I was recently chastised with quite extraordinary ferocity by someone I thought was a friend, for an apparent failure to abide by certain workplace rules.
What a shame you had that experience. Excellent piece...you write so well. I honestly don't know how you navigate being a public figure holding the opposite of main stream views. What a strange world we live in where having the perfectly decent ,commonsense views you have ( which I share), leaves you wide open to criticism and ridicule. You have to be a very strong person, far from "normal" to cope with that! I recently commented on one of your episodes that I'm much happier as I no longer work ( retired)....pretty obvious stuff, but what I meant was I could no longer survive in the world of work, holding the views I do, with all the wokery out there!! I wouldn't last five minutes up against "normies" all day. Post Covid I always say what I think . In Normie World I think most assume I have early onset dementia!! Keep up the good work, Nick.
Ha thanks Julie. Saw your comment and that makes sense. Most jobs are very woke, often even the ones that claim to be non-woke. And I hate office politics.
I’m frequently greeted by people I’ve not met with something along the lines of “I’ve heard a lot about you”. “Did they use the word “eccentric”?” “Err, yes they did”
My line of work is rather dry (I work in clinical trials) and my eccentricity - mainly consisting of saying what I want or challenging people who are spouting something they don’t understand - is just about tolerated. I’m pretty sure it’s done more to harm my career than promote it. I’m often the only person in the room who isn’t a professor but have a Mensa-measured IQ of 156. It seems inconceivable to my colleagues that I don’t want to be a professor, rather than I’m not clever enough to be one. I will consider myself lucky if I’m not hounded out of my job due to my views and am trying to walk the tightrope long enough for it not to be a catastrophe when it happens.
Lastly, I’ll say that I have a great affinity for eccentrics, have a more eclectic mix of friends than most would seem possible, and I love immersing myself in sub-cultures. So here’s to you and all the eccentrics out there!
Thanks Hugh. I’ve definitely caused myself problems being too honest, and also for refusing to throw the British people under the bus.
156 is huge. The only other person I’ve heard of with that score is Simon Evans. It makes sense that you don’t see the point in some of the careerist stuff, much like Chris Langan.
The workplace is certainly a tightrope, wherever you go.
Unexpected personal attacks are pretty nasty and it sounds like you were blindsided. Grim stuff.
I completely understand why you want to get to the point where you have full autonomy/control of your working life. Persistence and consistency will get you there.
You’re in the uber competitive world of full on reactionary satire which for ultimate success needs a huge dose of eccentricity, you can’t possibly be alone, observably you’re not , so it would seem obvious that professional head butting would occur. Can I assume this elbowing relates to late night TV. A new channel is bound to invite jostling for position, I would ignore it and move on. Don’t concede your hard worked for spot, it’s always a bonus when you’re on, not just me who thinks this I’m sure. Fragility often makes us all the more compelling. Keep your eyes on the prize!!!
Nick -- Do you mind if I call you a *transparent* writer? It's meant as a compliment. There's an admirable candour in your style. You 'ring true', so to speak, and there's a real clarity to your observations on the mess we're all in. So, thanks. (Btw, great chat with Paul D and Simon Evans recently -- I work in mental health so I'm biased, but you guys are doing valuable work by putting your personal selves out there.) Cheers :)
Eccentricity is the preserve of the posh or would-be posh - Edward Dutton, Edith Sitwell, the 5th Duke of Portland. Among popular entertainers its often arseholery and boorishness excused as a creative temperament. Think of any number of rock bands and hotel room antics, American female soloists with their ridiculous riders, actors who demand not to be addressed when in character, etc. It's possible to be posh and an arse wipe, as Bullingdon Club members have proved over the decades. Then there's Viv Stanshall who was brilliant and mad, working class and posh. When people with the same job are paid x10 - x50 more than another because of confected mass appeal, manners go out the window. Keep being you, Nick.
edit: In retrospect it seems like I was having a pop at you, quite the opposite. What I was trying to say is surfing the bs and backbiting is a particular skill not taught in state comprehensive schools. If in doubt, smile winningly at the most egregious and personal attacks, and kick off like a psycho at random stuff. In other words do the exact opposite of what a normal, well-balanced sensibility would do. It's the only behaviour dark triad types (best Jordan Peterson impression) understand.
We're in a psychological war and have been gaining some ground since Trump was elected. These people are more comfortable ignoring you when you're not a threat to their establishment-conforming beliefs - easily dismissed as, using the Democrats handbook, just 'weird'. Remember, these people NEED conformity to be comfortable with the world around them. What happens, however, is when you stop being just 'weird' and become a genuine threat to their conformist ideology is that you become dangerous to them; they will no longer just wave their hand at your irrelevance, but actively protest your relevance. We're in a war Nick and you my friend are one of the quieter generals. As another poster commented "f*ck em".
What a shame you had that experience. Excellent piece...you write so well. I honestly don't know how you navigate being a public figure holding the opposite of main stream views. What a strange world we live in where having the perfectly decent ,commonsense views you have ( which I share), leaves you wide open to criticism and ridicule. You have to be a very strong person, far from "normal" to cope with that! I recently commented on one of your episodes that I'm much happier as I no longer work ( retired)....pretty obvious stuff, but what I meant was I could no longer survive in the world of work, holding the views I do, with all the wokery out there!! I wouldn't last five minutes up against "normies" all day. Post Covid I always say what I think . In Normie World I think most assume I have early onset dementia!! Keep up the good work, Nick.
Ha thanks Julie. Saw your comment and that makes sense. Most jobs are very woke, often even the ones that claim to be non-woke. And I hate office politics.
Take no notice Nick. Probably just jealous. Don't change. We love you as you are ( Don't mean in a gay way. Well not me at any rate)
Lol thanks Richard 🙏
A typically interesting and thoughtful piece.
I’m frequently greeted by people I’ve not met with something along the lines of “I’ve heard a lot about you”. “Did they use the word “eccentric”?” “Err, yes they did”
My line of work is rather dry (I work in clinical trials) and my eccentricity - mainly consisting of saying what I want or challenging people who are spouting something they don’t understand - is just about tolerated. I’m pretty sure it’s done more to harm my career than promote it. I’m often the only person in the room who isn’t a professor but have a Mensa-measured IQ of 156. It seems inconceivable to my colleagues that I don’t want to be a professor, rather than I’m not clever enough to be one. I will consider myself lucky if I’m not hounded out of my job due to my views and am trying to walk the tightrope long enough for it not to be a catastrophe when it happens.
Lastly, I’ll say that I have a great affinity for eccentrics, have a more eclectic mix of friends than most would seem possible, and I love immersing myself in sub-cultures. So here’s to you and all the eccentrics out there!
Thanks Hugh. I’ve definitely caused myself problems being too honest, and also for refusing to throw the British people under the bus.
156 is huge. The only other person I’ve heard of with that score is Simon Evans. It makes sense that you don’t see the point in some of the careerist stuff, much like Chris Langan.
The workplace is certainly a tightrope, wherever you go.
Unexpected personal attacks are pretty nasty and it sounds like you were blindsided. Grim stuff.
I completely understand why you want to get to the point where you have full autonomy/control of your working life. Persistence and consistency will get you there.
Thanks Kirsty!
Nick, Fuck 'em.
🔥
You’re in the uber competitive world of full on reactionary satire which for ultimate success needs a huge dose of eccentricity, you can’t possibly be alone, observably you’re not , so it would seem obvious that professional head butting would occur. Can I assume this elbowing relates to late night TV. A new channel is bound to invite jostling for position, I would ignore it and move on. Don’t concede your hard worked for spot, it’s always a bonus when you’re on, not just me who thinks this I’m sure. Fragility often makes us all the more compelling. Keep your eyes on the prize!!!
Thanks Pauline.
Nick -- Do you mind if I call you a *transparent* writer? It's meant as a compliment. There's an admirable candour in your style. You 'ring true', so to speak, and there's a real clarity to your observations on the mess we're all in. So, thanks. (Btw, great chat with Paul D and Simon Evans recently -- I work in mental health so I'm biased, but you guys are doing valuable work by putting your personal selves out there.) Cheers :)
Thanks so much!
Eccentricity is the preserve of the posh or would-be posh - Edward Dutton, Edith Sitwell, the 5th Duke of Portland. Among popular entertainers its often arseholery and boorishness excused as a creative temperament. Think of any number of rock bands and hotel room antics, American female soloists with their ridiculous riders, actors who demand not to be addressed when in character, etc. It's possible to be posh and an arse wipe, as Bullingdon Club members have proved over the decades. Then there's Viv Stanshall who was brilliant and mad, working class and posh. When people with the same job are paid x10 - x50 more than another because of confected mass appeal, manners go out the window. Keep being you, Nick.
edit: In retrospect it seems like I was having a pop at you, quite the opposite. What I was trying to say is surfing the bs and backbiting is a particular skill not taught in state comprehensive schools. If in doubt, smile winningly at the most egregious and personal attacks, and kick off like a psycho at random stuff. In other words do the exact opposite of what a normal, well-balanced sensibility would do. It's the only behaviour dark triad types (best Jordan Peterson impression) understand.
We're in a psychological war and have been gaining some ground since Trump was elected. These people are more comfortable ignoring you when you're not a threat to their establishment-conforming beliefs - easily dismissed as, using the Democrats handbook, just 'weird'. Remember, these people NEED conformity to be comfortable with the world around them. What happens, however, is when you stop being just 'weird' and become a genuine threat to their conformist ideology is that you become dangerous to them; they will no longer just wave their hand at your irrelevance, but actively protest your relevance. We're in a war Nick and you my friend are one of the quieter generals. As another poster commented "f*ck em".