Episode covers a lot of interesting ground (so to speak), though much of the discussion hinges on "social scripts," which (in my unsolicited opinion) is fine and works well enough. I am curious how meaningful that term is without exposure to Saussure, semiotics, and structuralism (and maybe even Bourdieu and his conception of semiotic fields). Maybe you have covered these topics in earlier episodes, but the discussion might serve to support an understanding of this pivotal term. At one point I was in the awkward situtation you mention of trying to pass someone on the street or in a corridor, where I was heading in the opposite direction of another person and, in trying to avoid one another's progress, we inadvertently kept stepping in each other's way, until we stopped, smiled (awkwardly) and gestured with our hands which way we intended to go before doing so. The funny thing was, in this one encounter, the person I had this experience with smiled and said, "It was a pleasure dancing with you." This brought a smile to my face, widened theirs, and they managed to turn the awkward situation into a chance and passing pleasantry. While this could be an example of improvisation that is discussed, my best speculation as to why it dispelled awkwardness beyond the person's "charisma" is because they were able to contextualize our activity into terms that roughly associated to our encounter... the fact that it went from a "me/them" situation into an "our" is likely also significant. Thanks for your fine work here
I think the way we react to the awkward stories of others is pretty interesting! Like, I *literally* cringe in sympathy and squirm around (for instance hearing the story about texting a step father!) But I also laugh and enjoy the stories! 😂 And, I often rush to share awkward situations with my friends and laugh about it together, which is also somewhat puzzling
The German word, "Fremdschämen", means feeling vicarious embarrassment when the other person is unaware of their own ineptitude. The ultimate put-down because it implies pity, but of course, can be used as a term of derision. I have actually felt this viscerally, as though it was happening to me.
Episode covers a lot of interesting ground (so to speak), though much of the discussion hinges on "social scripts," which (in my unsolicited opinion) is fine and works well enough. I am curious how meaningful that term is without exposure to Saussure, semiotics, and structuralism (and maybe even Bourdieu and his conception of semiotic fields). Maybe you have covered these topics in earlier episodes, but the discussion might serve to support an understanding of this pivotal term.
At one point I was in the awkward situtation you mention of trying to pass someone on the street or in a corridor, where I was heading in the opposite direction of another person and, in trying to avoid one another's progress, we inadvertently kept stepping in each other's way, until we stopped, smiled (awkwardly) and gestured with our hands which way we intended to go before doing so. The funny thing was, in this one encounter, the person I had this experience with smiled and said, "It was a pleasure dancing with you." This brought a smile to my face, widened theirs, and they managed to turn the awkward situation into a chance and passing pleasantry. While this could be an example of improvisation that is discussed, my best speculation as to why it dispelled awkwardness beyond the person's "charisma" is because they were able to contextualize our activity into terms that roughly associated to our encounter... the fact that it went from a "me/them" situation into an "our" is likely also significant. Thanks for your fine work here
The Hyperreality Episode was 🔥 Excited for this one
I think the way we react to the awkward stories of others is pretty interesting! Like, I *literally* cringe in sympathy and squirm around (for instance hearing the story about texting a step father!) But I also laugh and enjoy the stories! 😂 And, I often rush to share awkward situations with my friends and laugh about it together, which is also somewhat puzzling
the real cool kids philosophers
The German word, "Fremdschämen", means feeling vicarious embarrassment when the other person is unaware of their own ineptitude. The ultimate put-down because it implies pity, but of course, can be used as a term of derision. I have actually felt this viscerally, as though it was happening to me.
How much more awkward has all that social media floating out there made things
I’m back home.