How I Faked My Way to the Top of Paris Fashion Week [video] • Hacker News Board

Re: How I Faked My Way to the Top of Paris Fashion Week [video]

#11

Post by frereubu » Thu, Oct 11, 2018, 4:36 PM UTC

ryandrake wrote: post #7

Ive always truly believed that gullibility was one of humanity’s biggest, most exploitable weaknesses, if not the biggest. You can fake your way into almost anything with confidence and basic acting. I’m reminded of the folk wisdom about simply holding a clipboard and acting like you belong can get you into private areas of 90% of companies. All the fraud people fall for, all the scams, obvious phishing, you’d think…

I'd argue that what you call "trust-by-default" is an aspect of social intelligence that also enables a lot of very productive relationships. It has its downsides, of course, but I think you'd find that by removing that part of our psychology you'd end up with a miserable excuse for a society.

Re: How I Faked My Way to the Top of Paris Fashion Week [video]

#12

Post by bfuller » Thu, Oct 11, 2018, 4:40 PM UTC

vkjv wrote: post #10

ryandrake wrote: post #7

Ive always truly believed that gullibility was one of humanity’s biggest, most exploitable weaknesses, if not the biggest. You can fake your way into almost anything with confidence and basic acting. I’m reminded of the folk wisdom about simply holding a clipboard and acting like you belong can get you into private areas of 90% of companies. All the fraud people fall for, all the scams, obvious phishing, you’d think…

It's interesting that this went _beyond_ a prank. Almost the definition of "fake it until you make it."

I mean is it even faking it at that point? Or just pointing out how silly the whole thing is?

Re: How I Faked My Way to the Top of Paris Fashion Week [video]

#13

Post by nopinsight » Thu, Oct 11, 2018, 4:47 PM UTC

acconrad wrote: post #6

My wife and I went to Paris for our anniversary and we didn't realize until we were there that it was Fashion Week. I am genuinely not surprised at all that this guy made it to the top. Streetwear has become so ironic because the lines have blurred between haute culture/high fashion and bargain basement designs that you genuinely can't tell what is $800 (Balenciaga Triple S https://www.balenciaga.com/us/triple-s-shoe…

It is great there is little objective difference between $800 and $55 pairs of shoes. It means the middle class can afford high-quality items and do not need to care if someone is willing to pay for the brand.

Re: How I Faked My Way to the Top of Paris Fashion Week [video]

#14

Post by aesto » Thu, Oct 11, 2018, 4:50 PM UTC

ryandrake wrote: post #7

Ive always truly believed that gullibility was one of humanity’s biggest, most exploitable weaknesses, if not the biggest. You can fake your way into almost anything with confidence and basic acting. I’m reminded of the folk wisdom about simply holding a clipboard and acting like you belong can get you into private areas of 90% of companies. All the fraud people fall for, all the scams, obvious phishing, you’d think…

Trust-by-default is pretty much the definition of social capital, which is thought to be incredibly important for a functioning society. Basically, it's more efficient to trust people and be exploited once in a while, than to never trust anyone, which would lead to high transaction costs for any social interaction. Short intro by Robert Putnam, the big cheese in the field: http://robertdputnam.com/bowling-alone/social-capital-primer...

Re: How I Faked My Way to the Top of Paris Fashion Week [video]

#15

Post by tabs_masterrace » Thu, Oct 11, 2018, 4:51 PM UTC

Well he made a website advertising his brand name, then went to what is essentially a fashion conference, showed up professionally, dressed as designer with cards, and they let him in?

Isn't that what you expect/hope for?

Re: How I Faked My Way to the Top of Paris Fashion Week [video]

#16

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Oct 11, 2018, 4:52 PM UTC

frereubu wrote: post #11

ryandrake wrote: post #7

Ive always truly believed that gullibility was one of humanity’s biggest, most exploitable weaknesses, if not the biggest. You can fake your way into almost anything with confidence and basic acting. I’m reminded of the folk wisdom about simply holding a clipboard and acting like you belong can get you into private areas of 90% of companies. All the fraud people fall for, all the scams, obvious phishing, you’d think…

I'd argue that what you call "trust-by-default" is an aspect of social intelligence that also enables a lot of very productive relationships. It has its downsides, of course, but I think you'd find that by removing that part of our psychology you'd end up with a miserable excuse for a society.

[deleted]

Re: How I Faked My Way to the Top of Paris Fashion Week [video]

#17

Post by dmreedy » Thu, Oct 11, 2018, 4:52 PM UTC

frereubu wrote: post #11

ryandrake wrote: post #7

Ive always truly believed that gullibility was one of humanity’s biggest, most exploitable weaknesses, if not the biggest. You can fake your way into almost anything with confidence and basic acting. I’m reminded of the folk wisdom about simply holding a clipboard and acting like you belong can get you into private areas of 90% of companies. All the fraud people fall for, all the scams, obvious phishing, you’d think…

I'd argue that what you call "trust-by-default" is an aspect of social intelligence that also enables a lot of very productive relationships. It has its downsides, of course, but I think you'd find that by removing that part of our psychology you'd end up with a miserable excuse for a society.

Agreed; Grice's Maxims/The Cooperative Principle suggest that communication would not even be possible without these kinds of generous assumptions. And I don't think it's getting too quacky to extend that premise to society in general. Since it's so expensive to verify true intentions, when it's even possible at all (which, generally at least, in language, it's not), we have to sort of get by hoping that most of the time most people are being mostly honest in order to successfully communicate.

Of course, we all flout these maxims daily, to varying degrees, from white lies to outright perjury. But viewed as a Tragedy of the Commons, there are people who will advance themselves by deliberately and consistently flouting them, to their own calculated advantage.

Re: How I Faked My Way to the Top of Paris Fashion Week [video]

#18

Post by Joe-Z » Thu, Oct 11, 2018, 4:53 PM UTC

aesto wrote: post #14

ryandrake wrote: post #7

Ive always truly believed that gullibility was one of humanity’s biggest, most exploitable weaknesses, if not the biggest. You can fake your way into almost anything with confidence and basic acting. I’m reminded of the folk wisdom about simply holding a clipboard and acting like you belong can get you into private areas of 90% of companies. All the fraud people fall for, all the scams, obvious phishing, you’d think…

Trust-by-default is pretty much the definition of social capital, which is thought to be incredibly important for a functioning society. Basically, it's more efficient to trust people and be exploited once in a while, than to never trust anyone, which would lead to high transaction costs for any social interaction. Short intro by Robert Putnam, the big cheese in the field: http://robertdputnam.com/bowling-alone/socia…

Exactly. The other day I was carrying 2 relatively heavy boxes (furniture; I just moved into a new place) and suddenly a guy comes up to me and asks if he can help me. At first I was kind of flabbergasted, but after a second I was like 'he's just trying to be nice' and gave him one of the boxes. We carried it until we arrived at my apartment complex and had a nice chat along the way. When we arrived we exchanged numbers, since I learned he was new in the city and looking to meet new people and improve his language skills.

If my mum knew about this she'd probably think I'm crazy, being afraid of someone running off with her stuff. But in the end I think "trust-by-default" is a good way of going about life and meeting new people. Also, there's still gut-feeling. Maybe I'm an outlier there but I'm pretty quick in determining if someone is being sincere or just sweet-talking me to get what he/she wants.

Re: How I Faked My Way to the Top of Paris Fashion Week [video]

#19

Post by ionforce » Thu, Oct 11, 2018, 5:00 PM UTC

Joe-Z wrote: post #18

aesto wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Trust-by-default is pretty much the definition of social capital, which is thought to be incredibly important for a functioning society. Basically, it's more efficient to trust people and be exploited once in a while, than to never trust anyone, which would lead to high transaction costs for any social interaction. Short intro by Robert Putnam, the big cheese in the field: http://robertdputnam.com/bowling-alone/socia…

Exactly. The other day I was carrying 2 relatively heavy boxes (furniture; I just moved into a new place) and suddenly a guy comes up to me and asks if he can help me. At first I was kind of flabbergasted, but after a second I was like 'he's just trying to be nice' and gave him one of the boxes. We carried it until we arrived at my apartment complex and had a nice chat along the way. When we arrived we exchanged numb…

> Maybe I'm an outlier there but I'm pretty quick in determining if someone is being sincere or just sweet-talking me to get what he/she wants.

Personally, I feel the same way. But it's illogical. What data do you have that you're good at ferreting the genuine from the not?

Re: How I Faked My Way to the Top of Paris Fashion Week [video]

#20

Post by burritofanatic » Thu, Oct 11, 2018, 5:06 PM UTC

danielw68 wrote: post #2

He also faked his way to creating a #1 ranked restaurant on Trip Advisor. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqPARIKHbN8

This particular video is brilliant. I laughed when he said, "Last night, they were in Paris. Tonight, they're at the Shed."