I've wondered lately if the contributors to this blog and its (admittedly few) readers are the only people who are willing to stand up against the douche kingdom of Everett Bogue and his cult of minimalists. So today, I did some Googlin', and though it took a lot of wading through pro-Bogue malarkey, I found that we are not alone. In fact, even some people calling themselves minimalists (or something like it) think Bogue is a douche. These people are from the saner faction of minimalists, ones who know how to count, or better yet, ones who don't give a shit about the number of their possessions. Their blogs would almost certainly make Ev cry, as any form of criticism does.
I hope we can all agree that some minimalists - especially those who resist the term "minimalists" - are level-headed people with their hearts in the right place. They recognize the stupidity of owning every single goddamn thing one can possibly own, and they seem to be intelligent enough to realize that Bogue is a hypocrite and a pretentious douche. They advocate for living simply rather than pretending that 100 is the absolute largest number of possessions a person should even think about owning. I hope you click a few of the following links and see that some minimalists and bike snobs are actually sort of reasonable.
Bike Snob on "the new smugness"
Core Minimalist thinks Bogue is a talented propagandist
An Australian blogger advocates for simplicity rather than minimalism
A blog about the minimalist "obsession with possession"
Sorry this post wasn't very snarky; 'tis the fucking season and all. These bloggers just kind of make me happy. If even minimalists and semi-minimalists are on our side regarding Everett Bogue, there may be hope for humanity after all.
EvBo cries in his purple tank and his "Moleskin" (if you'll pardon my use of the term. I've no idea what this Moleskin is, I am just assuming its, like, a condom for gay people).
ReplyDeleteEvBo's brand of "minimalism", Reverse-Materialism, is very dangerous because it appears to be inherently anti-achievement, while disregarding that it was, in fact, high achievement that has enabled his comfortable lifestyle.
You're wrong. If this asshat lives a comfortable lifestyle, it is because he and his partner in crime are constantly putting her grandparents on a guilt trip in order to get money out of them.
DeleteMoleskine is a brand of overpriced notebooks that were reportedly the favorite of Hemingway and a bunch of other so-and-sos. There's really nothing remarkable about them except that they come in 784595 different sizes and cost about five times more than any notebook should.
ReplyDeleteAlso, gay people tend to use latex condoms, just like anyone else with half a brain and no allergy to latex. I'm all for bashing EvBo, but comparing him to a gay person gives gay people a bad name. There's really no place for that in this blog.
Like a paper and pen notebook, huh? Jeez, I seriously thought he was referencing some sort of clothing. I guess i get another star on my Minimalist Badge for not being hep with over-priced consumer favorites.
ReplyDeleteI really didn't mean to offend anyone. I know plenty of gay people both personally and professionally. Some of them are OK people who I enjoy to chat with, while some of them are horrible people (like plenty of straight folks i know) who are catty, shallow, lazy, and rude. I've been sexually harassed and otherwise mistreated repeatedly by gay co-workers. I've had gay friends of mine die from AIDS. I have gay relatives with adopted children. I really could care less about one's sexual preference, I promise the readers it has no effect on how I perceive a person.
The reason I enjoyed having some (childish) fun with ol' EvBo there is because he gives off the impression that he does indeed prefer the company of boys, but it also seems as if he makes an effort to cover that fact up (I'm not the only reader who has picked up on this).
I'm not gay, so I can't speak to the exact trials of being such, but I can appreciate it somewhat in that I've experienced plenty of alienation in my life and have lived as an "outcast" probably as much as anyone reading this blog. The result is that I am a major proponent of being who you are and sparing us the phony bullcrap. I take aim at insincerity. Thus, my comments hinting at EvBo's homosexuality were only intended to call EvBo out on what I believe to be more of his insincere phony bullcrap, not to insult any gay persons in any way.
I admittedly feel that political correctness is a bias not unlike bigotry, and (obviously) I want no part of either. I am, however, embarrassed that my comments appeared to carry any malice in that regard.
I've never taken the internet too seriously, and have always seen it as a vehicle for over-the-top shit-talking and other behavior that might be inappropriate in real life. I guess, given the impersonal nature of the internet, I sometimes neglect to factor in that someone reading might actually be unintentionally hurt by my comments. If there are any homosexuals reading that were offended, I truly apologize.
*sighs are carries on with feeling perpetually misunderstood*
WTF!? :( Blogger told me my first comment could not be published because it was too large (if you'll pardon my use of the term "too large") so i shortened it up a bit, because i really felt i needed to clarify my take. Now i really have egg all over my face. Could one of the authors graciously delete my redundant second comment? I would appreciate it. All of this trouble just to mock an arrogant spoiled brat who thinks he's better than everybody. Dammit, EvBo! I WILL REMEMBER THIS!!
ReplyDeleteLove the blog!!! I got to it by searching ''everet bogue pretentious'' on google.
ReplyDeletelove this. thank you! will be back for more. i want to sign my real name but don't want to subject myself to hate from his fellow "heavy hitter minimalist bloggers" or whatever the F they call themselves. do you have an email address you can post somewhere so we can let you know who we are?
ReplyDeleteSo I'm a bit torn.
ReplyDeleteOn one hand, Everett's blog was the first minimalist blog I encountered. I read some of his stuff and it had the right amount of militant "fuck the man" to inspire me.
But as i read him more and more he seems to have jumped off the deep end a bit. I was actually considering a post similar to this sometime soon, describing the different forms of minimalism I see.
I did the 100 item challenge because it was a good way of marking how to get started being a minimalist. Since then I've maintained under 100 but more out of logic than of adherence to some dogma.
He diminishes comments and claims its because he wants to promote others writing on their blogs when a few months ago he was talking about the importance of developing a tribe. It's important to be engaged in your following. If it gets so big its hard to manage, well that's the cost of your business, no?
Oddly enough I got this link THROUGH EvBo. Kind of him to embrace this, I suppose.
Man, I am so fucking glad I found your blog!
ReplyDeleteI started out like a lot of people I am guessing. I thought EvBo was onto something. Now I just think he's high...on himself.
The December 30th get-together must have been something else. After all, all the "greats" of minimalism were going to be there to change the world.
Me...I just sat on my ass in front of my EVIL TV and then made love to my beautiful girlfriend. Afterwards, we counted our shit--came out to 23 for me and 40 for her--but of course, we didn't bother counting all the shit we share!
Can't wait to read EvBo's recap of the meeting of the (non)minds...and then your undoubtedly hilarious response.
Rock on, Man!
Sorry! I didn't mean to hit ANONYMOUS. I am not ashamed of anything I wrote.
ReplyDeleteJesus, I love this blog!
ReplyDeleteMy wife and I also started out liking him, me being especially drawn in with his F the man type stuff. But I agree...lately it has been one big "I'm awesome" party, and, I'm sorry to say, being a douche doesn't make you awesome.
The best is to follow him on twitter. His mind is always "blown" and everything he does is "epic". In fact, epic seems to be the word of the year in the minimalist movement. I wonder what the word for 2011 will be?
A few other observations...how is this dude "saving the world"? I haven't read one post about anything that has the potential to save the world. I guess the spread of ideas is noble...but for christ's sake, you aren't saving the world by blogging about how fucking sweet you are.
Also, have you noticed how absolutely disingenuous most minimalist bloggers are? Get your of your shit...but buy my product and I will teach you how to get rid of your shit and make money writing about it! Give me a break. Oh, and I love the posts about providing value...you want to provide value? Invent something that removes carbon from the atmosphere...or that creates sustainable power...your blog does not create value...douche bag.
YAY! This... is what I've thought for some time. Your my friend. Hugs. Cheeseball? How do I guest post? Please? Pretty please? I have a great idea rattling around my head.... let me let it out.....
ReplyDeleteWhat about THIS?
ReplyDeleteIn his FAQ there is the following question and answer. And no, I didn't make this up. He wants $5,000 a day to spew his EPIC WISDOM...plus, travel expenses!
Jeez...and what if a ZOMBIE is flying the plane you use to make your visit EvBo?
Here's the FAQ:
Can I fly Everett anywhere help with my business?
Yes. Please send a brief email with details and he will follow up with you personally within 24 business days. Rate is $5000 a day plus airfare and expenses.
Can Everett do keynotes and other public speaking?
Sure! please send a brief email with details. Rate is negotiable based on content, venue and audience.
P.S. The typo in the FAQ is EvBo's, not mine...
ReplyDelete"Can I fly Everett anywhere help with my business?"
With a keen eye for detail like that, I know I would want to spend $5,000 per day for him to help me with my business!
By the way, how many purple tank tops can a guy buy with $5,000?
Couldn't resist one more before 2011 starts.
ReplyDeleteIf you look at EvBo's shit on Twitter today, you'll see a lot of references to his missing pants. A few of his sycophants claim they know where they are and Dusti Arab says she will give him his pants when he gives her, her panties.
In view of the fact EvBo never lists laundry detergent among his 50+ possessions, I suspect his pants walked away on their own and flung themselves into a fire in a 50-gallon drum around which a bunch of cold people huddled.
Anyway, later, EvBo tweeted his pants were still missing, but he was having coffee in a restaurant. Sans pants? Who knows! He didn't provide a pic of his grungy self, but he did provide a pic of his java...as if we should care?
I certainly find EvBo and a few of his fellow travelers somewhat self-righteous and dogmatic in their views. Minimalism proper (as distinct from the general embrace of simplicity or the "cutting back" that the recession has engendered) is a radical step in our consumerist culture and will, by definition, invite push-back. So - a strong spine, a sharp edge, a dash of rigidity is probably in order here.....or at least understandable.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I usually just chalk EvBo's annoyingness up to youth. (How old is EvBo?) And to the fact that he is a solitary person with no kids, elderly parents to support, or other dependents. I'll be interested to see how his dogmatism stacks up to those types of life events and circumstances. I think minimalism can, in fact, match up well to these, but my experience is that they mellow things a bit by taking us down off our high horses.
In his defense, though, I don't see any more self-righteousness from him than I do here on this blog. I mean, really..........this is what you spend your time on? How very, well, bourgeois.
@Marc Jacobs there is also this little gem as to what that chunk of change gets you:
ReplyDelete* One week (Mon-Fri) of comprehensive email support for your business.
* Two 45 minute calls over phone or Skype. The first call will be for a check-in and initial advice on Monday. The second will end the consulting session for any last questions and follow-up advice on Friday.
and then: "Consulting sessions are non-refundable."
hmmm.
@Jill excellent points re: family.
Hey Publius,
ReplyDeleteYep...that is hysterical. I also like that he can take up to 24 days to respond to an offer of $5,000 per day! I guess all that free time keeps him busy?
Hey Jill,
ReplyDeleteFirst off, EvBo is young and I do take that into consideration. That being said, I think he is old enough to know better. To me, he seems like a spoiled brat.
Second, your point about his lack of obligations is well-taken. I sometimes chuckle to think of him at, say, 69 , trying to maintain this puffery.
Third, you are reading this and posting, too. So don't be a hypocrite. If you are truly bothered by this blog, why are you reading it...or could it be you're an EvBo plant! ;-)
Finally, I think we are all having a spot of fun here. I, for one, wish EvBo only good things in life but can't resist laughing at his naïveté and general foolishness.
Love the blog, I was thinking the same thing. Keep up the good work : )
ReplyDeleteMarc Jacobs -
ReplyDeleteNo, not an EvBo plant. Just interested in minimalism, lifestyle design, etc. and interested in intelligent conversations about it. I stumbled onto this blog. Did I say I was "truly bothered" by this blog or by EvBo or by anything really? No. Didn't say that.
I saw that EvBo still can't find his pants, but left Chicago anyway sleeping bag in tow. I wonder how long he can "camp" through life with his 50 things, depending on others and their things to smooth the way.
The counting of things is what really seems foolishness to me, if it's taken as anything more than simply an exercise in listing and sloughing off unnecessary crap. The counting gets tiresome.
Hah!! I found this blog by Googling "Everett Bogue is a douche" Glad to know there are others out there with the same opinion! I almost fell for it at first, but as I dug deeper through his blog (before he "wipes the slate clean" on Feb. 15) I found myself saying "WTF" too many times to count... well, I'm sure I said it more than the number of Things he claims to own, including his precious Diesel jeans and Moleskine notebook. Hey Ev! I've got a pair of $10 mossimo jeans from Target and a $.25 MEAD notebook I bought during a back-to-school sale last year, am I cool enough to hang, Your Minimalist Highness??? Methinks not.
ReplyDeleteSincerely,
SuperJenny
xo xo
He is a thief.
ReplyDeleteHe even quit his new paid email today. Time stamped by this comment's date.
Well Ev's disappeared, pulling the plug on his blog and his letters after recently untethering from his stomach contents, so he tells us. Dear me... he was writing a load of old crap though over the last couple of months, I must say. Talking about ditching customers if they 'no longer serve his needs' and lots of other messianic junk. Like a lot of the minimalists, it's pretty easy to see that if you preach reductionism, it's a fait accompli that eventually you'll have nothing to say. He certainly achieved that in spades.
ReplyDeleteBlocked from Ev Bogue's Google Plus - imagine that. I get blocked for: disagreeing with his perception of Singapore, his supposed fear of the government and the financial system, and asking the questions:
ReplyDelete1) What is this "work" you are always referring to
2) If you are as tech savvy as you say, why don't you get a job working for a tech company?
3) You have books online that are sold. Why are you constantly asking for donations? Are these books no longer selling or not being sold?
Also, if you can preach like he does, doesn't it make sense to listen?
He may well have some very good ideas but personally I think alot of what he says and how he acts towards others is rubbish. I'm not the first person he's banned from posting, all because I asked him questions he was unwilling to answer. Oh well, I can do without Ev Bogue :)