"It is easier to macrobullshit than to microbullshit"

Let's break this down. The gist of the quote is that it's simpler to fool people on a grand scale than on a small, detailed level. When someone speaks in broad, sweeping terms—think grand claims or overarching statements—it's harder to see through the nonsense because there’s less detail to scrutinize. On the other hand, when someone deals with specifics, it's easier to spot inconsistencies or lies.

Historically, this idea has been around for a while. Politicians, advertisers, and con artists often use sweeping statements to manipulate public opinion. Think about political campaigns: it’s easier for a candidate to say, "I’ll create millions of jobs" than to provide a detailed plan for how they’ll do it. The former is vague and grandiose, so people can project their hopes onto it. The latter? It’s ripe for picking apart.

Take a real-life example: the infamous Theranos scandal. Elizabeth Holmes, the founder, boasted that her company could run hundreds of tests on just a few drops of blood. The claim was grand and revolutionary—people wanted to believe it. Investors poured in billions of dollars. But when you dug into the details, the technology didn't work. The specifics couldn’t hold up under scrutiny.

So, how do you apply this wisdom? First, be skeptical of grand claims. When someone makes an overarching statement that sounds too good to be true, ask for details. Be the person who looks for the specifics. If they can’t provide them, there’s a good chance they’re full of it. Second, when you communicate, especially if you're trying to convince others, make sure you can back up your broad statements with concrete details. It builds trust and credibility.

Imagine this scenario: you’re at a work meeting, and your boss says, "We’re going to double our sales next quarter." It sounds fantastic, right? But then you think, "How exactly are we going to do that?" So, you ask for the plan. If your boss can’t give you a roadmap, or the details seem sketchy, you know the statement doesn't hold much water. It’s all macro and no micro—easier to make, harder to believe.

Or think about a friend who’s always full of big talk. They say they'll get fit or start a business, but they never mention the steps they’ll take. Over time, you learn to take what they say with a grain of salt. You know that grand claims without details are just... well, bullshitting.

In our daily lives, we often fall for grand statements because they’re compelling and easy to buy into. But the devil’s in the details. So next time you hear a grand claim, dig deeper. Ask questions. Get into the specifics. Not only will it help you see through the nonsense, but it will also help you become a clearer, more credible communicator.

See? It's not rocket science. It's just about paying attention to the details and not getting swept up in the grandeur. So, let’s all try to microbullshit a little less and keep our claims grounded in reality.