What an absolutely fascinating read. I love the journey you took me on there, and to be honest the section on Ferran in particular really resonated with some thinking I've been doing in my on little head. Although "Hope has been gaslighting me recently" was such a beaut of a line embedded in amongst the collection of wisdom and wit it nearly passed me by and I loved it all the more for it.... I hope that hope shows up full pelt for you in coming days and weeks. You have given me much to think about, thank you dear heart (I'm off to drive my Lambo at high speed along the tracks of Monaco, and by Lambo I mean an ancient old SMAX and by tracks I mean windy Worcestershire roads and for both those things I am glad of heart and free of mind).
Yes! Viva Ferran and your Worcestershire Monaco! Thank you so much for reading and for you lovely words, lovely Pam. I’m glad you enjoyed it and that it has given you some food for thought. Here’s to hope showing up for us all in the coming days and months and years 🥰.
This kind of stuff fascinates me — I think more for me the blind faith. Is it like a religion? One of those ones where you have to pay a tithe and the bloke in charge lives off it like a king? It makes me so sad, thinking of the young men who buy into (often literally) this vacuous bullshit. Guys (& women) like these make money off the clicks they get online. Their world is so false but they portray it with such veracity that people who perhaps have lost faith in other routes to ‘success’ grab onto like a life raft. This age of ‘influencers’ online is ripe for people like this to con thousands with their grift. As you know, I watch loads of documentaries about these types — Belle Gibson was the most recent — and feel so strongly that we need to play catch up and enact laws by which these con-men & -women can be prosecuted.
It definitely has a more than a hint of a religion about it, and the feudal system - both great analogies. It’s really sad and getting ever more common, it’s like the more desperate people feel the more scope there is for blokes like this to swoop in and cash in on that.
This is a story that I hadn't heard of, and it was so interesting. It's fascinating to think about the stories like this that go unheard of because they're so local.
I'm seeing echoes of the kind of tomfoolery that goes on right here in Substack - those grifters offering promises of quadrupling your subscribers and how to optimise notes and all that.
And success - yeah, what is it, right? I have no idea any more.
I too, think hope might be gaslighting me - that's an epic line and one that will sit with me for a bit.
As a fan of Alain de Botton, I haven't come across 'tramp anxiety' before, but that's a very appropriate way of referring to it for sure.
Always great to meet another de Botton fan! I think he coined that phrase around the same time as he wrote Status Anxiety… I'm so glad you enjoyed the post, thank you! It's true that these local stories hold wider interest but we don't get to hear about them. Sadly this type of grifting is widespread though, as you say. Ugh. But, hey - maybe you can look him up and use some of his ideas for your TikTok 🫢 Please don’t get the tattoo jacket though.
Sorry you are having a similar on/off relationship with hope lately. She is a fickle mistress, or whatever that phrase is!
I love the multi-layered and neutral way you observed this topic. I don't admire or defend him either, but we all are full of beliefs we don't recognise. Regardless of our culture, religion, or family lineage, our lives are based on complex belief structures and nets - belief systems - which tend to be highly dualistic. This is good, that is bad. Before throwing disdain, it's always healthy to have an inner double-check about our own beliefs. So, wise words, Jayne, and like always a pleasure to read ❤️
I admire your thoughtful and insightful foray into this topic and for your wisdom to draw messages and lessons from it. The looks of that guy would make me shut down my device and lose more faith in humanity. I've already lost enough since November that I can't face more.
I love the line about hope gaslighting you recently, as Pam mentioned. Well and creatively said. I also admire you for the big changes, challenges, and risks you've taken on and for facing them so directly. I'm sure they'll work out well as the other ones you've taken have led you to where you are today. And to your readers, admirers, amigas y vecinas.
You are right about people like this making you lose faith in humanity, probably I should have closed the laptop as soon as I saw his horrible blonde highlights. But it was good to reflect on some of his (completely unintended!) lessons!
Holy Smokes! I haven't heard of this man and his pseudo-cult. It's so easy to be swept by the notion that someone has all the answers, that it can be an easy fix for everything that bothers you and all will be well... But you are right: Success is different for everyone, as it should be. The norm is one thing, but there are many other options. If you yourself do not set the definition of success which is right for you, you will more likely get lost in things that don't make you happy and might cost too dear. More power to Ferran. X
Absolutely! Beautifully put, Tali. Although the story on the whole is disturbing on many levels, this little reminder, hidden away in there was welcome and heartening. Viva Ferran! Hehehe xx
What an absolutely fascinating read. I love the journey you took me on there, and to be honest the section on Ferran in particular really resonated with some thinking I've been doing in my on little head. Although "Hope has been gaslighting me recently" was such a beaut of a line embedded in amongst the collection of wisdom and wit it nearly passed me by and I loved it all the more for it.... I hope that hope shows up full pelt for you in coming days and weeks. You have given me much to think about, thank you dear heart (I'm off to drive my Lambo at high speed along the tracks of Monaco, and by Lambo I mean an ancient old SMAX and by tracks I mean windy Worcestershire roads and for both those things I am glad of heart and free of mind).
Yes! Viva Ferran and your Worcestershire Monaco! Thank you so much for reading and for you lovely words, lovely Pam. I’m glad you enjoyed it and that it has given you some food for thought. Here’s to hope showing up for us all in the coming days and months and years 🥰.
I also wanted to comment on that 'hope has been...' line. I stopped and pondered that one before moving on.
This kind of stuff fascinates me — I think more for me the blind faith. Is it like a religion? One of those ones where you have to pay a tithe and the bloke in charge lives off it like a king? It makes me so sad, thinking of the young men who buy into (often literally) this vacuous bullshit. Guys (& women) like these make money off the clicks they get online. Their world is so false but they portray it with such veracity that people who perhaps have lost faith in other routes to ‘success’ grab onto like a life raft. This age of ‘influencers’ online is ripe for people like this to con thousands with their grift. As you know, I watch loads of documentaries about these types — Belle Gibson was the most recent — and feel so strongly that we need to play catch up and enact laws by which these con-men & -women can be prosecuted.
It definitely has a more than a hint of a religion about it, and the feudal system - both great analogies. It’s really sad and getting ever more common, it’s like the more desperate people feel the more scope there is for blokes like this to swoop in and cash in on that.
So, so true. I really do feel for the young guys they prey on.
This is a story that I hadn't heard of, and it was so interesting. It's fascinating to think about the stories like this that go unheard of because they're so local.
I'm seeing echoes of the kind of tomfoolery that goes on right here in Substack - those grifters offering promises of quadrupling your subscribers and how to optimise notes and all that.
And success - yeah, what is it, right? I have no idea any more.
I too, think hope might be gaslighting me - that's an epic line and one that will sit with me for a bit.
As a fan of Alain de Botton, I haven't come across 'tramp anxiety' before, but that's a very appropriate way of referring to it for sure.
Another great read!
Always great to meet another de Botton fan! I think he coined that phrase around the same time as he wrote Status Anxiety… I'm so glad you enjoyed the post, thank you! It's true that these local stories hold wider interest but we don't get to hear about them. Sadly this type of grifting is widespread though, as you say. Ugh. But, hey - maybe you can look him up and use some of his ideas for your TikTok 🫢 Please don’t get the tattoo jacket though.
Sorry you are having a similar on/off relationship with hope lately. She is a fickle mistress, or whatever that phrase is!
I love the multi-layered and neutral way you observed this topic. I don't admire or defend him either, but we all are full of beliefs we don't recognise. Regardless of our culture, religion, or family lineage, our lives are based on complex belief structures and nets - belief systems - which tend to be highly dualistic. This is good, that is bad. Before throwing disdain, it's always healthy to have an inner double-check about our own beliefs. So, wise words, Jayne, and like always a pleasure to read ❤️
Absolutely! You put it so well. That was definitely the idea I wanted to get across. You did better than I could! 🥰😃😇
Awww, thank you! Must be the same wavelength 🤩🙌
I believe so 😊
Thank you for this amusing and reflective read. Just what I needed on my coffee break. Love your writing.
Thank you so much, Parul! That means a lot 😊
Our minds are powerful tools, it all depends on how and what we use them for... awesome reflection and journey you took us to.
Thank you my pink sky ❤️
I admire your thoughtful and insightful foray into this topic and for your wisdom to draw messages and lessons from it. The looks of that guy would make me shut down my device and lose more faith in humanity. I've already lost enough since November that I can't face more.
I love the line about hope gaslighting you recently, as Pam mentioned. Well and creatively said. I also admire you for the big changes, challenges, and risks you've taken on and for facing them so directly. I'm sure they'll work out well as the other ones you've taken have led you to where you are today. And to your readers, admirers, amigas y vecinas.
Thank you so much mi querida todo! ❤️
You are right about people like this making you lose faith in humanity, probably I should have closed the laptop as soon as I saw his horrible blonde highlights. But it was good to reflect on some of his (completely unintended!) lessons!
Love that - "horrible blonde highlights." That cracks me up. At least he has some lessons even if he didn't mean them.
🤣 How anyone can take that hair seriously, I don’t know!
Holy Smokes! I haven't heard of this man and his pseudo-cult. It's so easy to be swept by the notion that someone has all the answers, that it can be an easy fix for everything that bothers you and all will be well... But you are right: Success is different for everyone, as it should be. The norm is one thing, but there are many other options. If you yourself do not set the definition of success which is right for you, you will more likely get lost in things that don't make you happy and might cost too dear. More power to Ferran. X
Absolutely! Beautifully put, Tali. Although the story on the whole is disturbing on many levels, this little reminder, hidden away in there was welcome and heartening. Viva Ferran! Hehehe xx