Whitlock out at Fox Sports

How does Whitlock lack self-awareness? He says exactly who he is, then says he's proud of it. That might be shameless, but it's not a lack of self-awareness.

 

Whitlock can't perceive that he's often seen wearing clown shoes. That's what self-awareness fixes.

 

I hear Travis about six times a year on the rare occasions I'm up before Dan Patrick's Show starts and turn on the radio ahead of time. Today was one of those occurrences; I was lucky enough to listen to his final segment.

Great stuff. Talked about how he's the only one in sports media that gives facts re: coronavirus and doesn't deliver "fear porn" like everyone else, then preceded to say COVID deaths (not cases, deaths) in the U.S. have been going down since April -- which is factually inaccurate. Capped it off by saying optimists win (I know hundreds of failed coaches who disprove that statement), and optimism will always lead to winning because "things always gradually get better as time goes on," a statement which should make every historian fall into a hysterical laughing fit.

 

You should try podcasts. Many very good ones out there.

 

He's right about national deaths. The seven-day average has been going down steadily since April.
He's in denial about the future. The national positive % (rolling seven-day average) is its highest in two weeks. Yesterday's single-day national positive rate of 5.79%, its highest since May 27.
He's most acutely in denial over how this thing is growing in SEC states.

 

What does this mean?

 

It's nauseating shit, isn't it?

Literally, the worst human character trait there is, and it's becoming more and more American as time goes on, is the idea that everything can be the way you want it to be just because you want it to be that way. That fundamental idea is what leads people like Travis to be so horribly wrong all the time and yet brag they're so horribly right. Travis wants 2+2 to equal 7, so he just says it does. Clay Travis literally believes that the timeline of human existence and progress started when he was born and will end when he dies.

I have no more patience for people like that. None. These are people who have no interest in personal growth or meaningful conversation. It's a shame they get to be so successful in their chosen fields, but then again, I have differing definitions of success than I used to, and being a blathering attention knob who makes a lot of money off it isn't necessarily successful.

 

OK, yeah, you're probably right. I get what you're saying.

Shameless it is, but also certainly lacking awareness to everything around him.

When you have to "defend" your position as a heterosexual Christian man who loves America as if you're being persecuted simply because left-wing Twitter might hurt your feelings, that's pretty damn unaware of what's happening around you.

In the end, guys like Whitlock and Travis just suffer from what a lot of people do: self-importance. The world is all about them, and they're foolish enough to think that their views and opinions are actually new or remarkable.

Granted, here I am talking about them, so what's that say about me?

 

Y’all should both try music. So much better for you than talk radio or podcasts, and there’s a lot of good music out there.

 

I believe the term most people are talking about when they bring up “self-awareness” is “self-reflection,” which people like Whitlock and Travis are incapable of. To borrow from the “Admonitions Scroll” from ancient China:

If the words you utter are good, people will respond from a thousand leagues away.
If you offend against this principle, then even your bedfellow will view you with suspicion.
…

Therefore I say: Be cautious and circumspect in all you do, and from this good fortune will arise.
Calmly and respectfully think about your actions, and honour and fame will await you.​

People who run around talking loudly about how they are this or that and how awesome they are … are usually none of the above.

 

You figure it out.

I'll not play these bullshit semantic games with you like you try to get everyone else to play.