On: Oscar Wilde’s talk inspired his rise and led to hi...

[dnlbyl]

> “the golden rule of conversation” was “to know nothing accurately.”

I've witnessed so many fun conversations killed by someone looking up the facts on their phone.

[dr_dshiv → dnlbyl]

"Never let facts get in the way of a good story"

[m463 → dr_dshiv]

Being factually correct is probably not the best way to get someone to go home with you.

[bryanrasmussen → dnlbyl]

If one can't converse intelligently when the truth of the subject is known then one has nothing worth saying on that subject.

[m463 → dnlbyl]

"listen, will you get on your phone and find that actor's name?"

"Oh of course that's him, brilliant! And he was in that other movie, what was it? yes, that was the one!"

[TeMPOraL → dnlbyl]

And I've witnessed so many conversations ending up with people believing bullshit, because nobody knew anything accurately and nobody really cared.

Some conversations are held for fun, others for exchange of information. Nothing good comes from the two goals getting mixed up.

[mrspeaker → TeMPOraL]

My advice is don't hang out with people who believe in bullshit, or look things up on their phones. Hard to find, but worth the effort!

[lilyball → mrspeaker]

So people are supposed to accurately detect bullshit without ever confirming it with a reputable source?

[inflatableDodo → lilyball]

They are not supposed to expect accurate information from social conversations.

[TeMPOraL → inflatableDodo]

Maybe they should avoid conversations that don't lead to accurate information instead? I can forgive lack of precision (especially when qualified), but knowingly giving another person inaccurate information is an act of sabotage.

[inflatableDodo → TeMPOraL]

>knowingly giving another person inaccurate information is an act of sabotage.

But I don't know any accurate information.

[narag → mrspeaker]

Or, you know, avoid spreading bullshit, so you won't feel guilt when they believe you or shame when they find out :)

[dr_dshiv → narag]

Or deliberately bullshit as much as possible so that people develop critical thinking skills :)

[inflatableDodo → dr_dshiv]

While occaisionally talking about things that are not bullshit but sound exceedingly like it, just to keep people on their toes. The ongoing research into quantum time crystals is a particularly good topic for this.

[narag → dr_dshiv]

LOL, some friends of mine do this. Aaaall the time.

[TeMPOraL → mrspeaker]

My advice would be to simply don't hang out too much with people who believe in bullshit. People who look things up on their phones are mostly fine; they have a healthy habit.

(IME, people who complain about others having their phones out tend to be insensitive and disrespectful. The scenario I usually see is such a person happily getting their fill of social media, putting their device away, and then imposing themselves on someone else and expecting them to drop everything they were doing and engage in a conversation.)