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Chosen Man's avatar

Tom just wanted to say I really enjoy your writing it is always incredibly insightful and well written. I have to admit my favorite part of any of your pieces are the footnotes that always just crack me up!

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jabster's avatar

The first rule of enemies lists is that you don't talk about enemies lists.

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jabster's avatar

I'm not sure the fiery boomer self-righteousness of Dave Ramsey has legs. Clark Howard did quite well for himself taking a different approach. Millennial therapy-speak isn't the answer, but I do wonder why nobody has taken a cut-the-crap, down to brass tacks GenX approach without the performative hellfire and brimstone or the participation trophies and concern for others' fee-fees.

Every time I see a Millennial ape the fiery self-righteousness of their boomer parents, I'm reminded of the "I learned it from you!!!" anti-drug ad.

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Anon S's avatar

You mean like Sam Hyde and Nick Rochefort?

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Reckoning's avatar

I’ve only seen a few Ramsay clips, but he reminds me of Dr Laura, who was massive in the 1990s. Presumably advertising boycotts took her off the air.

Her advice was occasionally too strict (I thought telling single parents not to date at all was too much) and she became more and more histrionic over time, but overall the advice was solid. Her 10 Stupid Things Men and Women do to Mess up their Lives is embarrassing to own but could save you a lifetime of pain.

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jabster's avatar

Yeah, Ramsey's advice is mostly sound (he's too much of a philistine against "necessary debt" and credit cards, and debit cards have their own issues that he ignores), but his preachy delivery is obnoxious. He reminds me of the recovering alcoholic who thinks everyone should stop drinking because he had a problem. I've also heard he's this way elsewhere with his business and his private life (my way or the highway), and as a result he can be a terror to work for.

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typopete's avatar

Well that was a different perspective. I have met Dr. Chapell and knew the previous Stated Clerk of the PCA as I was a Stated Clerk of a PCA Presbytery for 12 years and after a Traumatic Brain Injury I was not effective in that role anymore and am eternally grateful to a pastor who encouraged me to "retire" from that job. The PCA has a tradition of "wise old men", many of whom fought the battles against liberalism in the church, and the newer generation is gradually taking their place as the "wise old men" have been going to their heavenly reward. Retirement was very hard for me, it has been eight years and volunteer activity has kept me going.

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jabster's avatar

What Aaron Renn said about boomers could be reduced to that they mastered the practice of "fake it till you make it".

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KHP's avatar

Re footnote #4, hasn't J. Vernon McGee already done this? Albeit only in audio format.

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