AlphaCon Cons Alphas
February 23, 2022 1:46 PM Subscribe
The inaugural "AlphaCon" was hosted at the Grand America hotel in Salt Lake City this past weekend. For a mere $3000 you could see a series of motivational speakers including disgraced founder of OUR Tim Ballard, someone named The Bull, and a smattering of fringe speakers giving business advice like hiring your own documentarian to grow your YouTube channel. Local columnist Meg Walter went and was kicked out after 1 day and 2 minutes of attendance, leaving her with a wonderful article on the experience.
That's the thing about alphas. Always having to promote themselves and reassure us all that they are indeed top of their imaginary social strata.
posted by Your Childhood Pet Rock at 2:02 PM on February 23, 2022 [18 favorites]
posted by Your Childhood Pet Rock at 2:02 PM on February 23, 2022 [18 favorites]
I love that her takeaway is that she is too alpha for them.
She's right.
posted by lothar at 2:05 PM on February 23, 2022 [63 favorites]
She's right.
posted by lothar at 2:05 PM on February 23, 2022 [63 favorites]
Funny how conventions of many stripes have, at their core, the theme of playing to peoples' insecurities. Business conventions play to the fear of missing out, the fear of inadequate products or services, fear of loss of status. The same fears targeted by personal development conventions, and to some extent educational and academic ones. And useful, actionable knowledge is far outweighed by emotional appeals. One common element is that the noisier the presentation, the less good signal there is.
Given the posturing (and quality of powerpoints) the signal to noise ratio here must be incredibly small.
posted by Hardcore Poser at 2:13 PM on February 23, 2022 [6 favorites]
Given the posturing (and quality of powerpoints) the signal to noise ratio here must be incredibly small.
posted by Hardcore Poser at 2:13 PM on February 23, 2022 [6 favorites]
Here's a pretty stupid profile of 'The Bull,' as if that's something anybody asked for.
Spoiler alert: he calls his gimmick 'the Tri-Force of wealth.'
posted by box at 2:18 PM on February 23, 2022 [3 favorites]
Spoiler alert: he calls his gimmick 'the Tri-Force of wealth.'
posted by box at 2:18 PM on February 23, 2022 [3 favorites]
Sometimes you absolutely should judge a book by its cover, especially if you're being asked to pony up three grand to attend a "personal development" convention.
In a more serious vein, I think at least some of these guys were linked to this mass shooter, who moved in the same online circles.
posted by fortitude25 at 2:21 PM on February 23, 2022 [6 favorites]
In a more serious vein, I think at least some of these guys were linked to this mass shooter, who moved in the same online circles.
posted by fortitude25 at 2:21 PM on February 23, 2022 [6 favorites]
Alphahaha
[This is great ... she's a True Alpha; all sand, no douche. ]
posted by chavenet at 2:26 PM on February 23, 2022 [1 favorite]
[This is great ... she's a True Alpha; all sand, no douche. ]
posted by chavenet at 2:26 PM on February 23, 2022 [1 favorite]
Is The Bull cosplaying as Iron Will, the motivational speaker from My Little Pony Friendship is Magic?
https://mlp.fandom.com/wiki/Iron_Will
posted by Jacen at 2:29 PM on February 23, 2022 [2 favorites]
https://mlp.fandom.com/wiki/Iron_Will
posted by Jacen at 2:29 PM on February 23, 2022 [2 favorites]
Funny how conventions of many stripes have, at their core, the theme of playing to peoples' insecurities.
I vividly remember how so many people spent so much time making fun of the idea of teaching self-esteem and a healthy self-image to kids, but god damn it turns out that's really important. The sort of multifaceted identity-fear you need to harbour to be concerned about whether or not you're sufficiently alpha and sufficiently male is just such a huge attack surface on your psyche.
posted by mhoye at 2:32 PM on February 23, 2022 [35 favorites]
I vividly remember how so many people spent so much time making fun of the idea of teaching self-esteem and a healthy self-image to kids, but god damn it turns out that's really important. The sort of multifaceted identity-fear you need to harbour to be concerned about whether or not you're sufficiently alpha and sufficiently male is just such a huge attack surface on your psyche.
posted by mhoye at 2:32 PM on February 23, 2022 [35 favorites]
There is no such thing as an alpha wolf anyway. Those came from a misunderstanding due to studying wolves in captivity. The alpha male and female are simply the oldest wolves... and parents of the younger wolves in the zoo.
posted by kschang at 2:37 PM on February 23, 2022 [31 favorites]
posted by kschang at 2:37 PM on February 23, 2022 [31 favorites]
Here's a pretty stupid profile of 'The Bull,' as if that's something anybody asked for.
Tha profile begins: “ The Alpha Influence, which has now helped hundreds of clients make six figures while growing its net worth to $25 million in record time.”
… which is breaking my brain right now because, claims aside, it is not a sentence.
posted by heyitsgogi at 2:40 PM on February 23, 2022 [11 favorites]
Tha profile begins: “ The Alpha Influence, which has now helped hundreds of clients make six figures while growing its net worth to $25 million in record time.”
… which is breaking my brain right now because, claims aside, it is not a sentence.
posted by heyitsgogi at 2:40 PM on February 23, 2022 [11 favorites]
Sounds like none of these dudes were alpha enough to spend the weekend grinding out weekly bounties on all three of their Guardians in preparation for the new Destiny 2 Witch Queen DLC. Lel imagine being so beta you don't even have the Gjallahorn catalyst.
posted by turbid dahlia at 3:09 PM on February 23, 2022 [7 favorites]
posted by turbid dahlia at 3:09 PM on February 23, 2022 [7 favorites]
The ending of this is brilliant.
posted by jenfullmoon at 3:09 PM on February 23, 2022 [8 favorites]
posted by jenfullmoon at 3:09 PM on February 23, 2022 [8 favorites]
Speaking of wolves, isn’t Alpha the upper class in Brave New World? I remember Epsilons being basically human machines. Is it some human trait that we have to rank everything? The Bull may be an Alpha in a bar fight, but at a poetry reading? $3000? Would it be fair to say that those who paid that amount for a couple days of hideous slides and fist pumping bullshit are probably just Alpha wannabes?
posted by njohnson23 at 3:20 PM on February 23, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by njohnson23 at 3:20 PM on February 23, 2022 [1 favorite]
Jacen - I am here for that Iron Will reference
posted by zenon at 3:20 PM on February 23, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by zenon at 3:20 PM on February 23, 2022 [2 favorites]
Wow. (My personal goal is to become a true upsilon.)
posted by eotvos at 3:33 PM on February 23, 2022
posted by eotvos at 3:33 PM on February 23, 2022
I've got to say, I'm disappointed in Meg Walter. The usher asked "is your name Meg?" on on that information alone, Meg allowed herself to be kicked out.
Meg is a common enough name. There might be another Meg threatening alphacon's alpha-ness! (I mean, literally everyone outside of that convention is probably threatening their alpha-ness.) Just in the interest of journalistic thoroughness, she should have checked.
posted by adamrice at 3:34 PM on February 23, 2022
Meg is a common enough name. There might be another Meg threatening alphacon's alpha-ness! (I mean, literally everyone outside of that convention is probably threatening their alpha-ness.) Just in the interest of journalistic thoroughness, she should have checked.
posted by adamrice at 3:34 PM on February 23, 2022
I also want to know more about how corn is evil. ('cause in some specific, contemporary, industrial farm cases, I probably agree. Not in general.)
posted by eotvos at 3:36 PM on February 23, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by eotvos at 3:36 PM on February 23, 2022 [1 favorite]
I'm guessing she missed the inevitable crypto scams, because I can't believe that, at this time, such a conference would happen without several of them.
posted by acb at 3:36 PM on February 23, 2022 [20 favorites]
posted by acb at 3:36 PM on February 23, 2022 [20 favorites]
I've got to say, I'm disappointed in Meg Walter. The usher asked "is your name Meg?" on on that information alone, Meg allowed herself to be kicked out.
Next conference they should send Gig.
posted by srboisvert at 3:45 PM on February 23, 2022 [6 favorites]
Next conference they should send Gig.
posted by srboisvert at 3:45 PM on February 23, 2022 [6 favorites]
I can't blame them, really. Alphas need their safe space, too.
posted by 2N2222 at 3:49 PM on February 23, 2022
posted by 2N2222 at 3:49 PM on February 23, 2022
Muyi @kingmxyi
if you think your day is bad just know someone out there is sitting down and watching a 20-30 minute video on how to be an alpha male.posted by sebastienbailard at 3:55 PM on February 23, 2022 [29 favorites]
2:08 PM · Oct 4, 2021·Twitter
I wonder how many other women were in attendance and what brought them there.
posted by Selena777 at 4:16 PM on February 23, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by Selena777 at 4:16 PM on February 23, 2022 [4 favorites]
There is no such thing as an alpha wolf anyway
Their logo also appears to be an uppercase lambda rather than an alpha. I don't get the impression these guys are exactly the creme de la creme.
posted by ultraviolet catastrophe at 4:21 PM on February 23, 2022 [25 favorites]
Their logo also appears to be an uppercase lambda rather than an alpha. I don't get the impression these guys are exactly the creme de la creme.
posted by ultraviolet catastrophe at 4:21 PM on February 23, 2022 [25 favorites]
She could have shouted “it’s short for Megalodon!” And then bit someone. She would have been on the stage in like 5 minutes, and then she could have whipped up the crowd to take on Jason Statham. That would be something on beyond Alpha.
posted by GenjiandProust at 4:35 PM on February 23, 2022 [35 favorites]
posted by GenjiandProust at 4:35 PM on February 23, 2022 [35 favorites]
I'd pay a dollar to see that. Not 3000 of them, though.
posted by Greg_Ace at 4:50 PM on February 23, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by Greg_Ace at 4:50 PM on February 23, 2022 [2 favorites]
Their logo also appears to be an uppercase lambda rather than an alpha. I don't get the impression these guys are exactly the creme de la creme.
I’m currently imagining a bunch of tough, macho leather daddies or Tom of Finland types showing up and then complaining about false advertising.
posted by eviemath at 5:01 PM on February 23, 2022 [21 favorites]
I’m currently imagining a bunch of tough, macho leather daddies or Tom of Finland types showing up and then complaining about false advertising.
posted by eviemath at 5:01 PM on February 23, 2022 [21 favorites]
How to become an 'Alpha' (Lambda?) in two easy steps:
1. Convince gullible people to pay you $3k to listen to your bullshit
2. Bank money and walk away laughing like a drain.
You are now Alpha.
posted by dg at 5:30 PM on February 23, 2022 [2 favorites]
1. Convince gullible people to pay you $3k to listen to your bullshit
2. Bank money and walk away laughing like a drain.
You are now Alpha.
posted by dg at 5:30 PM on February 23, 2022 [2 favorites]
I’m currently imagining a bunch of tough, macho leather daddies or Tom of Finland types showing up and then complaining about false advertising.
I confess I took one look at the conference ad and immediately thought of that old George Carlin line about not wishing to engage in congress with any of these men even with an appendage acquired by heist.
posted by mykescipark at 7:01 PM on February 23, 2022 [3 favorites]
I confess I took one look at the conference ad and immediately thought of that old George Carlin line about not wishing to engage in congress with any of these men even with an appendage acquired by heist.
posted by mykescipark at 7:01 PM on February 23, 2022 [3 favorites]
The lambda is because Sparta. These guys have seen the movie 300
posted by mr_roboto at 7:16 PM on February 23, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by mr_roboto at 7:16 PM on February 23, 2022 [5 favorites]
I've got to say, I'm disappointed in Meg Walter. The usher asked "is your name Meg?" on on that information alone, Meg allowed herself to be kicked out.
I would not feel physically safe if noticed as a critic in that environment. Way too many very insecure men who need to "prove" their manliness.
I realize you were speaking lightly, but that situation is tailor-made to bring out the worst in a group of men. I hope the staff got paid double.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 7:54 PM on February 23, 2022 [16 favorites]
I would not feel physically safe if noticed as a critic in that environment. Way too many very insecure men who need to "prove" their manliness.
I realize you were speaking lightly, but that situation is tailor-made to bring out the worst in a group of men. I hope the staff got paid double.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 7:54 PM on February 23, 2022 [16 favorites]
This is a little bit of a derail, but I read that Vice article on Tim Ballard, and holy crap, that's disturbing. Another article on Ballard from Slate, by someone mentioned in the Vice article.
posted by Halloween Jack at 8:29 PM on February 23, 2022 [6 favorites]
posted by Halloween Jack at 8:29 PM on February 23, 2022 [6 favorites]
Spoiler alert: he calls his gimmick 'the Tri-Force of wealth.'
Dang it do not tempt me with a good time, Mr. Bull
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 9:20 PM on February 23, 2022 [1 favorite]
Dang it do not tempt me with a good time, Mr. Bull
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 9:20 PM on February 23, 2022 [1 favorite]
That Ballard guy is appalling and the organization Operation Underground Railroad is horrific. In a nutshell.... From the link Halloween Jack posted.
an Operation Underground painting by Utah artist Jon McNaughton “an early Christmas present” depicted Ballard, his wife, and other white people carrying Black and brown children rescued from trafficking along a literal railroad. Harriet Tubman stands to the side in reverence along their path.posted by spamandkimchi at 9:40 PM on February 23, 2022 [1 favorite]
the lambda is also a gun thing, I believe from "molon labe", although why not a mu?
posted by thelonius at 3:47 AM on February 24, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by thelonius at 3:47 AM on February 24, 2022 [1 favorite]
I used to work for a guy who'd pay to go to these get rich from real estate seminars at motels out by the airport, and this gives me a similar vibe. I hope they got Continental breakfast at least.
posted by thelonius at 4:20 AM on February 24, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by thelonius at 4:20 AM on February 24, 2022 [3 favorites]
I wonder how many other women were in attendance and what brought them there.
"Women, uh... women sense my power and they seek the life essence. I, uh... I do not avoid women, Mandrake. But I... I do deny them my essence."
posted by ricochet biscuit at 6:27 AM on February 24, 2022 [8 favorites]
"Women, uh... women sense my power and they seek the life essence. I, uh... I do not avoid women, Mandrake. But I... I do deny them my essence."
posted by ricochet biscuit at 6:27 AM on February 24, 2022 [8 favorites]
Oof. Men are so damaged.
posted by Ben Trismegistus at 6:29 AM on February 24, 2022
posted by Ben Trismegistus at 6:29 AM on February 24, 2022
It's all white males.
I wonder if this is a coincidence or related to the declining status of white males after centuries of being seen as the best and most righteous.
The rise of social media has given voice to female and non-white narratives and rising living standards in developing nations (namely Asia and specifically China) has shown that their leadership is not inevitable.
posted by Borborygmus at 6:43 AM on February 24, 2022
I wonder if this is a coincidence or related to the declining status of white males after centuries of being seen as the best and most righteous.
The rise of social media has given voice to female and non-white narratives and rising living standards in developing nations (namely Asia and specifically China) has shown that their leadership is not inevitable.
posted by Borborygmus at 6:43 AM on February 24, 2022
But she doesn’t say why she was kicked out. At least she’s not specific about it.
Were they threatened by an unknown woman attending? That’s what I want to know.
posted by BostonTerrier at 6:58 AM on February 24, 2022
Were they threatened by an unknown woman attending? That’s what I want to know.
posted by BostonTerrier at 6:58 AM on February 24, 2022
I wonder if this is a coincidence or related to the declining status of white males after centuries of being seen as the best and most righteous
The program that is going to turn the 90 pound weakling into a dominant force has been around a very long time. I would say instead that this is an outcome of a patriarchal society — in our case it’s a hierarchy with a relatively few higher status males at the top and millions and millions of lower status males trying to move up. Some will pay $3000 for what they hope is a shortcut.
That said, while this particular convention was targeted at the insecurities of some white males, you can find similar events for almost every demographic out there.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 7:10 AM on February 24, 2022 [2 favorites]
The program that is going to turn the 90 pound weakling into a dominant force has been around a very long time. I would say instead that this is an outcome of a patriarchal society — in our case it’s a hierarchy with a relatively few higher status males at the top and millions and millions of lower status males trying to move up. Some will pay $3000 for what they hope is a shortcut.
That said, while this particular convention was targeted at the insecurities of some white males, you can find similar events for almost every demographic out there.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 7:10 AM on February 24, 2022 [2 favorites]
But she doesn’t say why she was kicked out. At least she’s not specific about it.
Were they threatened by an unknown woman attending? That’s what I want to know.
I assume someone found her tweets from the first day and looked her up. One thing alphas can't stand is criticism, apparently.
The rise of social media has given voice to female and non-white narratives and rising living standards in developing nations (namely Asia and specifically China) has shown that their leadership is not inevitable.
Right. Men have been fed a narrative that they are in fact the best and brightest, when in reality they have just been the default. That can be a hard pill to swallow.
posted by Ben Trismegistus at 7:14 AM on February 24, 2022 [9 favorites]
Were they threatened by an unknown woman attending? That’s what I want to know.
I assume someone found her tweets from the first day and looked her up. One thing alphas can't stand is criticism, apparently.
The rise of social media has given voice to female and non-white narratives and rising living standards in developing nations (namely Asia and specifically China) has shown that their leadership is not inevitable.
Right. Men have been fed a narrative that they are in fact the best and brightest, when in reality they have just been the default. That can be a hard pill to swallow.
posted by Ben Trismegistus at 7:14 AM on February 24, 2022 [9 favorites]
the lambda is also a gun thing, I believe from "molon labe", although why not a mu?
Mu is generally used as a prefix for micro. It's not extremely common knowledge, but it's out there enough that the first person to try to use it in a lambda mu thing with guns probably got crap about penis size from the internet. Uppercase mu is just a M, which probably reminds people more of Roman numerals than enslaving autocrats.
posted by Hactar at 7:28 AM on February 24, 2022 [1 favorite]
Mu is generally used as a prefix for micro. It's not extremely common knowledge, but it's out there enough that the first person to try to use it in a lambda mu thing with guns probably got crap about penis size from the internet. Uppercase mu is just a M, which probably reminds people more of Roman numerals than enslaving autocrats.
posted by Hactar at 7:28 AM on February 24, 2022 [1 favorite]
A while back I realized that I only actually know the Greek letters that don't look like Roman letters, 'cause my field only uses them when we've run out of the other ones. Which means I don't know half of them.
I think of lambda as an LGBTQ+ symbol, which might also not appeal to these guys. I think of mu as a unit. I'm tempted to call them mu-lambda, but that's unfair to people using lambda for good things. But, Iota is pretty phallic and seems entirely unclaimed. And, it's sometimes small.
(On reflection, I think I want to be a curly-pi male. But, great respect for the upsilons. Is Einstein-notation allowed when we're claiming zoo wolf status?)
posted by eotvos at 9:09 AM on February 24, 2022
I think of lambda as an LGBTQ+ symbol, which might also not appeal to these guys. I think of mu as a unit. I'm tempted to call them mu-lambda, but that's unfair to people using lambda for good things. But, Iota is pretty phallic and seems entirely unclaimed. And, it's sometimes small.
(On reflection, I think I want to be a curly-pi male. But, great respect for the upsilons. Is Einstein-notation allowed when we're claiming zoo wolf status?)
posted by eotvos at 9:09 AM on February 24, 2022
The dell male always chooses the easy path. The d'Alembertian male is complicated. The parity male changes his mind frequently.
posted by eotvos at 9:20 AM on February 24, 2022
posted by eotvos at 9:20 AM on February 24, 2022
I assumed they were just dumb and thought it was a cool-looking "A".
posted by Ben Trismegistus at 9:31 AM on February 24, 2022 [8 favorites]
posted by Ben Trismegistus at 9:31 AM on February 24, 2022 [8 favorites]
I just looked up "the bull" and of course it is a nesting doll of bullshit. His main business seems to be directing marks into clickfunnels, which sells drop shipping services. Drop shipping, as far as I can tell, is a Potemkin industry that exists primarily to scam people into paying money to enter into the lucrative business of drop shipping.
posted by tuffet at 11:17 AM on February 24, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by tuffet at 11:17 AM on February 24, 2022 [5 favorites]
Is there a real name for the self-referential business model? Llama/alpacas are marketed as nearly-free wool-based riches but I've heard that actually the only money is in selling llamas/alpacas. "Single-level marketing," maybe?
That said, I thought for sure these people are all over supplements, but I suppose they have to spread out, competition-wise.
posted by rhizome at 12:33 PM on February 24, 2022
That said, I thought for sure these people are all over supplements, but I suppose they have to spread out, competition-wise.
posted by rhizome at 12:33 PM on February 24, 2022
I was surprised, but probably shouldn't have been, to see that it was the dude equivalent of an MLM convention - small-biz cheerleading and small-biz-wannabe scamming, rather than the red pill seduction and/or degenerate culture overthrowing seminars that would seem to befit an "Alpha Con."
posted by MattD at 7:33 PM on February 24, 2022
posted by MattD at 7:33 PM on February 24, 2022
Their logo also appears to be an uppercase lambda rather than an alpha. I don't get the impression these guys are exactly the creme de la creme.
The lambda is because Sparta. These guys have seen the movie 300
The lamda is inside a circle of very olde-timey-Greek design. Search for "Spartan flag" or "Sparta banner" and you will see the design. These guys loved the movie 300 because Spartans are bad-ass alphas who kick chumps into pits and fought a million swarthy dudes. After 300 came out in 2007 there was a big uptick in Sparta fetishizing in macho bro culture. If you don't believe me, walk into the hotel bar later in the day of the convention and yell SPARTA! as loud as you can, a bunch of these guys will raise their glasses and yell SPARTA! back at you. What's more alpha than that?
But she doesn’t say why she was kicked out. At least she’s not specific about it.
She made fun of them on Twitter and Instagram while she was there on the first day. The first rule of He-Man Women Hater's Club is you do not tweet about He-Man Women Hater's Club.
posted by ActingTheGoat at 9:52 PM on February 24, 2022 [8 favorites]
The lambda is because Sparta. These guys have seen the movie 300
The lamda is inside a circle of very olde-timey-Greek design. Search for "Spartan flag" or "Sparta banner" and you will see the design. These guys loved the movie 300 because Spartans are bad-ass alphas who kick chumps into pits and fought a million swarthy dudes. After 300 came out in 2007 there was a big uptick in Sparta fetishizing in macho bro culture. If you don't believe me, walk into the hotel bar later in the day of the convention and yell SPARTA! as loud as you can, a bunch of these guys will raise their glasses and yell SPARTA! back at you. What's more alpha than that?
But she doesn’t say why she was kicked out. At least she’s not specific about it.
She made fun of them on Twitter and Instagram while she was there on the first day. The first rule of He-Man Women Hater's Club is you do not tweet about He-Man Women Hater's Club.
posted by ActingTheGoat at 9:52 PM on February 24, 2022 [8 favorites]
Actual Spartans did not use the lambda on their shields or anywhere else.
posted by Pyrogenesis at 11:48 PM on February 24, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by Pyrogenesis at 11:48 PM on February 24, 2022 [3 favorites]
...there was a big uptick in Sparta fetishizing in macho bro culture. If you don't believe me.....
Yeah if I try to visualize Marcus Aurelius, all I can get now is Jordan Peterson in a toga, I believe you
posted by thelonius at 4:01 AM on February 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
Yeah if I try to visualize Marcus Aurelius, all I can get now is Jordan Peterson in a toga, I believe you
posted by thelonius at 4:01 AM on February 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
THE POINT IS THAT HE'S BEEN TAKEN UP BY THE SAME BROS
posted by thelonius at 5:48 AM on February 25, 2022
posted by thelonius at 5:48 AM on February 25, 2022
That remark is unfair to many otherwise decent people who are addicted to drugs.
posted by acb at 5:49 AM on February 25, 2022
posted by acb at 5:49 AM on February 25, 2022
Right. Men have been fed a narrative that they are in fact the best and brightest, when in reality they have just been the default. That can be a hard pill to swallow.
I think mhoye's comment is likely closer to the truth.
A lot of men are fed a narrative as boys (often fed by other boys in addition to Media) that they are weak / ugly / gay (which is bad for Reasons) / unlovable etc, and come into their teenage years pretty fucked up and easily manipulated.
posted by lazaruslong at 3:53 AM on February 26, 2022
I think mhoye's comment is likely closer to the truth.
A lot of men are fed a narrative as boys (often fed by other boys in addition to Media) that they are weak / ugly / gay (which is bad for Reasons) / unlovable etc, and come into their teenage years pretty fucked up and easily manipulated.
posted by lazaruslong at 3:53 AM on February 26, 2022
Meg is a common enough name. There might be another Meg threatening alphacon's alpha-ness!
Whenever I see an argument like this, about how people should have acted at an event like this - why didn’t they just, it doesn’t make sense, etc - I gotta ask: everyone in that room has sunk three grand into an event purpose built to cater to only the most fearfully insecure… what makes you think there are rational actors with well-reasoned motives on the field, here? Nothing at these events needs to make sense because nothing there already makes any sense.
The only thing that would be, if not plausible then on brand for the whole scene, is that there was a sprawling conspiracy of dozens, nay hundreds, of women named Meg here as some sort of masculinity saboteurs, seeking to diminish all those present down from alpha to beta to gamma, and they won’t stop there. Soon everyone present will unwittingly be made an Iota Male through their mockery and deceit.
posted by mhoye at 5:07 AM on February 26, 2022 [1 favorite]
Whenever I see an argument like this, about how people should have acted at an event like this - why didn’t they just, it doesn’t make sense, etc - I gotta ask: everyone in that room has sunk three grand into an event purpose built to cater to only the most fearfully insecure… what makes you think there are rational actors with well-reasoned motives on the field, here? Nothing at these events needs to make sense because nothing there already makes any sense.
The only thing that would be, if not plausible then on brand for the whole scene, is that there was a sprawling conspiracy of dozens, nay hundreds, of women named Meg here as some sort of masculinity saboteurs, seeking to diminish all those present down from alpha to beta to gamma, and they won’t stop there. Soon everyone present will unwittingly be made an Iota Male through their mockery and deceit.
posted by mhoye at 5:07 AM on February 26, 2022 [1 favorite]
Actual Spartans did not use the lambda on their shields or anywhere else.Fascinating. I know someone who's currently writing (slightly) about the depiction of symbols that look like lambdas drawn by indigenous people in scenes of warfare in post-contact Mesoamerica, possibly influenced by the 1500s/1600s depiction of similar things in the European stuff they were sent. Without knowing anything, I wonder if that representation was actually as common at the time in Europe as it is now. (I suspect they've already done that research. But, they never mentioned to me that it wasn't actually a Spartan thing.) I'm really looking forward to talking about this with them. Thanks!
posted by eotvos at 9:27 AM on February 28, 2022
I talked to my friend. And they weren't just aware of it, but have given talks about how it isn't actually a spartan thing or even a visual thing in the art of 1500s Spain. Not to me. It was mentioned in at least three important texts at the time that were read in Mesoamerica. (But, they were only vaguely aware of the white supremacy association. The gay pride association didn't come up.) Thanks again!
posted by eotvos at 8:06 AM on March 1, 2022
posted by eotvos at 8:06 AM on March 1, 2022
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posted by Jacen at 2:02 PM on February 23, 2022 [5 favorites]