When you see a person expressing a view repugnant to you, potentially with an air of confidence, maybe even arrogance and pride, maybe even gloating, you should only understand a number of things: IDEAS MATTER AS IDEAS, i.e. even WITHOUT contact with the world — they matter for you for their own sake, and …
Tag: Society
OUTRAGE Is How You Affirm Yourself (by Contrast)
For something to exist as a distinct entity, there must be some attribute which distinguishes it from something else If there’s none, or we can’t perceive it — then it blurs with that other thing — and is not recognised as distinct Conversely the greater the contrast the more something stands out And …
Society Failed You, but You’re Still a Loser
Society can save you Make you or break you You can save you Make you or break you Both can be true The potential of individual to save himself does not refute the value of creating a society which thrives, and thus in which individuals thrive, and are “saved”, when they get …
When You’re a Public Person You Should Keep Your Mouth Shut
When you’re a public person — you probably ought to shut your fucking mouth No, not because you’re a coward, and scared of owning up to your beliefs But because you’re wise enough to understand that your cute little opinions are not so fucking important AND YET, may be misleading to others and …
Tolerance of Intolerance is Intolerance
Tolerance of intolerance is intolerance Ok, intolerance of intolerance is also intolerance It’s a bit of a paradox Let’s be instrumental — let’s say goal is to minimise intolerance Then we must be intolerant of intolerance So that the only intolerance left is that of intolerance You’re only permitted to be intolerant of …
The Bastard Child of the Serious and the Common
I like the marriage of the serious, the formal, the academic, the rigorous, the theoretical with the casual, the informal, the vernacular, the everyday, the practical I also despise it Because this is yet another way in which we mislead others and ourselves Not everything can be formulated rigorously And then even if …
You’re Confused About Public Sentiment and Power
Public sentiment is just people = number of individuals = individual magnitude doesn’t so much matter = so basic statistics will do, e.g. asking the same question and seeing the answers Likewise for contexts like democracy, where each vote is equal = then you can extrapolate what the state is like politically (albeit politicians …
Politics Should Be Boring
Politics should be boring Politicians should be boring Structure should be boring Law and order should be boring Processes should be boring The world is chaotic enough Not only in bad a way, such as: wars, including culture wars, plagues, pandemics, crises, natural disasters But also in good way, such as: …
Contrarianism Is Downstream From Being Right
Are you a contrarian? Or just a fool? The question to ask is: Are you MORE OFTEN RIGHT than others? If not — then you’re just a fool, aren’t you? Of course there’s the question of payoff Maybe your scepticism makes you unduly reject prevailing wisdom sometimes, And maybe it makes you susceptible …
There Are No Gurus — Only Experts
There are no gurus Only experts We distrust experts Because experts are sometimes wrong, or corrupted What a joke It’s like distrusting air because sometimes it smells Doesn’t mean you should stop breathing Experts are still the best we have By definition, that’s what expert is — the most qualified, educated, capable person …