Augustine had a word for the vice of the internet age: curiositas. It doesn't mean "curiosity", but rather a disordered desire for knowing stuff regardless of its real value. It is the intellectual twin of bodily lust—the following of ephemeral passions without regard for consequences or what they're leading to. It's the act of knowing stuff as a form of possession; as if knowing everything that the latest Dwarkesh podcast guest had to say has any real value in itself.
Never stop saying "dozen" and "half dozen". Never stop using the word you read in an old novella. Never stop using your regional jargon. Don't succumb to an internationalized English stripped of its whimsy and romanticism in the name of streamlining global commerce.
I know this is unpopular, but it will always be unattractive for a grown man to play video games.
Some women might be understanding or pretend like they don’t care that you spend hours playing, but they do.
It is extremely unattractive to women and will never not be. 🤷🏼♀️
i understand why ppl do small talk when they are first meeting someone, but why do some ppl do compulsive small talk all the time? my MIL just by default talks nonstop.
“do you think all of that will fit in that suitcase? i always check my suitcase, don’t want to be lifting it on the plane. i take it to the gate and check it there. they let you check it for free!”
“uber is here! last time i took an uber it was a prius. hard to get ubers at my house, have to call ahead.”
“i talked to margaret. did i tell you that? she called me. she’s getting ready to go to the airport. 2pm fight for her. but she’s flying domestic. gets in in the evening.”
but like basically nonstop for hours. never anything that needs to be said, always just kinda autobiographical and impossible to respond to with anything other than “mmmm.”
it is very much the same as someone following me around with a television playing nonstop ads, but if i don’t kinda pay attention to the ads i am rude. not only can i now not have a normal conversation with my fiancé, i cannot even have interesting thoughts in my own mind.