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Our revels now are ended. These our actors,
As I foretold you, were all spirits, and
Are melted into air, into thin air;
And, like the baseless fabric of this vision,
The cloud-capped towers, the gorgeous palaces,
The solemn temples, the great globe itself,
Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve;
And, like this insubstantial pageant faded,
Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff
As dreams are made on, and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep.

Tempest (IV.i.148–158)

Attr. William Shakespeare

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Many are enamoured by the notion of being important, having kudos and clout. They seek recognition and the power that might come with it. They want to have power by association to/with those deemed to have high kudos. To claim that one studied at Cambridge University or Harvard is to have a form of academic clout. Were one able to name drop Steven Hawkins as a mentor one gains brownie points while also ticking the disabled box. If one knows Taylor Swift or Barron Trump one has power by name dropping. Were one in the inner circles all sorts or doors would open for you. If you are famous you can get an audience with the Dalai Lama.

The other night we watched the Louis Theroux documentary on the  “manosphere”. He managed to get interviews with a right bunch of bellends. It was interesting to see how so many people put up with being humiliated in order to claim kudos by association with these intellectual giants. Fame whores and kudos junkies are easily found. There is often a price.

It demonstrated a truth that those “on the make” will associate with very unsavoury characters like Jimmy Savile, Bonny Blue and Epstein. The urge to self-promote can make for weird bed fellows which many claim later to regret. People will exercise poor judgment if they think they can get kudos or clout, thereby. The lust for attention, for recognition and “kudos” is addictive for some.

Discernment is rare.

I remember an interview with Edwina Currie in which she was absolutely mortified about her association with Savile and her prior trust in him. If she had not seen political worth in so associating it would never have happened. Many make a pact with Mephisto in order to self advance. Temptation is hard to resist.

We do not all know Savile but many do exercise poor judgment in hanging on to the coat tails of others many of whom are unsavoury. Corruption is the thin end of the wedge and many are way more susceptible than they might think. At best they will turn a blind eye rather than calling people out. Moral fibre is not a common breakfast cereal. Most have a price either explicit or implicit.

People will do a lot in order to associate with an impermanent illusion…

People try to measure the esteem in which others hold you…

People are given jobs on the basis of the kudos of institutions or corporations they worked for. Judgment is biased by this peculiar socio-political construct of kudos.

People can make TV shows and movies about this pursuit of kudos, clout and fame…

It takes all sorts…

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Fame
I’m gonna make it to heaven
Light up the sky like a flame
Fame
I’m gonna live forever
Baby, remember my name

Dean Pitchford, Michael Gore

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