We often raise issues of justice and equity not to advance meaningful social causes but to generate positive attention for ourselves by denigrating others. Sometimes this involves piling on—joining a Greek chorus of reproachful replies without contributing anything new—or exaggerating one’s moral outrage for dramatic value. In doing so, we dilute the impact of critical ethical issues and foreclose the possibility of productive public discourse. The goal is not to understand but to win.
It’s wise to slow down, to let things take time, to quiet the stories our minds tell us about another based on the small pieces we see. It’s wise to ask good questions to truly know who they are and what they mean when they say certain things, to extend grace + compassion 4/4
my sense is that people who take a long time to respond to messages, or tend to go into shame spirals about them, often put a lot of pressure on themselves to respond in a specific way
I wanted to share my most memorable VC pass email of all time, Maple back in the fall from @schlaf. Thoughtful and empathetic:
"I've been wrong more than I've been right so take this all with a grain of salt. I hope you prove me wrong and make me regret this decision."
I have the secret to how to get the best help immediately from any customer service, like the phone company or the bank or anything. I have the best line, it always works. You want to know what it is? When I call, I say, “Hello. I am Hans Rosling and I have made a mistake.” People immediately want to help you when you put it this way. You get much... See more
A fantastic insight by Lisa Feldman Barrett: When someone expresses anxiety, the first thing you should do is ask: do you want empathy or do you want a solution?
Will 100% use this phrase going forward.
The role of tribes in achieving lasting impact and how to create them - LessWrong