Episode 153 -- Live from San Francisco, it's How to Become a Silicon Valley Creep (in 10 Easy Steps), Part 1
Summary
In this live episode, hosts Adrian Daub and Moira Donegan explore the "Silicon Valley creep," a specific type of right-wing masculinity characterized by social maladroitness, wounded superiority, and a fusion of tech power with eugenic politics. Drawing on Daub’s book *What Tech Calls Governing*, they outline a satirical guide to becoming this figure, detailing steps like dropping out of elite universities, embracing exclusionary nerd culture, and rejecting self-reflection. The discussion analyzes how these individuals use scientific rhetoric to mask authoritarian impulses, using Elon Musk …
Topics discussed
Introduction and context for the live show
Defining the 'creep' and its political evolution
Taxonomy of right-wing masculinity: Preacher, Pervert, Creep
The role of women in Silicon Valley creep culture
Analyzing the 'cow ranch' clip and creep solitude
Theoretical roots of creepiness: Freud and Kotsko
How to become a creep: Introduction to the steps
Step 1: Dropping out of college and institutional contempt
Step 2: Imbibing nerd culture and identifying with fascism
Step 3: Avoiding introspection and using a nerdy veneer
Step 4: Systematizing sex and genetic self-mythologizing
Step 5: Eugenics and personal breeding projects
Game break: Guessing Musk and Collins children's names
Conclusion and credits
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