No Bull-Shitting in the Year of the Ox, please!
by Kenneth Lyen
We have just suffered a tumultuous and miserable Year of the Rat, and now we are entering the Year of the Ox. Let us hope things will improve.
The Chinese horoscope predicts this Year of the Ox 2021 that “no explosive or catastrophic events will occur; so it is a favorable year for economic recovery or consolidation, a year of long-term investments (especially for creating a reserve stock for the coming unproductive years)… (it also) predicts new career opportunities, so don't let anxiety or negative thinking affect you.” (1)
What about people born in the Year of the Ox? According to the Travel China Guide, those people have “conservative and traditionalistic personalities. They impress people with an image of endurance, honesty and diligence. They seldom fear for any hardships or difficulties. They are persistent but stubborn, cautious but hesitant, moody and quick-tempered.” (2)
Let us have a look at the Chinese word 牛. It actually translates to cow, bull and ox equally. It does not discriminate whether the animal is male or female, fertile or infertile. But hang on, does 牛 refer to other members of the Bovinae family, like bisons, yaks, buffaloes, etc?
Both the bull and the ox are males. The difference between an ox and a bull, according to Sayeed Rahman, is that the ox is a castrated bull, meaning that the testes have been removed. Oxen are therefore unable to produce testosterone, and this renders them to be more docile and they grow to a larger size, compared to the more aggressive and slightly smaller bull. Furthermore, oxen are infertile because they do not have testes to produce sperms. (3)
According to some fengshui experts, they say that:“The Ox is quite shy and passive. If you’re single and looking for a new relationship, you may need to put in extra effort to ask for dates or pursue those you are interested in. Or, if you’ve been in a committed relationship for a while, marriage might be on the table. The Ox is not a year for romance and passion, but for commitment and stability—which is suitable for those who want to tie the knot.”
Any famous people born in the Year of the Ox? Have a look at the identity parade above! They don't look shy or passive to me!
As suggested in the title above, in the Year of the Ox, we should try our best not to bull-shit. Only then can we overcome the Covid-19 pandemic and get our economy and social life back to normal again.
May I add that in the Year of the Ox, do work hard, continue to wear masks, social distance safely, and get yourself vaccinated. Hopefully these measures will keep all of us healthy!
I wish everybody Gong Xi Fa Cai!
Kenneth Lyen 12 Feb 2021
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POSTSCRIPT: What is the difference between bullshitting and lying?
There can be some difficulty when we try to explain the differences between bullshitting and lying. Both deal with telling untruths. However, there are some subtle differences between the two. Below are some of the nuanced differences between bullshitting and lying. (4)
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The bullshitting person is deliberately lying and realizes it is a lie, but may or may not care how the listener will respond. DT: “The coronavirus is like the flu, … and it is totally under control … and is disappearing.”
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The person may or may not be sure of the accuracy of what they are saying, but will continue bluffing in order to get what they want. DT: “I won the election…. the Democrats stole the election from us by using fraudulent means.”
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The person does not quite understand the question and although what they say may be partially true, the answer is largely irrelevant. Question: “How would you address the income inequality and lack of access to capital among American women?” DT’s answer: “Women’s reproductive health is very poor.”
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The bullshitter tries to evade answering the question. Question: “Where did you say ‘don’t go into war with Iraq?’” DT: “I said it all over the place, it’s written all over the place, headlines and articles.”
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The person makes unsubstantiated claims hoping the listeners will believe them. DT: “I am the greatest president in American history.” (Thunderous applause by his supporters)
While some bullshitters do care for the truth, I would surmise (without any scientific evidence), that most bullshitters do not really care for the truth. When challenged, some bullshitters may react with surprise, and apologise, while others will be indifferent to the truth and shrug their shoulders, and yet others may be extremely thick-skinned and might counter by accusing the challenger themselves of not knowing what is true, and that they themselves are lying.
By the way, I have a (bullshit) disclaimer: DT is totally fictitious, any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, is purely coincidental.