Thread by @allenf32

Taleb, the writer, is a genius.

Taleb, the tweeter, is a bullying, cowardly, bullshitting charlatan.

that’s the short version. here is the long version:

medium.com/@allenfarringt…

what other than a diatribe, I wonder? a rant, a screed, an unwarranted tirade? I sound like a petty ex? I am trying to make a name for myself by going after a celebrity?

I couldn’t possibly fathom the breadth of his wisdom and understanding?

these complaints are petty, while his concerns are real? these complaints are theoretical, while his interests are applied?

please, cut the shit. I’ve heard it all before.

yes, I’m an asshole. yes, this will shamelessly increase my popularity (although not with all). yes this is all horribly self-indulgent. you got me.

and yes, I will readily admit that I am using the excuse of mimicking Taleb’s tone to be an even bigger asshole than usual.

but – now don’t get mad – if you are really riled up by this – I said, don’t get mad! - are you absolutely sure you aren’t in a cult?

STOP BEING SO MAD!

keep shaking your head and saying “no”, but blink three times if you need help …

thefamilysurvivaltrust.org

so, trivial objections aside, Taleb has been making life difficult for people I greatly admire, some of whom are close friends. he is a far, far bigger asshole than I can ever know. if I can make it stop, I will try.

this is mostly selfish (and fun!) but not entirely.

shout out to the interesting (if tangential) references within the essay:

@kanyewest @saifedean, @reason, @TheSohoForum, @starkness, @roasbeef, @Alex_Danco, @dergigi, @aantonop, @NaturePhysics, ...

... @slatestarcodex, @CatoUnbound, @sfiscience, @matt_levine, @yaneerbaryam, @normonics, @HarryDCrane, @prestonjbyrne, @EpsilonTheory, @parkeralewis, @Gladwell, @ATabarrok, @chamath, and @stevenpoole

shout out to those who helped me edit: @sacha_meyers, @agostino_harry, @sebnem, @MattPirkowski, @mattigags, @clay_space – alas, Hendrik, Gemma, and my parents don’t have twitter.

shout out to the victims whom I would like to coral into a Spartacus routine: @clairlemon, @PTetlock, @SamHarrisOrg, @GeorgeSelgin, @ole_b_peters, @AdamJKucharski, @saifedean, @R_Thaler @jordanbpeterson, @sapinker, @charlesmurray, @primalpoly, and I’m sure many, many more …

shout out for random twitter users caught up in this madness: @DiggerBigMac, @ThomasWalkerII, @CJBowden1, @IvanTcholakov, @happydireduck, @Austro_Punk, @HarvardWinters, @EmanuelDerman, @1969ajo, @mjd1735, and @jmhorp

last but not least, shout out for the big dog:

@nntaleb 😘

remember, Fragile Nassim, I have done a Pedersen Commit on this, so be careful what you do next. I’d suggest going for a walk, randomly sprinting for 3 seconds, and reading a book by literally anybody other than you.

oh, and @jack, please don’t ban me for harassment, or general meany-faceness, or whatever. @nntaleb has done much worse. that’s sort of the whole point.

you think this is a joke but I guarantee the Talebites are going to try to make it happen.

yet another excuse to invoke @eiaine’s Lockean Theory of Digital Property! woo hoo!

I've pissed on this carpet more than enough times for it to be mine under California State Law!

elaineou.com/2018/08/07/a-l…

stay safe, everybody.

and remember, twitter is not real life.