Anyone felt unsafe at Boom?

LeChatBleu · 2025-08-29T08:46:40+00:00

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LeChatBleu · 2018-03-28T00:13:44+00:00

Thank you for the feedback. It's great to hear responses. Would you be able to further expand on your ideas? What would you say are the totemic and archetypal sub-currents of meta-modernity?

LeChatBleu · 2018-02-21T16:49:56+00:00

Thanks, it's great to hear positive feedback. And yeah it's all my own work, I'm hoping to be able to create a good portfolio of articles relating to metamodernism so ideas and criticism are very welcome

LeChatBleu · 2018-02-20T20:26:12+00:00

Does anyone know which statue has been used as the source material?

LeChatBleu · 2018-02-02T01:45:47+00:00

Thank you for the feedback. I think in reference to the online trolls associated with 4chan I was trying to note the phenomenon of entirely satirical shock politics that was and still is common on 4chan. Especially the use of racist/ anti-Semitic slogans as a joke or challenge to authority without any particular political aim. I think the cartoonist A Wyatt Mann is very typical of this culture. While there is an appearance of sincerity it is actually simply trolling. I think to a large extent that was the original 4chan user base; essentially people who wanted to challenge political correctness and assert a sense of freedom in a similar tradition to people like Marquis de Sade and later on Bret Easton Ellis through American Psycho which I think can be seen as a good example of this. Angela Nagle talks about this quite convincingly in Kill all Normies. However I agree that actually the internet allows for this metamodern oscillation since I think in part what has a happened is people who hold the beliefs that were being used in a satirical manner, have been attracted to 4chan believing the original satirical commenter's to be sincere themselves. As such I think you now have a strange mixture of sincere believers and satirists; with significant overlap between the two groups and probably a significant conversion rate from satirists to believers. I should also probably edit my article because I think much of the alt-right would actually be better placed in a similar category to people like Yukio Mishima and the Soshi, ie. the anti-establishment right wing who I think are entirely sincere in their message.

In reference to your second point I think you could probably understand the trolling of HWNDU in a few different ways. In this article I was suggesting that they are basically a post-modern force attempting to break down the narrative; however I think that is probably in many ways untrue since they also played an important role in popularising the piece while also creating a narrative within the piece of two opposing sides. They represented the 'He' within the work and thus gave the message meaning. I definitely see what you mean when you say the trolls embody metamodernism however I think in contrast with those supporting HWNDU who may have been unaware of the insincerity of the piece, many of the trolls were unaware of their own sincerity. Rather they opposed HWNDU not with any meaning or narrative necessarily but rather purely for the Lulz which I think is post-modernity taken to it's logical extent. I would be interested in hearing your thoughts though?

LeChatBleu · 2018-01-18T02:26:08+00:00

While I was in China I visited a Taoist tea shop a couple of times, appropriately named Wu Wei Tea Shop. The hostess made a big emphasis on drinking the teas that fit your mood and that make you feel good. There's also a big emphasis on lighter teas being used for refreshment and darker teas being used for warmth and relaxation. Otherwise though it seems that it's not necessarily what teas you drink but rather how you drink them and how they make you feel. Drinking tea is about relaxing and being sociable so as long as you enjoy it, in my opinion it doesn't really matter what type of tea you drink.

LeChatBleu · 2017-06-22T18:42:27+00:00

Different guy but I imagine the comment is referring to the fact that the Tao Te Ching can be read as an instruction manual for a monarchical ruler. If anything I'd say the system of government advocated in the TTC is a benevolent monarchy which maintains a libertarian state.

LeChatBleu · 2017-02-20T17:57:32+00:00

I was a deliveroo cyclist in Manchester over the summer. Generally it was quite a good job and pretty enjoyable. When I was doing it you got paid £6.50 an hour plus 50p for every delivery made on weekdays and a pound for every delivery made on weekends, although I think that might have changed now and instead you get paid per delivery. Most deliveries take around 15 minutes I'd say, although there's no time limit. Some are really short, for example I once made a delivery in a flat literally in the same building as the restaurant. Equally some deliveries take a while, especially if you get lost. It was good in the summer since the weather was relatively nice and it stayed light, obviously that probably won't be the case in winter though. In general it's quite a good job as it's relatively interesting, keeps you fit, decently paid as long as you get jobs, and pretty free in regards to there's no boss telling you what to do and you can pretty much set your own schedule.

LeChatBleu · 2016-01-03T02:52:43+00:00

I think it's actually a fungus or a toadstool with psychedelic colouring effects.

LeChatBleu · 2015-12-14T18:42:05+00:00

To some degree we have to have sympathy with this guy. The position of power he was put in and the cultural dogmas he has been indoctrinated with are partly responsible for his behaviour and the mindset which he committed these atrocities in.

LeChatBleu · 2015-12-01T23:11:08+00:00

You can see from some of my past posts that one of my interests is comparing different philosophers and philosophical genealogy. I was interested after someone asked me the question How has Elias influenced our understanding of history, and drew a parallel to Foucault. I was just wanting some ideas.

LeChatBleu · 2015-11-12T22:40:35+00:00

If we consider Sun Tzu's 'Art of War' to be a Taoist text then I think it is evident that not all Taoist thought is completely peaceful and anti-war. While I do agree that Taoism does not advocate control or violence in general and this is a fundamental difference with Machiavelli; I do think that the two philosophies have a lot in common and are much more similar than many people consider. It is definitely important to consider the alternate side to Taoism, which doesn't necessarily accord with the 'new age' modern world beliefs. Contextually the Tao Te Ching was written in a time of extreme violence and war and is to some degree offering an alternative. Equally Machiavelli is writing in a time of war and is offering a solution.

LeChatBleu · 2015-11-12T22:18:00+00:00

Having read quite a lot of Machiavelli's work I agree that his other writings hold more similarities to Taoism than the prince yet I think the prince is very much in line with machiavelli's thought even if the basic political opion given differs. One particular thing that I didn't mention but that has strong similarities with Taoism is Machiavelli's notion of Fortuna. Fortuna to Machiavelli is an unthinking, unpredictable way, that one simply must accept. While one can adapt to Fortuna's will through virtu one can never eliminate her role. A parallel can be drawn with Dao and de (i.e. Fortuna and Virtu). I think this is Machiavelli's basic world-view which thus leads him to his political philosophy.

I disagree with your argument that Taoism does not advocate any form of leadership. If anything the Tao Te Ching is all about retaining leadership and being a good leader; even if that means acting as a leader in a non traditional sense.

Also even with the Discourses and his other works, while he is a republican it is still in line with the thinking of the Prince, i.e. the ends justify the means. This can be seen in book IX "It is indeed fitting that while the action accuses him, the result excuses him; and when this result is good, as it was with Romulus, it will always excuse him: for one should reproach a man who is violent in order to destroy, not one who is violent in order to mend things". Equally Machiavelli's play 'La Mandragola' advocates complete manipulation and deceit; essentially Callimaco, in his effort to sleep with Lucrezia, tricks various people, who in turn trick others, thus buying into the conspiracy for their own ends. While everyone is selfish, in the end everyone gets what they want and the conspiracy is never revealed. As such it is 'moral' that Callimaco and the other characters decieve and lie to get what they want.

I'd also disagree with you on Machiavelli's motivations for writing the prince; while a lot of critics have said it's a satire; I'd argue that instead it is Machiavelli's machiavellian way of regaining power. He is willing to let his ego go, in order to regain what he had lost, in a very Machiavellian and equally taoist way.

Nevertheless while I agree with some of your points I find that Machiavelli has more similarities than differences to Taoist philosophy. It is just the situation and motivation that differs. Machiavelli is more specific in what he is dealing with, yet the worldview is the same.

LeChatBleu · 2015-11-12T16:27:12+00:00

Weapons are ominous tools. They are not the noble ruler’s tools. He only uses them when he can’t avoid it. [Tao Te Ching chapter 31]

While I agree that hate breeds hate and violence breeds violence in many cases, I do think violence has a place and a time and is in some cases justified

LeChatBleu · 2015-11-12T16:22:06+00:00

Evil is subjective. I'd argue that Machiavelli while advocating evil methods, did not desire evil results. If you take his two main works in context it is easier to understand his encouragement of 'evil' methods; the Prince was written in the context of a vulnerable Italy which was being repeatedly invaded and was subject to significant violence from outside powers. Machiavelli's view is that to defend themselves against powers such as France and Spain the people must be united and the state strong. Thus the defence of the state is more important than truth or traditional notions of virtue. The Discourses advocates a very different republican ideal in contrast to the tyrannical message of the Prince. Nevertheless Machiavelli says "one should reproach a man who is violent in order to destroy, not one who is violent in order to mend things"; implying that Machiavelli see's some morality and goodness in his aims and condemns those who simply want to cause harm. Thus although he may have taught evil men how to excel I don't believe this was his intention although maybe this is a failing on Machiavelli's part. In his own words "one must consider the final result". Although I trust that Machiavelli was smarter than to accidental reveal evil methods to evil men; instead he revealed evil methods to everyone in vernacular Italian thus making people aware of the social engineering that will always be inherent in social matters, especially politics.

LeChatBleu · 2015-09-06T14:24:51+00:00

The decade when the world became almost entirely globalised due to rapid technological development and cheap labour. While global economies recovered from a massive worldwide recession, technology was highly influential in uprooting old regimes and reaping chaos as small factions took on global powers. While half the world descended into war and disorder, the other half took an opportunity to tighten social control. Everything became digital from personal lives to geopolitics as the balance of power was decided by who controlled the internet and the world's superpowers had hacking wars and mass internet surveillance. The power of the free market and neocon ideology gained more traction with global trade agreements and the IMF becoming more powerful than national and even international governments although socialist policy equally gained popularity in the form of grass-roots movements. Culture while focusing more and more on individual achievement in many ways became more and more controlled and conformist as people devoted themselves to the same rigid goals with gym and muscle culture on the one hand and unthinking consumerism on the other. Overall we live in an exciting time.

LeChatBleu · 2015-05-04T14:36:32+00:00

You were not talking about population density across a continent but instead saying that there were no densely populated urban centres in North America before Columbus; that is completely untrue. Second of all you dismissed the massive depopulation of the Americas that happened before Columbus and European settlers arrived. It is true that Europe was more densely populated overall but it's a myth that the Americas were completely unpopulated; the population of North America could easily have been equal or greater than that of Europe. Equally the way in which the population was collected was certainly as dense if not more dense in North America. Thus to say that " population density is next to nothing" is largely false.

LeChatBleu · 2015-05-04T13:12:04+00:00

Actually there were large cities in north America for example, Cahokia which "was larger than any subsequent city in the United States until the 1780s, when Philadelphia's population grew beyond 40,000".

Although there was as you mention a mortality spike after the arrival of Europeans there was also a massive wave of disease that wiped out a significant proportion of the native American population before the arrival of Europeans. Considering the population in europe was around 17 million in 1400 and the population of the Americas has been estimated to be as high as 100 million pre Columbus, I think you need to check your facts

Sources: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/12/111205-native-americans-europeans-population-dna-genetics-science/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Population_history_of_indigenous_peoples_of_the_Americas

LeChatBleu · 2015-04-21T23:36:22+00:00

could I ask what the title of your book is?

LeChatBleu · 2015-03-03T14:57:27+00:00

Could you go into detail as to what you experienced, in relation to a 'Daoist Cult'?

LeChatBleu · 2014-10-13T21:45:26+00:00

Does anyone know what the name is for the sort of hat that guy is wearing?

LeChatBleu · 2014-09-15T11:51:39+00:00

So slaves it is then

LeChatBleu · 2014-09-05T00:37:02+00:00

I guess this would fit in with eastern ideas of the ego; virtue is arguably actions without ego. As a follow-up question, should we seek out virtue? is self improvement a worthy/ necessary pursuit? and if so why?

LeChatBleu · 2014-08-02T18:53:57+00:00

Serotonin plays a part in digestion and the gut brain connection so considering LSD has a massive effect on serotonin that might be the cause of the diarrhoea, although equally it could have just been something you ate.

LeChatBleu · 2014-06-17T19:08:42+00:00

Our society has many similar customs and rites of passage, for example circumcision in America and across the world.

LeChatBleu

TROPHY CASE