Sage Room (S4E2)

In this episode, we discuss incels, Russiagate, the phrase "life isn't fair," and bringing back hobbies. Endnotes: 12:14 – Jordan Peterson appeared in a disheveled tuxedo on episode #1769 of The Joe Rogan Experience 15:50 - https://muse.jhu.edu/article/777134/pdf 36:45 – There used to be a popular online account known as “Ken M” who would frequently troll people with nonsensical but harmless comments meant to bait someone into taking him seriously. His comments were often revolved around obvious misunderstandings of science, history, social norms, etc. In 2011, he even began a regular column for College Humor called “The Troll.” He still posts on the site formerly known as Twitter @horseysurprise https://web.archive.org/web/20210508220213/https://redditblog.com/2015/10/03/ken-m-interview-internet-troll/ 38:35 – This episode was recorded at a time when blue check marks still indicated authenticity on the website formerly known as Twitter 40:45 – A reference to a classic Tweet from Nicki Minaj in which she claimed that a friend of her Trinidadian cousin took a COVID-19 vaccine and subsequently became impotent due to swollen testicles, and then his fiancée called off their impending wedding. The tweet was (obviously) determined to be false. https://twitter.com/NICKIMINAJ/status/1437532566945341441?lang=en 47:26 – At the time the US had conflict with Iran, stemming back to US’s belief that Iran was building up its nuclear weapons capabilities, and subsequent military conflict in the Persian Gulf. Venezuela was also in the news over the U.S.’s opposition to Venezuela’s then newly-elected leader, Nicolás Maduro. Perhaps not coincidentally, there was also a push for the U.S. to find a way to acquire Venezuela’s rich supply of lithium, used in many batteries. In 2020, for example, Elon Musk tweeted seeming support for a coup in Bolivia, which similarly has ample supplies of lithium, used in Tesla’s electric vehicles. https://www.peoplesworld.org/article/after-bolivia-elon-musk-says-capitalists-can-overthrow-any-government-they-want/. Based on these news items, it is funny that the authors just happen to single out Iran and Venezuela as troll farms. 49:08 – A reference to the Cleveland Browns signing Deshaun Watson following allegations of sexual misconduct 49:10 – This was the rule at time of recording. The rule has subsequently been changed for playoff games as a direct result of that game’s outcome. 52:30 – A reference to the plot of the 2023 game Hogwarts Legacy. 54:15 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Z3MqJakNbI Content Warnings: References to racism, misogyny, and mental health issues Follow Us On Facebook! Artwork by jasartstudios Music by Nicholas Puzzuto Links to the artifacts: Contrapoints. "Incels." YouTube, 17 Aug. 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fD2briZ6fB0 Linvill, Darren and Patrick Warren. "That Uplifting Tweet You Just Shared? A Russian Troll Sent It." Rolling Stone, 25 Nov. 2019, https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/russia-troll-2020-election-interference-twitter-916482/