Sharing Truths About the Self

"In defining bullshit, Frankfurt (2005) also draws comparisons to the notion of bull sessions. He finds that these informal conversations offer a space for participants to discuss “emotion-laden aspects of life” (p. 36) without the seriousness that such exchanges typically entail. In this respect, bull sessions (and by association, bullshitting) bear a resemblance to modern therapy sessions where patients are encouraged to share (i.e., to reveal their most authentic inner thoughts by expressing themselves emotionally rather than intellectually; John, 2017)."

Yet:

"Frankfurt’s analysis can be organized along four dimensions that highlight the differences between bullshitting and the more established concept of lying, namely their relationship to truth, meaningfulness, constraints, and accountability. Ultimately, Frankfurt argues that the ease with which bullshitters can violate discursive rules through their focus on self-presentation and indifference to factual accuracy presents a substantial threat to the human apprehension of objective reality."