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Re:How Bullshitters Not Just Survive But Thrive (2016) by johansch on Monday January 23, 2017 @02:02PM (#13464881)
I have worked with similar people. It can be fun to take them down, if you're so inclined. It takes patience and discipline but it's oh so satisfying.
Re:How Bullshitters Not Just Survive But Thrive (2016) by woodandsteel on Monday January 23, 2017 @03:29PM (#13465687)
You should explain how it is done. I expect most people who are suffering in this sort of situation don't think it is possible to take such a person down, much less know how.
Re:How Bullshitters Not Just Survive But Thrive (2016) by johansch on Monday January 23, 2017 @04:03PM (#13466001)
I don't have any brilliant insights besides the obvious:

- documenting their BS claims (for your own usage, primarily)

- building trust and credibility with superiors and peers

- biding your time and eventually calling them out on BS in meetings, but only doing so when:

a) they go quite deep into the BS (as they inevitably do)

b) you have firm and credible facts/knowledge ready to use against the BS

c) you are able to pull it off in a calm manner, preferably something that could be perceived as you just asking for a clarification, but still leaves the meeting in a slightly uncomfortable state because the bullshitter's "explanation" seems so obviously fake to anyone with half a brain.

2-3 well-directed questions for "clarifications" like that can be quite lethal over time.

Re:How Bullshitters Not Just Survive But Thrive (2016) by mildbow on Monday January 23, 2017 @06:27PM (#13467250)
This sounds like a lot of "should works". I'm curious whether this is something you've successfully executed.

Anyone who is doing a good enough job of perception management is going to be better at managing perceptions from conversations better than you. They've had more practice!

You can end up looking like a person who overly cares about individual glory/not being a "team player"/trying to rain on someone else's parade.

Especially with C. People can spot disingenuous comments much easier than non-expert comments.

And easier way would be to implement something like stand-ups or demo days where each person has to own something.

Consistent underperformance should then be easily visible.

Re:How Bullshitters Not Just Survive But Thrive (2016) by vorg on Tuesday January 24, 2017 @12:14AM (#13468979)
> biding your time

They will see you coming long before you see them. They will have previously set up their reward system with you so it's a Mutually Assured Destruction relationship.

Re:How Bullshitters Not Just Survive But Thrive (2016) by chupy on Tuesday January 24, 2017 @04:18AM (#13469884)
c) you are able to pull it off in a calm manner, preferably something that could be perceived as you just asking for a clarification, but still leaves the meeting in a slightly uncomfortable state because the bullshitter's "explanation" seems so obviously fake to anyone with half a brain.

This seems like a great idea until you realise that these bullshitters thrive together and the meeting is full of them so they are going to hang on each others claims.

Re:How Bullshitters Not Just Survive But Thrive (2016) by lsseckman on Monday January 23, 2017 @06:57PM (#13467502)
Point C being really important. Lose a lot of credibility if you lose your cool while doing that.