Episode 229: SSG Sing a Song of Derision!

September 14, 2023

Central Thesis

Ad-supported media and unchecked status hierarchies enable "big shits" to thrive, causing societal ills, and that humor, specifically derisive mockery, can serve as a powerful corrective, a modern "song of derision" that deflates inflated egos and exposes absurdity.

Key Arguments

• Status is a deeply ingrained human drive that, when unchecked, leads to inequality and suffering.

Jim argues that human brains are wired to respond to status and that excessive inequality triggers pain and resentment.

• Modern society exacerbates status imbalances through media and unchecked systems.

Jim contends that big shots have grown into big shits because of social, political, and economic systems that outrageously reward the few, creating immense inequality.

• Ad-supported media reinforces this problem by promoting big shot lifestyles and suppressing corrective voices.

The system of communication delivers constant reminders of big shot status, amplifying resentment but not providing avenues for correction.

• Humor, especially derisive mockery, is a critical, often overlooked, tool for social correction.

Jim posits that comedians, like court jesters, can expose the absurdity of the status quo and deflate egos through well-placed jokes and observations.

• "The funny" is overlooked because it's subjective and harder to quantify scientifically.

Unlike dominance, virtue, and success, which are recognized universally, humor can be missed. The lack of universal understanding makes it harder to include in scientific studies.

Notable Passages

• "Never in human history have we had shits as big as these. And these big shits are a problem for our little brains, as Storr describes."
• "The more you honk, the slower I go."
• "When you look for just the right joke that will make some asshole look just ridiculous, you are not alone."
• "Let us never forget another kind of people, the funny. These are the court jesters, making observations that often have impact on the future behaviors, even of kings and queens."

Rhetorical Approach

Jim uses a blend of psychological research, personal anecdote (the "Over the Edge Fez"), historical examples (Superman vs. the KKK), and media critique (Letterman on feminine hygiene ads, Carvey on a piss-colored drink) to build his case. He employs a conversational, often sarcastic tone, punctuated with humorous asides. He presents himself as an "ad attacker" dismantling the facade of manufactured desire and unexamined social norms.

Connections

• Will Storr's The Status Game
• Episode 227: The Games of Our Lives
• Episode 3, "The Drapes Must Not Clash"
• Episode 211: Back To Basics
• David Letterman
• Dana Carvey
• Superman radio serial
• Tom Hartman's analysis of the Barbie movie