Thoughts & prayers. The tragedy of inconvenience. Stay flexible. You're not there, yet. Thinking versus disinformation. Balance need not be. Degrading the language. Cancel culture.
Never let the lyric get in the way of the groove.
– Allee Willis (songwriter)
1. “Know that you are aiding and abetting violence.”
Orlando: What YOU Can Do – Randy Cassingham – (This is True)
The title refers to the Orlando Pulse nightclub shootings of June 2016. The essay resurfaced this week, and I felt it particularly powerful.
“Thoughts and prayers” aren’t enough. In fact, I’d claim they’re worse than doing nothing. When you express that sentiment, you’re likely to feel you’ve done something when, in fact, you have done nothing except, by your inaction, aided violence by enabling violence. As per the title, Cassingham goes into what you and I can … no, must … do.
This caught my attention:
Haters are increasingly coming out into the open because they’re not being condemned by their friends and family, and sure enough, the murderous attacks are getting worse. It’s up to us to say it’s not right.
That was 2016. It’s become so much worse in the years since. Yes, they were always there, but so many haters and others are coming out into the light because it’s become acceptable, — even encouraged in some corners — to do so. That in 2024 we find ourselves fighting out-in-the-open NAZIs and homophobes and transphobes and immigrant-phobes and those who would hijack our society for their own pocket of hateful beliefs is horrific.
And yet fight we must. Keep the “thoughts and prayers” to yourself. Do something instead.
Do this: If you see something, do something.
#hate #violence #thoughts-and-prayers
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2. “Is this a tragedy—or an inconvenience?”
Next time you’re stressed, ask yourself this question – Dan Harris – (10% Happier podcast)
I’ve used a similar phrase before, when evangelizing backups. They’re a way to make what could be a tragedy into nothing more than an inconvenience.
It’s surprising to me how many people overreact to the slightest stressors in their life.
In my case, the things that are stressing me out are almost never tragedies. Creative blocks. A work conflict. A toothache. They’re all inconveniences, but when the history of the world is written, these dramas will not be included.
It’s a short, pithy question to ask yourself that can make quite a difference.
Do this: Don’t sweat the small stuff.
#stress #inconvenience #tragedy
3. “You don’t need to place your trust in the perfect plan, but just in your ability to adapt.”
How to Stop Overthinking – Sahil Bloom – (Curiosity Chronicle)
As Bloom’s article title shows, this is a piece on overthinking and decision paralysis, and some advice on how to overcome overthinking. There are several good points, of course, but the takeaway got my attention because it’s something that, in retrospect, I’ve been advocating for a long time.
It’s not uncommon for me to say “We are nothing if not flexible” as life throws its inevitable curveballs at us. I’ve used this volunteer work, where something (or someone) doesn’t work as planned. I’ve said it regarding family matters, because those curveballs can be even curvier.
Flexibility and adaptability are seriously under-rated (and under-taught) skills.
Do this: Stay flexible, my friend.
4. “Imagine if you add the word ‘yet’ to your weakness.”
The Power of the Word ‘Yet’ – Sujona Chatterjee – (Medium)
This is as much a reminder for myself as it is a takeaway for you. It’s all about the power of self-talk.
So, the next time you find yourself losing hope over something you aren’t good at, remember, you aren’t good at it, yet.
Adding that one word can make a huge difference. Even if you never get there, you’ll feel better about yourself and your ability to try.
Do this: Add “yet”.
5. “The bar for propaganda and outright lies is lower than any of us thought.”
How to Beat Disinformation: A Practical Guide for 2024 – Joan Westenberg – (Blog)
Disinformation is the bane of our times. So many lies, so many misdirections. It’s frustrating and disheartening.
Cheat code:
Misinformation: when you get it wrong
Disinformation: when you get it wrong on purpose
In short, the core of this practical guide is simple. “When you see a post that provokes a strong emotional response or that you feel compelled to share, take a damn moment.”
To think. And then, to research, fact-check, validate sources, and more. In other words, don’t believe what you read, even if you agree with it. Evaluate it carefully, and decide if it should be believed.
The sad truth is we’ve known this all along. The chances of people actually taking this extra work on in today’s short-attention-span-theatre is minimal. But it can absolutely start with you.
Do this: Do the work.
#disinformation #misinformation #skepticism
6. “Authority they do not have and have not earned”
When it comes to science, the standard has to be truth and accuracy – not false balance – Hayley Stevens – (Skeptic)
Another tool in the critical thinking toolbox is recognizing false balance when you see it.
When the media misapply the principle of ‘balance’ to topics of science and fact, the effort to be impartial can lead to the false presentation of unscientific information as factual, respected opinion. This phenomenon, known as false balance, occurs when claims lacking a scientific basis are presented as equally credible as the scientific facts that counter them.
Not everything has two sides. Sometimes there really is a right or wrong, true or false. Attempting to display so-called “balance” gives too much credibility to bullshit. It’s something that, sad to say, we’ve been seeing much too much of in recent years.
Do this: Recognize bullshit for what it is.
7. “Kids today are degrading the language and taking civilization down with it”
The Sense of Style: The Thinking Person’s Guide to Writing in the 21st Century – Steven Pinker – (ebook/audiobook)
I just (re)started this book, and this from the prologue rang true:
As people age, they confuse changes in themselves with changes in the world, and changes in the world with moral decline—the illusion of the good old days.
It’s followed by quotes of complaints that the language is in peril, as recently as 1978, and as far back as 1785. Apparently, you’ll find even older complaints as far back as ancient Sumerian clay tablets.
It reminds me of Douglas Adams’ rules:
- Anything that is in the world when you’re born is normal and ordinary and is just a natural part of the way the world works.
- Anything that’s invented between when you’re fifteen and thirty-five is new and exciting and revolutionary and you can probably get a career in it.
- Anything invented after you’re thirty-five is against the natural order of things.
Same as it ever was.
Do this: Remember that language is never cast in stone. As the author points out, it’s more like an ever changing Wiki.
8. “‘Ostracism’ doesn’t roll off the tongue.”
Cancel Culture: It’s Always Been Here – Leo Notenboom – (Blog)
I revisit cancel culture, and why it’s really nothing new at all.
Ostracism is critical for a functioning society. It’s one important way society expresses what is, and is not, acceptable.
It’s not one-sided. Those vocal about the evils of “cancel culture” are canceling those they disagree with right and left. The difference is in the social norms they feel are being violated.
Do this: think before you object.
Random links
- Why did Wendy’s fire the “Where’s the Beef?” Lady? – Apparently they had a … beef … with one of her other commercials.
- Google’s AI Mushrooms Could Have ‘Devastating Consequences’ – Eye-catching headline for a serious issue.
- Wordsmithing: My Personal Perspective on Writing and AI – Over on my blog.
- How I Use AI at Ask Leo! – And over at my “day job”.
What I’m reading
In progress:
- Swamp Sniper – Jana DeLeon
- How to Read a Book – Mortimer J. Adler, Charles Van Doren
- Where Good Ideas Come From – Steven Johnson (re-read)
- The Sense of Style: The Thinking Person’s Guide to Writing in the 21st Century – Steven Pinker (audio)
Daily:
- A Calendar of Wisdom: Daily Thoughts to Nourish the Soul, Written and Selected from the World’s Sacred Texts – Leo Tolstoy
A full list of my common sources is on the sources page, and I list the books I’ve read on my Reading List page.
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-Leo
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1. “Know that you are aiding and abetting violence.”
Orlando: What YOU Can Do – Randy Cassingham – (This is True)
Timely observation