Philosophy Now Forum

"it takes 1 to know 1", neither of you dolts are even slightly wise, therefore you will chase rainbows for the rest of your lifes.

HexHammer wrote:"it takes 1 to know 1", neither of you dolts are even slightly wise, therefore you will chase rainbows for the rest of your lifes.

At least we know the difference between "lives" and "lifes".

Hobbes' Choice wrote:

HexHammer wrote: therefore you will chase rainbows for the rest of your lifes.

At least we know the difference between "lives" and "lifes".

Wow! That is really, really, - something?

Once I was a waiter, and I dropped some sauce on an old man. The person with him got upset, but when he saw how distraught it made me, he calmly and confidently encouraged me. "Don't worry about it," he soothed, covered in ketchup, "Worse things have happened." That's how you spot a wiseman in a crowd. They do shit like that.

Jaded Sage wrote:Once I was a waiter, and I dropped some sauce on an old man. The person with him got upset, but when he saw how distraught it made me, he calmly and confidently encouraged me. "Don't worry about it," he soothed, covered in ketchup, "Worse things have happened." That's how you spot a wiseman in a crowd. They do shit like that.

When you were waiting, did you find yourself falling into the role of a waiter. You know that stiff precise movement, as you throw your tea-towel over your extended left arm, swishing round to each person in the table. Nodding sagely and saying; " Ah, a great choice, sir."
Was there a becoming, an artistry of waiterhood?

There is certainly an artistry of barmanship which one can fall into quite automatically. When I was a student I worked for a while in a very fancy cocktail bar, complete with the frilly collar, forearm napkin and black bow tie. I quickly learned that if you adopt the role of the drink-making "artiste" which the punters have assigned you, along with the cosy banter they expect with such a service, they become steadily more generous with their tips as the night wears on. I made a packet of dough in a very short time.

They'll be the one walking out of it.

Hobbes' Choice wrote:

Jaded Sage wrote:Once I was a waiter, and I dropped some sauce on an old man. The person with him got upset, but when he saw how distraught it made me, he calmly and confidently encouraged me. "Don't worry about it," he soothed, covered in ketchup, "Worse things have happened." That's how you spot a wiseman in a crowd. They do shit like that.

When you were waiting, did you find yourself falling into the role of a waiter. You know that stiff precise movement, as you throw your tea-towel over your extended left arm, swishing round to each person in the table. Nodding sagely and saying; " Ah, a great choice, sir."
Was there a becoming, an artistry of waiterhood?

You put me in an awkward position by making it rude if I don't boast. No, there was no "sagely becoming" as a waiter. I had already become that by the time I was there. It'll be that way now with everything I do.

I say I was the best waiter that ever lived. However, I also kinda sucked at my job. See, I had the right spirit but the wrong training. That's why the story happened exactly as it did.

Jaded Sage wrote:

Hobbes' Choice wrote:

Jaded Sage wrote:Once I was a waiter, and I dropped some sauce on an old man. The person with him got upset, but when he saw how distraught it made me, he calmly and confidently encouraged me. "Don't worry about it," he soothed, covered in ketchup, "Worse things have happened." That's how you spot a wiseman in a crowd. They do shit like that.

When you were waiting, did you find yourself falling into the role of a waiter. You know that stiff precise movement, as you throw your tea-towel over your extended left arm, swishing round to each person in the table. Nodding sagely and saying; " Ah, a great choice, sir."
Was there a becoming, an artistry of waiterhood?

You put me in an awkward position by making it rude if I don't boast.

I truly find this an odd thing to say. I really have no idea what you are talking about.

No, there was no "sagely becoming" as a waiter. I had already become that by the time I was there. It'll be that way now with everything I do.

Again, I did not use or imply this phrase. "Nodding sagely" is part of the act.

I say I was the best waiter that ever lived. However, I also kinda sucked at my job. See, I had the right spirit but the wrong training. That's why the story happened exactly as it did.

It was just something Sartre noticed in Nausea, he continued to muse on the meaning of life after observing a waiter 'playing his part', as on a stage and reflecting that we do this in many different walks of life - so much so that the notion of the authentic self is a crafted thing.
How many of us play the role of child, partner, mother, father, worker? Where are "we" in all this performance?

Perhaps I misunderstood.

Hobbes' Choice wrote: the authentic self is a crafted thing.

THAT is an interesting notion. Is that Sartre?

Jaded Sage wrote:Perhaps I misunderstood.

Hobbes' Choice wrote: the authentic self is a crafted thing.

THAT is an interesting notion. Is that Sartre?

Not just Sartre.

Who talks about it the most, or who is the best at talking about it?

Jaded Sage wrote:Who talks about it the most, or who is the best at talking about it?

Its a tacit implication of all existentialism; not a specific doctrine.

It is interesting that the act of what you might call re-inventing yourself, becoming the author of your life, and allowing yourself to become absorbed into the role that you cut out for yourself in life can so easily be seen as being a poseur, especially if the act you are playing is not terribly convincing.

The art of spotting a poseur is part of the game, as the poseur-spotter takes a high ground in that he can claim to observe, what others do not, that the poseur has managed to fool some, but not him. In other words some people are copyists, and thus not "authentic"

Artist have to craft themselves to break into the "art world". There are many I feel are posing and pretend, even to themselves that they are sincere.

Hobbes' Choice wrote: Not just Sartre.

Indeed. Not just Sartre. If we're honest with ourselves we all project a different chosen persona to suit the environment we happen to find ourselves in and we also adapt our forms of language accordingly. I don't see this as being in any way dishonest because I reckon that most of our notions of "Self" are delusional anyway. The Self is an ever-moving feast.

Jaded Sage wrote:Who talks about it the most, or who is the best at talking about it?

You are the best at talking about it. The answers to all questions relating to the self lie within.