W. and I never make a point of finding someone to discourage. They must find us, deliberately seeking us out, since we who are the last people to whom anyone would want to speak. But we're friendly, if nothing else, and it amuses us when people throw themselves upon our mercy. – 'You must be really desperate. We're the last people you should talk to. It'll get you nowhere'.
What advice do we give? What do we tell them? You have to know you're a failure, we tell them. That's absolutely essential. Give up now! There's no hope for you, you have to know that. Then we buy them a drink, or get them to buy us one. We must have the air of people in the know, I say to W. – 'We have the air of idiots', says W.
It's the same with our doleful companion at the table in the bar. We gave him our usual advice. We warned him! But he seemed to sink further into melancholy. We should think about cheerful things, W. says. But we can't think of any. – 'It could be worse', W. says. 'You could have Lars's life'.
Our guest staggers off into the night. – 'See what we do to people?', W. says.
Lars Iyer's Blog 