The article <a href="https://etymology.substack.com/p/slop-realism" author="Adam Aleksic" source="The Etymology Nerd">slop realism</a> writes about the designations for various types of "slop", pointing out how no matter how hard people try to retain the negative connotation of the word "slop", it worms its way out until the purveyors have commodified the protest. <bq>If “slop” is the precipitate of optimization, it is easier to imagine the end of the world than the end of slop. Suppose you want to make your interests undiscoverable, so you prioritize illegibility. <b>Now you’ve incentivized me to produce ambiguityslop (which is arguably why the word “vibe” became a buzzword last year). Or perhaps you want to gatekeep your interests—now we’re back at tasteslop.</b> Slop realism is the understanding that, like capitalism, “slop” is a Moloch—a structure we are forced to participate in, which worsens society. While there is still something to be said for actual authenticity, whimsy, and taste, <b>even your personal preferences are being measured and targeted in a way that will only generate more slop with time.</b></bq> This reminded of <a href="https://genius.com/Bill-hicks-on-advertisers-and-marketing-annotated" author="Bill Hicks" source="Genius.com">On Advertisers and Marketing</a> from his 1997 album <i>Arizona Bay</i>. <media href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9h9wStdPkQY" src="https://www.youtube.com/v/9h9wStdPkQY" source="YouTube" width="560px" author="" caption="Bill Hicks on 'Marketing'"> <bq quote-style="none">By the way <b>if anyone here is in advertising or marketing…kill yourself.</b> It’s just a little thought; I’m just trying to plant seeds. Maybe one day they’ll take root – I don’t know. You try, you do what you can. (Kill yourself.) Seriously though, if you are, do. Aaah, no really. There’s no rationalisation for what you do and you are Satan’s little helpers. Okay – kill yourself. Seriously. <b>You are the ruiner of all things good.</b> Seriously. No this is not a joke. You’re [going], “There’s going to be a joke coming.” There’s no fucking joke coming. You are Satan’s spawn filling the world with bile and garbage. You are fucked and you are fucking us. Kill yourself. It’s the only way to save your fucking soul. Kill yourself Planting seeds. <b>I know all the marketing people are going, “He’s doing a joke…”</b> There’s no joke here whatsoever. Suck a tail-pipe, fucking hang yourself, borrow a gun from a Yank friend – I don’t care how you do it. <b>Rid the world of your evil fucking machinations.</b> I know what all the marketing people are thinking right now too: “Oh, you know what Bill’s doing? <b>He’s going for that anti-marketing dollar. That’s a good market. He’s very smart.</b>” Oh man, I am not doing that, you fucking, evil scumbags! “Ooh, you know what Bill’s doing now? <b>He’s going for the righteous indignation dollar. That’s a big dollar.</b> A lot of people are feeling that indignation. We’ve done research – huge market. He’s doing a good thing.” Godammit, I’m not doing that, you scum-bags! <b>Quit putting a goddamn dollar sign on every fucking thing on this planet.</b> “Ooh, <b>the anger dollar. Huge. Huge in times of recession. Giant market.</b> Bill’s very bright to do that.” <b>God, I’m just caught in a fucking web.</b> “Ooh, <b>the trapped dollar, big dollar, huge dollar. Good market – look at our research.</b> We see that many people feel trapped. If we play to that and then separate them into the trapped dollar…” How do you live like that? And I bet you sleep like fucking babies at night, don’t you? “What didya do today, honey?” “Oh, we made, ... we made ... arsenic a childhood food now, goodnight.” [snores] “Yeah we just said, you know, is your baby really too loud? You know?” [snores] “Yeah, you know the mums will love it.” [snores] <b>Sleep like fucking children, don’t ya. This is your world, isn’t it?</b></bq> <img src="{att_link}bill_hicks_at_the_laff_stop_in_austin,_texas,_1991.webp" href="{att_link}bill_hicks_at_the_laff_stop_in_austin,_texas,_1991.webp" align="none" caption="Bill Hicks at the Laff Stop in Austin, Texas, 1991" style="max-width: 100%">