Can I learn to be cool – even though I am garrulous, swotty and wear no-show socks?

The article discusses the concept of coolness and how it can be perceived and achieved. It features an interview with Corinne Dial, a 32-year-old entrepreneur who works as a creative consultant at EYC (East London's leading creative consultancy). Dial is described as "self-possessed" and has a keen eye for spotting original talent.

Dial discusses her approach to finding and marketing cool people, which involves identifying those who are unapologetically themselves and have a unique vision. She cites examples of artists like Doechii and Fakemink, who have gained recognition through their innovative work.

However, Dial also acknowledges that the concept of coolness is becoming increasingly diluted in today's social media landscape, where information is abundant but often superficial. She notes that attempting to manufacture oneself as cool can come across as fake or try-hard, which can be worse than simply being uncool.

The article also features a conversation with Joseph Mazzolino, a professor of English and cultural studies at the University of South Florida. Mazzolino discusses the concept of coolness and how it can be perceived as authenticity. He notes that we often comment on people's perceived coolness without actually knowing what makes them tick.

Mazzolino's verdict is that he hasn't seen enough of the author to say for sure whether they are cool, but predicts that they "could be." The article concludes by highlighting the complexity and subjectivity of coolness, which can vary depending on individual perspectives and experiences.

I gotta say, this concept of coolness is super interesting . Like, what even is it? Is it just about being yourself or trying to fit in with the crowd? I mean, Corinne Dial's approach makes sense, but at the same time, when everyone's trying to be "cool" on social media, it feels like nobody's actually being genuine anymore . And Joseph Mazzolino's point about not knowing what makes someone tick is so true! I mean, we're always judging people based on how they look or act, but do we really know what's going on inside their heads? It's all about perception, you feel?

I totally get why Corinne Dial says we gotta spot people who are unapologetically themself like Doechii and Fakemink... it's not about trying to fit into someone else's idea of cool , but rather being true to yourself. But at the same time, I feel like social media can make it super hard to distinguish between what's real and what's just a curated highlight reel . It's easy to see people trying too hard to be "cool" or "edgy" and coming across as insincere . Can we just appreciate someone for who they are, flaws and all?

can we just take a step back from trying to be cool all the time? with social media making it easy to curate this perfect online persona, i feel like we're losing sight of what really makes us unique and interesting. i love how Corinne Dial is all about spotting people who are unapologetically themselves - that's something i think we should be celebrating more often meanwhile, joseph mazzolino's point about not knowing what makes someone cool until you actually get to know them rings so true let's ditch the try-hard vibes and just focus on being our authentic selves

I mean... it's so true what Corinne Dial is saying about trying to manufacture yourself as cool being worse than just being you, you know? like I see people on Instagram trying to pose with some sick pair of kicks or a dope piece of streetwear and it's just not natural. And then there are the artists who are really pushing boundaries and taking risks, that's what we should be celebrating.

But at the same time, Joseph Mazzolino's point about us commenting on people's coolness without knowing them is so valid I mean, have you ever seen someone's online bio or interview and just thought "oh they're totally cool"? Maybe they are, maybe they're not. But we don't know enough to be sure.

I think the problem with coolness is that it can be so fleeting and superficial now . We need more people like Corinne Dial spotting original talent and amplifying their voices. And maybe instead of trying to manufacture our own coolness, we should just focus on being ourselves and embracing what makes us unique

I gotta disagree with Joseph Mazzolino's comment about not being able to judge the author's coolness . I think we've all got a good idea what "cool" looks like, you know? Like, if someone's trying too hard to be themselves, it just comes across as try-hard . And trust me, I've seen my fair share of people trying to manufacture their own coolness on social media . It's like, girl, just be yourself already .

And Corinne Dial is totally right about the importance of originality and authenticity in achieving coolness . Those artists she mentioned, Doechii and Fakemink, they're not trying to fit into some predetermined mold, they're pushing boundaries and taking risks . That's what we need more of in this world.

But at the end of the day, coolness is subjective, and it's up to each individual to decide what makes them feel confident and unapologetically themselves . Maybe Mazzolino needs to get out a bit more and meet some new people ?

I mean I think its kinda crazy how people try to force being cool nowadays Like Corinne Dial said, it's all about embracing who you are and not trying too hard. But at the same time, social media makes it so easy to curate a perfect online image that can make it tough to know if someone is genuinely unique or just pretending . I think its interesting how Professor Mazzolino points out we often comment on people's coolness without really getting to know them... maybe thats what makes people like Doechii and Fakemink so inspiring - they're not afraid to be themselves, even if that means being a little weird

I'm tellin' ya, back in my day we didn't need all these social media influencers to be considered "cool". We just did our own thing and people respected us for it! I mean, have you seen some of the music out there today? It's like everyone's trying to sound like someone else. Where's the originality?

I love that Corinne Dial is on top of this stuff though. She's got a good eye for spotting people who are unapologetically themselves and I think that's what it's all about. Authenticity, you know? And it's not just limited to music either. I see it in fashion too, where people are finally embracing their own style and not trying to follow the latest trend.

But what really gets me is when people try to manufacture themselves as cool just to get attention. It comes across so fake and try-hard! Can't we just be ourselves and let our personalities shine through? I'm all about being uncool if it means being true to myself .

So I was thinkin' about this whole cool thing and how it's like, super hard to define, you know? It's all about findin' that special somethin' that makes someone stand out from the crowd. But at the same time, social media is like, so overwhelming with all these people tryin' to be their best selves... sometimes it feels like nobody's really doin' anything original anymore?

And I love what Corinne Dial said about spot-tin' those unapologetically themselves people. Like, we need more of that in the world! But then again, when everyone's tryin' to be cool all the time... it just feels like nobody's doin' it genuine anymore.

I think Joseph Mazzolino hit the nail on the head when he said we often comment on people's coolness without really knowin' what makes 'em tick. It's like, we're so caught up in our own opinions that we forget to actually get to know the person...

OMG I'm like totally with Corinne Dial on this one ! I mean, who needs all those fake influencers and celebrities trying to be someone they're not? I'd rather see people just be themselves and let their talents shine through. And can we talk about how crazy it is that we need an expert to tell us what's cool and what's not? Like, shouldn't it just be a vibe or something?

And I'm loving Joseph Mazzolino's take on the whole authenticity thing . It's so true that we often judge people based on appearances rather than actually getting to know them. And yeah, if you don't even know who's cool and who's not, how can you be sure? Let's just chill and let people be themselves, you feel?

P.S. I'm still listening to Doechii's EP from like 2018 and she's still one of my faves.

idk what's so cool about being unapologetically yourself lol but seriously tho, i think it's easy to get lost in trying to be someone you're not online, like doechii said she was just being herself and that's what made her famous... maybe we should just focus on being our own selves instead of trying to fit into some kinda mold

I'm not sure I get it ... is being cool about just being yourself or is there some hidden trick to it? Like, if you try too hard to be unique, people might think you're trying too hard . Corinne Dial makes a point that we need to see originality and authenticity in people, but it's not like we can all just magically find our inner coolness . I mean, what even is "cool" anymore?

I mean, it's pretty wild how everyone's trying to manufacture themselves as 'cool' these days. It feels like social media's just amplifying this facade - if you're not posting some fire pics or videos, are people really going to think you're 'cool'? I think Corinne Dial makes a solid point about spotting original talent that's unapologetically themselves. Doechii and Fakemink are definitely examples of artists who've built a following on their own terms.

But Mazzolino's got a good point too - we often don't know what makes someone 'cool' until they tell us. And sometimes, even when people do seem authentic, our perceptions can be all over the place. I'm not saying it's impossible to manufacture coolness (although, tbh, it feels like such a performance), but I think it's also hard to fake that whole 'being yourself' vibe without being genuine.

It's interesting that Corinne Dial says trying too hard to seem cool can come across as try-hard. Maybe we just need to chill out and let people be themselves?

I mean, have you noticed how everyone's trying to be 'it' these days? Like, if you want to get your face out there, you gotta put yourself in front of the camera and pretend to be a certain way... it just feels so forced . And honestly, I think Corinne Dial hits the nail on the head when she says that trying too hard can come across as fake . Can't we just be ourselves for once? I mean, people like Doechii and Fakemink are proof that you don't need to try so hard to stand out – their talent speaks for itself ! And I love how Mazzolino's saying that coolness is subjective... it makes sense. Who gets to decide what's 'cool' anyway?

I think coolness is super nuanced . It's not just about being edgy or following trends, it's actually about being unapologetically yourself and letting your unique vision shine through . For me, trying too hard to be cool can come across as insincere, like you're putting on a mask instead of embracing who you are . And honestly, I think the internet has made it way too easy for people to fake it until they make it – it's all about superficial likes and followers . But when someone is truly cool, it's like they're radiating this effortless energy that just draws you in .

OMG, yaaas Corinne Dial is low-key my spirit animal!!! I mean, who wouldn't want to spot original talent and market them as a rockstar? She's all about embracing the weirdos and misfits, which is soooo me! I'm all about trying new things and taking risks, even if it means going against the grain. And can we talk about Doechii and Fakemink for a sec?! They're literally my jam Corinne's got some serious insight into what makes people cool (or uncool). I mean, it's not just about being authentic, but also about owning that weirdness Anyway, I'm totes intrigued by this article and the convo with Joseph Mazzolino. Can't wait to dive deeper into all this coolness talk

I'm thinking... the concept of coolness is like, soooo overrated . Like, who needs to be cool when you're just being yourself? I mean, Corinne Dial's approach to finding "cool" people seems pretty spot on - unapologetically themselves and all that jazz. But, at the same time, it feels like we're living in a world where being authentic is getting lost in the noise .

And what's with the social media aspect? Like, I get it, influencers and all that... but can't we just be ourselves without trying so hard to be cool? It's like, we're constantly comparing our behind-the-scenes to everyone else's highlight reels, and it's just not healthy .

I'm curious what you guys think - when does being "cool" become more about being fake than actually being yourself?

I don’t usually comment but I think it’s kinda wild how we're always trying to figure out who's cool and why. Like, I mean I get it, some people are just naturally more interesting or talented than others, but sometimes I feel like we're just projecting our own desires onto others. We see someone who's doing something edgy or innovative and we're all like "oh they must be so cool" without really considering what makes them tick. And then there's the whole social media thing, where people are just curating this fake version of themselves to get likes and followers... it's exhausting. I think Corinne Dial hits the nail on the head when she says trying too hard can be worse than not being cool at all