • 50:15Tim brags about building things like his grandpa could build a church.
  • 50:50Kids are told their feelings and views matter without having to learn or acquire real perspective.
  • 51:15Old classical education and Jesuits who formed their worldview through rigorous study command respect.
  • 51:34The guy who doesn't care is rare—only certain types can pull off laughing about their own ignorance.
  • 52:17Hitchens paid his dues through institutions and earned genuine respect for accumulated knowledge.
  • 52:29Different platforms and avenues have altered how knowledge is accessed and conveyed now.
  • 52:49Look up sources when learning from the show—there's always more depth than fits in an hour.
  • 53:16When the show shifts your mind on something, investigate it yourself and poke holes in it.
  • 53:41If something here is illuminating, it's probably disturbing and paradigm-shifting.
Mentioned here

Christopher HitchensJesuitsRuss BakerWoodstock

All 21 moments in this episode →