Man your post
- TJ Barr
- Jun 24
- 10 min read

Does anyone else want to see him play sports?
He looks like an Orange Julius that mixed in Tang thinking it was creatine and became Bert and Ernie's estranged father by his erecting commander in tweet. Between the Trump and Musk family tree, we have engineered "very high IQ."
His biggest fear is that a big gust of wind shows his cabbage patch because every hair is about to float away and Curious George is trying to find out how he keeps it together.
Your summer reading list fellas:

But the man smoked. Too bad she doesn't want to be in his bed.
We're looking at a joke rolled in a 4 year, joint chief of laughs, where the highs are gonna be his belt at his belly button and he's strangling us down to his red laced front butt.
Ravaging the greatest country in the world.
But there are more elements than minerals that make up a man.
So going from this, I have listed the qualities The Boy Scouts of America strive for in young men, in a program built to make great leaders and the future of this society. Supported by excerpts from the book 48 laws of Power, tell me which characteristics Trump nails:
(I highly encourage personal ingenuity in every way, but AI has changed the world, and this is the AI generated response on the following 12 Boy Scout Laws from the book 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene)
Trustworthy
"The 48 Laws of Power," Law 2 states, "Never put too much trust in friends, learn how to use enemies." This law suggests that while friends may be valuable, they can also be prone to jealousy, envy, and betrayal, especially when you achieve success. Enemies, on the other hand, can be more reliable in certain situations because they have more to prove and are less likely to take your position for granted.
Elaboration:
Friends may become complacent or envious of your success, potentially leading to betrayal or undermining.
Enemies, when strategically managed, can be valuable assets. They can keep you sharp, motivated, and focused, and they can be co-opted to work for your benefit.
The law emphasizes the importance of understanding your enemies' motivations and using them to your advantage. This might involve turning them into allies or leveraging their desire for revenge or power.
While the law cautions against excessive trust in friends, it doesn't advocate for complete distrust or antagonism. It's about maintaining a healthy level of caution and strategic thinking in all relationships.
Helpful
In "The 48 Laws of Power," Law 13 advises that when seeking help, appeal to people's self-interest, not their mercy or gratitude. Essentially, offer them a compelling reason to help by showing how it benefits them. Don't rely on past favors or emotional appeals; focus on what they will gain from assisting you.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
Self-interest is the key motivator:
People are more likely to help if they see a personal advantage in doing so.
Focus on the "What's In It For Me?" (WIIFM):
When asking for help, clearly articulate how the other person will benefit.
Avoid emotional appeals:
Don't rely on guilt or past favors to persuade someone to help. Instead, demonstrate the tangible benefits they will receive.
Example:
If you need a favor from a colleague, instead of saying, "Remember that time I helped you out?", try, "I know you're great at [relevant skill], and if you could help me with this, it would really speed things up for both of us."
Long-term perspective:
While this law is about getting help in the moment, understanding self-interest is a valuable tool for building lasting relationships and influencing others.
Friendly
In "The 48 Laws of Power," Robert Greene's Law 2 advises readers to never put too much trust in friends and to learn how to use enemies. The core idea is that friends, while seemingly loyal, can become resentful or envious, potentially leading to betrayal. Conversely, enemies, when strategically utilized, can be more loyal than friends as they have something to prove and are often more predictable.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Friends can betray:
Greene argues that familiarity with friends can lead to complacency and a false sense of security. They may hide their true feelings or intentions, potentially causing harm. Friends can also become jealous of your success, leading to resentment and undermining.
Enemies can be valuable:
By turning enemies into allies, you can gain their loyalty and benefit from their skills and experience. Enemies, having something to prove, may be more driven and reliable than friends who become complacent.
Maintaining professional distance:
It's crucial to maintain a professional distance in working relationships, even with friends. Friendliness can obscure the need for competence and skill. Judge people based on their ability to further your interests, rather than personal feelings.
Strategic use of conflict:
Instead of avoiding conflict, recognize its potential benefits. Conflict can sharpen your focus and make you more alert and motivated. Using enemies strategically can enhance your reputation as a capable and decisive individual.
Courteous
Courtesy and Power in "The 48 Laws of Power"
Robert Greene's "The 48 Laws of Power" is a treatise on the nature of power and how to acquire and maintain it, drawing from historical examples. While the book is often perceived as advocating manipulation and cunning, several laws highlight the strategic importance of using courtesy and appearing amiable as tools to gain power.
Key Concepts and Laws Related to Courtesy:
The 48 Laws of Power suggests that a perfect courtier navigates social dynamics with finesse, flattering and yielding to superiors while subtly wielding their influence. This involves using courtesy and graceful manners to achieve your goals.
Law 12: Use Selective Honesty and Generosity to Disarm Your Victim. This law suggests that calculated acts of honesty and generosity can lower people's defenses and make them more susceptible to manipulation. While this is a somewhat cynical view of courtesy, it demonstrates how appearing sincere and kind can be a tool in gaining power.
Law 24: Play the Perfect Courtier. This law describes the qualities of a skilled courtier, many of which are related to courteous behavior and social grace. These include:
Avoiding ostentation.
Practicing nonchalance.
Being frugal with flattery.
Adapting your style and language to different people.
Never being the bearer of bad news.
Never criticizing those above you directly.
Being frugal in asking for favors.
Not being the court cynic.
Being a source of pleasure.
Mastering your emotions.
Law 38: Think As You Like But Behave Like Others. While not explicitly focused on courtesy, this law suggests blending in and hiding your true beliefs until you have established a power base. This can be achieved through courteous interactions that do not reveal your intentions or challenge existing norms.
The Strategic Value of Courtesy:
Building trust and disarming others: Selective honesty and generosity can make people lower their guard and become more receptive to your influence.
Facilitating communication: Courtesy fosters respect and understanding, leading to more effective communication and stronger relationships.
Creating a positive environment: A courteous approach fosters a sense of unity, cooperation, and positive interactions.
Enhancing your reputation: Good manners and professionalism can enhance your image and open doors to opportunities.
Making you seem unpredictable: In some cases, unexpected acts of courtesy can make you seem enigmatic and put others on the defensive.
Important Considerations:
The key to using courtesy effectively is to be strategic and mindful. It's not about being genuinely kind for the sake of it, but rather about understanding how seemingly courteous behavior can be used to advance your interests.
In summary, "The 48 Laws of Power" views courtesy not as a weakness, but as a potential tool to build relationships, disarm opponents, and ultimately, gain and maintain power. By practicing strategic courtesy, you can enhance your influence and navigate complex social dynamics more effectively.
Kind
The 48 Laws of Power, while not explicitly about kindness, does offer insights that can be applied to navigating social interactions and understanding power dynamics, which can be relevant to kindness. The book emphasizes strategic thinking, observing others' behavior, and understanding motivations, all of which can be valuable when interacting with others, even in kind ways. While the book focuses on acquiring and maintaining power, it doesn't necessarily advocate for cruelty or disregard for others. Instead, it highlights the importance of understanding human nature and using that understanding to your advantage, which can be applied to building positive relationships as well.
Here's how some of the laws can be relevant to kindness:
Law 4: Always Say Less Than Necessary:
This can be applied to kindness by listening more than speaking, allowing others to feel heard and understood.
Law 5: So Much Depends on Reputation:
A positive reputation, built on kindness and integrity, can be a powerful asset in any situation.
Law 13: Appeal to Self-Interest:
Understanding what motivates others can help you tailor your interactions to be more helpful and supportive, even if it's in a way that also benefits you.
Law 19: Know Who You're Dealing With:
Understanding the personality and motivations of the person you're interacting with can help you tailor your approach to be more effective and respectful.
Giving others choices and autonomy can empower them and foster a sense of respect and collaboration.
Cheerful
The "48 Laws of Power" by Robert Greene does not directly address cheerfulness. However, the book explores various strategies for gaining and maintaining power, some of which could be interpreted as contrasting with a cheerful demeanor. For example, Law 3, "Conceal Your Intentions," suggests a more strategic and potentially less emotionally open approach than a consistently cheerful one. Similarly, Law 21, "Play the Suck to Catch a Sucker," advises appearing less intelligent than one's target, which is not typically associated with cheerfulness.
Here's how some of the laws might be seen in relation to cheerfulness:
Law 3: Conceal Your Intentions:
A cheerful disposition might make it harder to conceal one's true intentions, as it often involves being open and expressive.
Law 11: Learn to Keep People Dependent on You:
While not directly opposed to cheerfulness, this law suggests manipulating others' dependence, which might involve less genuine emotional connection and could be at odds with a truly cheerful and empathetic approach.
Law 21: Play the Sucker to Catch the Sucker:
This law advises feigning ignorance or naiveté, which could be seen as the opposite of being cheerful and confident.
Law 46: Never Appear Too Perfect:
While not directly about cheerfulness, this law suggests strategically showing minor flaws to appear more human and less threatening, which could be interpreted as a less consistently cheerful approach.
Law 37: Create Compelling Spectacles:
This law focuses on creating visual and symbolic displays of power, which might be more about grandeur and impact than cheerfulness.
Ultimately, the "48 Laws of Power" is a pragmatic guide to navigating social dynamics, and while it doesn't explicitly forbid cheerfulness, it often advocates for strategies that prioritize strategic advantage over emotional display. It's important to remember that the book focuses on achieving power and influence, which can sometimes involve actions that might be seen as Machiavellian or manipulative.
Brave
In "The 48 Laws of Power," Law 28: Enter Action with Boldness, emphasizes the importance of decisiveness and courage when taking action. Hesitation can be detrimental, while bold action projects confidence and increases the chances of success. Even if mistakes are made with boldness, they are often forgiven, unlike the stumbles of the timid.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
Hesitation is Dangerous:
When faced with a decision, hesitation can lead to doubt and undermine the execution of the plan. It can also make you appear weak and indecisive, which can be exploited by others.
Boldness is Powerful:
Taking action with boldness, on the other hand, projects confidence and strength. It can create a sense of inevitability, making it more difficult for others to resist or oppose your actions.
Forgiveness and Momentum:
Even if a bold move doesn't immediately succeed, the perception of boldness can lead to forgiveness and even admiration. It can also create momentum, making it easier to recover from setbacks and continue pursuing your goals.
Contrast with Timidity:
The law highlights the contrast between boldness and timidity, suggesting that the consequences of hesitation are far more severe than the potential risks of acting with courage.
Clean
Based on the provided search results, the phrase "keep your hands clean" in the context of Robert Greene's "The 48 Laws of Power" refers to Law 26.
This law emphasizes the importance of maintaining a spotless appearance and a positive reputation by avoiding direct involvement in messy, unethical, or controversial actions.
Here's a breakdown of how to "keep your hands clean" according to this law:
Strategic Delegation: Avoid personally handling tasks that could damage your reputation or involve risks. Instead, utilize others to perform these actions for you.
Use Scapegoats: When mistakes or negative outcomes occur, find others to take the blame to protect your own image.
Utilize a "Cat's Paw": Employ someone to carry out unpleasant or unpopular tasks, ensuring you remain distanced from any negative consequences.
Manage Perception: Actively work to maintain an image of integrity and blamelessness, even when engaging in potentially questionable actions.
Conceal Your Involvement: Keep your connection to controversial activities discreet to maintain a clean appearance.
In essence, Law 26 emphasizes strategic indirection and reputation management as tools for maintaining power and influence, highlighting the importance of perception in a power dynamic. You must appear civil and efficient, with no indication that you are involved in anything questionable, by letting others handle the "dirty work".
Reverent
In Robert Greene's "48 Laws of Power," Law 16: Use Absence to Increase Respect and Honor addresses the concept of reverence. The law suggests that creating scarcity in your presence can increase the respect and honor you receive. By occasionally withdrawing from social circles, you become more talked about and admired, making your appearances more impactful.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
Create Scarcity:
Too much exposure can diminish your perceived value. By being less available, you create a sense of scarcity, making your presence more desirable.
Increase Intrigue:
When you are less visible, people speculate about your activities and whereabouts, increasing their interest in you.
Heighten Impact:
Your appearances become more significant when you are not constantly present. People will pay closer attention and be more impressed when you do make an appearance.
Avoid Overexposure:
Being constantly around can lead to familiarity and a lack of appreciation for your presence. Stepping back allows others to miss you and value your company more.
These wonderful teachings are highlighted in the book by countless stories from leaders, politicians, royalty, and influencers that will enhance your perspective of yourself with the counsel of the past.
These are power plays, but all of you can recognize the importance of each distinguishing characteristic in you that will make the world a better place.
I tell the dorky kids in my troop the best motivator is "GIRLS' DADS LOVE EAGLE SCOUTS."

But a lot of guys admire this guy
And for the guys that wanna run for the 'right house' I'll buy a pizza, expect your contributions that aren't monetary, and realize that every morning we're in a new place.

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