Thanks for posting! I agree with you. I'm following you because I find your writing and podcasts funny, and as a bonus, they highlight stuff that needs highlighting, and do it in a way that doesn't demonize. I like the LouisCK and Rodney Dangerfield examples for the same reason. LouisCK's clip below especially "you're taking my money because I don't have enough money!?"
Seinfeld's grandparents sold fish from a push-cart to make it here, like many they came here to Ellis Island with nothing - they couldn't even afford a radio. His dad was a working-class sign painter, and his mom was unemployed. Jerry did not have privilege - he worked multiple jobs and took out loans to pay for his college at a state school.
.
Gulman however, got a full scholarship to Boston College - a more expensive private university- for playing football, and after getting his accounting degree there got a rather good job at a big-six consulting firm - I'm sure he made a lot more than Seinfeld at that point in both of their respective timelines, as when Seinfeld was that age he was making virtually nothing doing open-mics and stand-up at small venues.
.
All this is to say, to me, Gulman's growing up poor didn't hurt him at all - except maybe his mindset. Zero-sum thinking is poison.
his negative beliefs are preserving his poverty mindset to the point where he actually thinks he's poor while earning a shitload of money. But to your point, perhaps those negative beliefs are what his audience is buying into.
1) Complaining about rich people can be a great path to mass appeal (see: Bernie Sanders).
2) I'd hesitate about taking all this too literally in a present tense way. For example, I think Rodney Dangerfield actually got a lot of respect in real life but found it to be a better comedic path to portray the negative parts of himself he identified with when he began doing standup because "I'm rich and get a ton of respect and have positive self-esteem" ain't always great for yuks.
1. True. 2. Rodney was a character like Larry the Cable Guy but with much better jokes (and cocaine). You’re probably right about taking things too literally—I’m a pretty rigid thinker—but I hold Gary to a very high standard because he’s so fucking good. 3. That Louis clip is hilarious. I’ve never seen it before and of course I shouldn’t be surprised that combines socio-economic analysis with anecdotes about shitting his pants.
Thanks for posting! I agree with you. I'm following you because I find your writing and podcasts funny, and as a bonus, they highlight stuff that needs highlighting, and do it in a way that doesn't demonize. I like the LouisCK and Rodney Dangerfield examples for the same reason. LouisCK's clip below especially "you're taking my money because I don't have enough money!?"
Thanks, Lee. Yeah, I liked that old Louis bit. Kind of wild to see how he's evolved as a comedian (who is no longer broke!).
Seinfeld's grandparents sold fish from a push-cart to make it here, like many they came here to Ellis Island with nothing - they couldn't even afford a radio. His dad was a working-class sign painter, and his mom was unemployed. Jerry did not have privilege - he worked multiple jobs and took out loans to pay for his college at a state school.
.
Gulman however, got a full scholarship to Boston College - a more expensive private university- for playing football, and after getting his accounting degree there got a rather good job at a big-six consulting firm - I'm sure he made a lot more than Seinfeld at that point in both of their respective timelines, as when Seinfeld was that age he was making virtually nothing doing open-mics and stand-up at small venues.
.
All this is to say, to me, Gulman's growing up poor didn't hurt him at all - except maybe his mindset. Zero-sum thinking is poison.
Gary also suffers from brutal depression, which has certainly curtailed his ability to work, but again - how is that any fault of Jerry's?
Great article Dr. Paul. Accurate diagnosis and prescription. Fun fact: ~75% of patients don't take their medication as prescribed. :-)
ha haaa. I don't expect to change anyone's mind here, but I do hope people to *notice*!
So wait, are the negative beliefs keeping him poor or is he "deep into the top 1% of U.S. earners"? 🤔
his negative beliefs are preserving his poverty mindset to the point where he actually thinks he's poor while earning a shitload of money. But to your point, perhaps those negative beliefs are what his audience is buying into.
1) Complaining about rich people can be a great path to mass appeal (see: Bernie Sanders).
2) I'd hesitate about taking all this too literally in a present tense way. For example, I think Rodney Dangerfield actually got a lot of respect in real life but found it to be a better comedic path to portray the negative parts of himself he identified with when he began doing standup because "I'm rich and get a ton of respect and have positive self-esteem" ain't always great for yuks.
3) For my money, Louis CK talking about being broke is the best bit about poverty I've seen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_-1l_SlA7c
1. True. 2. Rodney was a character like Larry the Cable Guy but with much better jokes (and cocaine). You’re probably right about taking things too literally—I’m a pretty rigid thinker—but I hold Gary to a very high standard because he’s so fucking good. 3. That Louis clip is hilarious. I’ve never seen it before and of course I shouldn’t be surprised that combines socio-economic analysis with anecdotes about shitting his pants.