Lex Fridman on loneliness and sensitivity of David Foster Wallace

[@mattarmstrong6738]

"philosophy changes you and it changes you in a way you may not know that it has changed you until you've been changed"

[@OmegaSlice108]

Bruh I know one too many philosophy majors who can't keep it together. Hope they're doing better off now.

[@toastedt140]

@OmegaSlice666 saddest part of being in the community is your brilliant and well put together friends taking their own lives. If this genius couldnt figure it out, what hope do i have? Humanity's light dims with each of us that pass.

[@Gcssdvnkloiutesc]

@@OmegaSlice108most people have a hard time keeping it together

[@criticaldatabeats]

Ignorance is bliss?

[@SheltonHill]

clap trap

[@nickwarren2768]

Reading Infinite Jest was, for me, a sensory dive into madness, passion, intellectualism, linguistics, phenomenology... it changed the way I think and made me feel less alone. Rip DFW

[@trevorthompson9887]

Same. GOAT. Regardless of his persona. That book was a slam dunk. It’s like if Žižek made fiction lol

[@RagingRugbyst]

I'm reading it right now, aided by some prescription adhd meds and some noopet, and honestly, it feels like walking and exploring a giant Pollock.

[@enejkelecija7377]

I’ve only listened to it I wonder if reading it would be a totally different experience

[@avidodd26]

what about Wardine?

[@enock83]

such a brilliant book man

[@soulfuzz368]

DFW makes the best case that first world problems are in fact important.

[@JimTheCurator]

@@blehhhh what the hell is water

[@connorwilliamson3]

I totally agree. We have warmth, comfort, food and clean water - all the basic needs - but we’re missing out on a spiritual wellbeing. In some profound way we’re lost.

[@soulfuzz368]

@@connorwilliamson3 very well said.

[@GaiatheSage]

@@JimTheCurator I don't know, all I know is it isn't wet.

[@sloaiza81]

Your mistaking first world problems with the very specific American spiritual problem.

[@Yzjoshuwave]

David Foster Wallace is a fascinating character and, perhaps, parable of some sort. I’m hoping you keep developing your repertoire of questions about him and make this a theme you discuss with people for awhile.

[@Gallowglass7]

Any recommendations, Sir?

[@x100bullets]

a parable hmmmmm

[@GenX1979]

I would argue that being a sensitive straight male gets harder every day. Throw in some altruism and idealism and it only gets worse. The only healthy option is to monetize it somehow. Become an artist, writer…. That’s what DFW did to great success and look where it got him. At the end of a rope. Tons of notoriety and praise he couldn’t stand. Being sensitive sucks on its own but combine that with the growing percentage of legitimately psychotic people (many of them sensitive folks themselves) with genuinely hurtful intentions born from a very real experience of being spiritually wronged at a time of innocent vulnerability and you find yourself in a world of shit. Took a long time to realize it’s not my job to try to help, argue with or get entangled with psychically damaged people. Needless to say I’m extremely lonely.

[@DDeCicco]

There's a Zen Buddhist saying that applies here: "To be alone is a fact, to be lonely is a story"

[@SupersonicFlyTV]

That's a deep and great take on sensitivity Zach, "beautifully" sad. I feel the same. I've noticed my "inability" to find joy in many things in life stems from way too much analyzing. I wish You find joy and "YOUR HERD"

[@__effe_]

Beautifully put! Thank you for your insightful words, Zach! I hope you are doing well or at least moving in the right direction.

[@GenX1979]

@@SupersonicFlyTV Thanks! 🙏

[@GenX1979]

@@__effe_ Thanks for your kind words, I do feel like I'm headed in the right direction.

[@Jmr2332]

I watched that DFW interview last year shortly after learning about him and his work. He was an awesome dude.

[@feebypeels2883]

Awesome dude...sure. You're in for a treat as you learn more about him.

[@Jmr2332]

@@feebypeels2883 lol do you care to explain?

[@alabrrmrbmmr]

You’ve got to check out his speech “This is Water “

[@appolloian]

@@Jmr2332 look at David Foster Wallace me too.

[@tyler8902]

​@@Jmr2332 He abused women

[@chrisbirch4150]

Until the camera switched away from Lex, I thought he was explaining David Foster Wallace to the hedgehog

[@GriffinDuyThespian]

What the guest said about removing yourself from the harshness or cruelty of observance in the world for less responsibility - is almost the conundrum of existence. Being involved with beauty and difficulty with many, many people around you can add to joy or agony in your own existence but when removing yourself and being reclusive without doubt - we wonder how much more there could be within the confines of being alive...

[@chrisfloyd77]

I love that interview because alot of the time you can't hear the question and he answers in a way that you know what she asked and then he makes her banal question fascinating because of his answers. And he endlessly questions if his answers are good or relevant. He makes her feel comfortable in an almost painstaking way.

[@whatsitgoingtobetheneh]

My view of DFW was that he simply didn't buy into the commercial BS of living in the consumer age. And being "in it, but not of it" in combination with the absolute genius of his ability to perceive and to communicate made him uniquely qualified to critique the problems of loneliness and boredom that are inherent in our predictably selfish and distracted modern lifestyles. The guest here is on to something in comparing DFW to the underground man, but the comparison has an essential flaw. The underground man's contempt is directed at other people for being fake. It seemed to me that DFW's contempt was directed not at people but at the world of manufactured pleasures that people find themselves in. He was uniquely in tune with what it is to be human in a way that can only come from being deeply sympathetic to other people.

[@nightingalenef1764]

this.

[@dpclerks09]

I find it interesting how David spent EVERY second within his mind, the "terrible master" as it were. I haven't read all of his stuff, but, I wonder what his experiences/thoughts are on meditation. I am not claiming it as a panacea by any means, but I am convinced that there is SOMETHING to the idea of GOING INTO the boredom and loneliness, and sitting with it, almost like a threshold of sorts. Once you pass through that threshold, you're IN your Soul, or you access Spirit/God, or something like that.

[@kieranjohnston7550]

This dialogue reminds me of a silent character that appears throughout the ten films of Kieslowski’s masterpiece, The Decalogue. He is the “I witness”, but you can’t help but sense the compassion in him. Perhaps he is both the filmmaker and the film viewer in one.

[@smartbart80]

I heard this sentence in a movie: “A healthy organism doesn’t ponder itself. It lives.” It is true and false at the same time :)

[@kieranjohnston7550]

Great thought. Sounds like the foundation of zen practice summarized in a few pithy words.

[@michaelrichardjnr9600]

Don’t normally comment but if you’re here you’ll probably enjoy his talk “this is water”. Dfw’s that is.

[@NASkeywest]

Imagine if DFW was still alive! He could be on this podcast! I love DFW but I am also mad at him for taking his own life! So many people need David!

[@michalischristidis8765]

Nobody needs David foster Wallace

[@NASkeywest]

@@michalischristidis8765 you could definitely use some help from DFW

[@backabeyond]

@@NASkeywest Looks to me like DFW needed the help

[@jhales2021]

I very much enjoy the freedom that comes with isolation. Being unattached is a useful practice for some of us.

[@sloaiza81]

Are you off grid?

[@backabeyond]

social animals who make these claims are lying to themselves in some way.

[@chickennuggetscoon6900]

David changed my life.

[@ziggomatic5772]

Vice principal dono?

[@michalischristidis8765]

For the worse

[@JMT303]

@@michalischristidis8765 why do you hate him so much?

[@michalischristidis8765]

@@JMT303 he’s lame

[@alanross2876]

I don't hate him but maybe I fear him. It is hard to want to understand someones mindset if it leads to suicide. I guess you hate what you fear.@@JMT303

[@Paddy21]

Lex check out the philosopher "J. Krishnamurti," I think you would find him of interest.

[@dpclerks09]

❤

[@sigsfast]

I wish more people read him - a favorite of mine.

[@udoffritzen4872]

Spot on, Lex. She is German, very young and inexperienced compared to DFW then. Not that age or extreme exp. would have ever helped anyone when facing this being. I could not finish Infinite Jest myself, watching his videos and interviews was and is out of this world to me.

[@Misserbi]

I was unaware of the character Ivan in TBK. I think I could relate with the disconnect and witnessing aspect and take it further. Isn't it possible to come upon an environment after an event and make the same distinctions without involving other human beings. Like being a detective and taking apart a mystery. It just seems like being among others but being apart is prophetic and judgemental. Unlike Hunter S Thompson's way where he puts himself in the story. To a certain extent I think DFW does the same and that is how he found himself unhappy and impulsive. It is a brilliant observation to connect DFW to TBK.

[@mitchellthomas2686]

I started Infinite Jest today. I can already tell I'll enjoy it.

[@nurzumspass]

Anyone know what interview lex was talking about in the beginning?

[@r0ck3rt0swa110w]

If you look up, David foster Wallace interview, and find one with him wearing a green shirt with the background looking blue from a window with shades, that’s the one

[@nurzumspass]

@@r0ck3rt0swa110w Just got done listening. Great interview, thanks for pointing me towards it

[@nathanbranson9149]

The guy on the right is making an argument that DFW may be taking himself out of the world by not loving others. I agree with the concept that people in our world today can choose to do this. I agree with him that it is dangerous to choose not to love and choose not to try to change what problems you see. That's a great concept to think about, but I disagree that it applies to DFW. I've watched that interview multiple times. So I think he's wrong to try to apply that to DFW. He doesn't give any good examples of how it applies to DFW other than the cruise ship example. I'm sorry, good concept, but I don't think the guy has actually enough DFW to make this argument work. It seems like he's just talking.

[@davidiacone397]

agree! i think this guy even misunderstood the cruise ship piece (not surprising considering he didn't even get the title right)

[@kate9341]

На самом деле Дэвид далеко не всегда был добр к окружающим его реальным людям или к придуманным им героям. В "Infinite Jest" великое множество людей, испытывающих горе, описываются им в гротескной юмористической манере, словно он им совсем не сочувствует. Насчёт его отношения к женщинам я вообще молчу. То, как он вёл себя в том интервью, является тем, какой публичный образ он пытался создать. Я намного больше доверяю его творчеству, чем тому, как он вёл себя на камеру, взвешивая каждое слово.

[@GreenCloudArtOrg420]

“ The End Of The Tour” great DFW based film 🎥 📚 ✍️

[@liallhristendorff5218]

I cried

[@dpclerks09]

Another Green World ❤🌎

[@pitfighter871]

he tells you everything in Infinite Jest

[@Gallowglass7]

Thank you. I will read this

[@bulkyzero]

Like…quite literally 😂

[@sloaiza81]

No. He does that and Everything and More. Give it a read.

[@jtrealfunny]

I want to credit the host for his range of topics and guests. DFW deserves to be considered and referenced for his willingness to think deeply about our current situation, our current dystopia. The guest mentions "Taking yourself out of the world because you don't want to have to take responsibility for being involved with others". He adds that he thinks that is a bad move and it is BUT the problem is that we are all culpable; you can't be involved in it without becoming complicit. Drive your Prius, buy your carbon offsets, recycle your trash, love the animals, Free Tibet and let's keep Tahoe Blue. You are still an integral part of all the injustice. Everything has consequences. I imagine DFW struggling with the impossibility of it. Take it from the man.

[@Brian-nt1hh]

Thx Lex and guest

[@wurmholewizrdree3475]

great comment there by Kelly. deep stuff .

[@StephenGrew]

Great that, really resonated with me....of course the trick is to try and do all of it! Be super sensitive and Be in the world or world's.

[@HeyyyitsBell]

exactly.

[@derekhunter7632]

So funny to me to hear someone from the Rogan sphere speak so highly of someone so critical of the anti-intellectual fans of the Rogan sphere.

[@sloaiza81]

When was DFW critical of fans of Joe Rogan? When was he critical of anti-intellectuals? Why do You assume Rogans fans are inti-intellectuals?

[@gaebitch3200]

@@sloaiza81dude a lot of them are really just ignorance is bliss kinda people. I love Rogan but his fan base is full of people that have some real issues with themselves.

[@ObscureOcelot17]

Interesting to see the generalization of millions of people based on what is likely a very small sample size you guys have encountered.

[@AngryBaby-xn7ue]

in psychology what you're doing is called a hasty generalization. To assume you KNOW 20+ million people that listen to a podcast, and how they think, shows an an extraordinary level of arrogance and issues with oneself@@gaebitch3200

[@jbliv831]

A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again.

[@x100bullets]

ugh could have been a great talk and then he's like let's discuss through the lens of the brothers karazamov ughhhhh

[@shanehaggblom220]

thanks lex

[@adelinaquijano1083]

Accidentally ii respect myself and my community.

[@avidplanes]

Ivan was a night crawler

[@waedjradi]

05:05

[@horseman3222]

well, how can you not be lonely with such questionable fashion choices?

[@trackalex]

remember ... "This is Water"

[@jackiwannapaint]

Writers kill themselves because they cant find an audience. This guy did it backwards.

[@adelinaquijano1083]

No I love my community

[@burns83]

None of these people are like "medication is not the way to go". Terrible. The concept of "chemicals in his brain", is so stupdi. As if there was something wrong at birth

[@caroldance169]

❤

[@gsp7129]

beautiful

[@BadGalMarie]

Just don’t look in the mirror 🪞

[@wedomusic9451]

For a guy tht wrote a book called 'Infinite Jest' I think DFW took himself way too seriously

[@snap4585]

Sounds like me

[@JustinFisher777]

mid

[@tampatekguy2523]

First!! Everyone's so sensitive these days

[@marting5130]

DFW would have been happier if he had been born into a poor family and was a welder or brickmason

[@liallhristendorff5218]

Not at all. Don’t know why you’d say that

[@marting5130]

@@liallhristendorff5218 i say it because accomplisshing goals brings joy. building, creating tangible things. some people are too distracted by their own thoughts. they need productive achievement

[@liallhristendorff5218]

@@marting5130 if he was a welder that would be an incredible waste of his talents. I doubt he’d be happy either. People with DFWs innate brooding intellectualism wouldn’t be happy in a blue collar job.

[@marting5130]

@@liallhristendorff5218 he had too much time to think. he should be doing, not thinking. thats how to avoid depression

[@liallhristendorff5218]

@@marting5130 But DFW overthought anything he did. The reason he said he wasn’t a truly great tennis player was because he overthought everything. So maybe doing things wouldn’t have even distracted him. But yeah generally doing is better for depression. I’m just not sure it applies to exceptionally cerebral ppl like DFW.

[@deeveeoh]

If anyone would know about "not being a good interviewer," it'd absolutely be Lex Friedman, based on his own personal experience as such 🫠

[@ineed50subs]

lex ty for this vid💪✌️🙏