Dear reader,
It's been a while since I last wrote, and there are two reasons for my silence. Firstly, I haven’t had much to say, and I tend to reserve my verbosity for face-to-face interactions rather than here. Secondly, I've been preoccupied with real-life endeavors, and hopefully, in the upcoming weeks, I'll have plenty to share with you in that regard.
With summer fast approaching, so too comes the seasonal downturn in political discourse and the shift toward more social activities and less formal engagement.
Given this, I urge you all to be as normal as possible. Summer brings a plethora of social opportunities, and if there's one area where many on the Dissident Right could use some practice, it's social interaction. Some of us may have grown accustomed to being the outsider, to being persona non grata. While there's a certain allure to that, at the end of the day, it’s a net negative. You need to be relationship-maxing. One thing my experience in business has taught me is that all business relationships are friendships.
Networking often boils down to whether people like you or not. It's as simple as that. Therefore, it's crucial that you use the summer months to hone your social skills. If you really want to make a difference, if you want to change things, you’re going to need some level of popular support, and the easiest way to get popular support is to be cool.
For some of you, being popular just comes naturally. It’s something you're born with, as Bowden once said, “You can do a bit, but you're born to be what you are.”
For those less socially inclined, don’t worry. Social charm is something that can be learned and refined. So, allow me to offer a few tips to help you maximize your personal magnetism.
Firstly, appearance matters. While it's not everything, first impressions count. This means grooming, dressing well, and taking care of your physical health. Go find a barber; a haircut goes a long way. Dress well; if you are like me and have no fashion sense, ask your wife or girlfriend. If you're romantically challenged, find the least gay men’s fashion channel on YouTube and take notes. While you're at it, put down the chicken nuggets and pizza and hit the gym.
Secondly, conversation is key. Being able to engage in a variety of topics will serve you well in social settings. Being a conversational generalist can help you navigate diverse social circles more easily. A jack of all trades will have a lot easier time navigating social functions than somebody who spends all their time talking about the logistical challenges faced by the Wehrmacht in 1931. That’s just the way it is. It's great to have specialized knowledge, but you need to learn to keep your spaghetti in your pocket. You don’t need to word vomit about Franco when you’re hanging out by the pool with friends. You can save that for later.
Lastly, patronage is crucial. Building relationships based on mutual trust and reciprocity is essential. There has been a lot of talk about patronage in our circles, but patronage is more than just buying things from our guys. Patronage also means doing things for other people. Get involved in your local community, lend a helping hand, and make yourself known for your contributions.
So, here's your summer mission: become more personable and socially adept. If you want your ideas to gain traction, being someone others admire or enjoy being around is paramount. When people respect and trust you, they're more likely to be receptive to your ideas and perspectives.
Think of it as nobles oblige for the average Joe. You have a responsibility to share truths with people, but those truths are more palatable when delivered by someone they like or aspire to be like.
Remember, everything you dislike about yourself is changeable. Whether it's weight, style, or social skills, improvement is within reach. So, get out there, attend social events, and engage with others. I love elite theory as much as the next anon, but we can't ignore the power of likability. After all, it's much easier to build and maintain power when people genuinely like you.
-TJS
I know our circles are not the biggest fans of spectator sports but going to a baseball game and chatting with the people around you is a great way to improve socially with basically no negative repercussions if you screw up.
And refine your standard English accent while you are at it- gape and lengthen your a’s, enunciate your t’s- the typical American will now view you as “sophisticated”, “foreign”, “mysterious”, “European”. Call elevators “lifts”, cigarettes “fags” and start telling people you intend to visit (women, especially, will love this) that you will “knock them up.”