Ok
What should I write about
puppies
no kim
what should I say
what is worth saying
in the grand scheme of things
This one will be short & sweet
So, opinions, right?
I try not to have them
I’m not necessarily suggesting that
I’m dispositionally bad at having opinions – it’s just my thing
Most people speak from a narrow scope of knowledge
Usually interpretation of any evidence to which they have access and/or which is revealed to them works with their predetermined value system
It’s not a bad system
It’s just what it is
Most people don’t think freely
This is good to know when you’re, i dont know, talking
or trying to solve a problem
It’s even more useful to understand that everyone has internal biases that determine how they reason and react
Everyone is petty and proud, but from what I can tell any pettiness that festers so deeply as to manifest as maliciousness
is still fairly contained
Because pettiness, by virtue of what it is, stays small
The danger of that obviously is that parts make up the whole
It’s good to realize that what should determine which arguments you make are the state of your own motivations, your audience, the potential impact and consequence of the arguments, and the arguments themselves
In that order!
I think
Ultimately, if you are honest, goodwilling and researched,
and you’re with.. most people
It’s not the time to spout off
I’m not equipped with opinions, so typically I listen to people around me in an attempt to learn
not from their opinions, but from the possibilities of the ideas presented by whatever claims and/or perspectives they’ve spouted off
If I’m knowledgeable about a topic and confident that I am more correct due to my expertise or experience in the field or reading about/discussing it extensively,
my first move is still to listen to the other opinions in the room
Remember the four steps?
1 – personal motivations
2 – audience
3 – consequences
4 – validity
I think these apply well to judging the ideas of others as well
Perhaps if another person shares something with questionable motives (as demonstrated for example by a blatant delivery of the opinion), then the objective validity of the argument is a moot point
Dumb people with good ideas aren’t right
I like the Drake line
“You know a wise man once said nothing at all”
not original
but very goode
So if you’re going to open your mouth
make it worth it
Listen.
Ask.
Address.
dont counter arguments with arguments
At least, I wouldn’t
If I know I’m knowledgeable in a certain area, then I nitpick on specific things
Almost inception style
leading people along
planting ideas in a way that doesn’t offend their sensibilities
Overall, focusing on the most specific points possible seems like the most productive way to work through differing arguments
I’m often tempted to flap my tongue
but fools with good ideas aren’t right
And tongue flapping draws tongue flapping
I know, it’s a weird phrase
..speech blasting
mouth bullets?
Whatever
I’m aiming for shrewdness
And I don’t care to provide ammunition for petty people
It makes me less concerned with things that really matter
That being said, I make no claims to be anything other than a fool just be clear
Perhaps if each of us recognize our proclivity to be foolish, we can begin to make things a little better
