provocations
provocative ideas, musings, and statements to mull on
sari and
provocations
"When it comes to utility and efficiency, we are misanthropists. We actually kind of hate other humans." - @cpaik, partner @PaceCap
"When you're in an Uber and (the driver) starts talking to you, you wish you were in a Waymo."
"We are actually very happy with humans being removed from these... See more
TBPNx.comThis is the first and most important test of alternative values. Can you take your own exit, and stay on the road. If the answer is no, there's no there there.
Reggie James • SAVE THE INTERNET
The “drowning child” thought experiment involves seeing a child drowning in a pond on your way to work. Most people would jump in the pond to save the child, not thinking twice about the laundry bill from getting their clothes dirty. And yet, the amount of dollars spent on the dry cleaning bill could be spent on saving a child from starvation in a... See more
Erik Hoel • EconTalk on Apple Podcasts
(PDF) The Environment Is Not A System
PDF | This paper considers some of the limitations and possibilities of computational models in the context of environmental inquiry, specifically... | Find, read and cite all the research you need on ResearchGate
researchgate.net
Data-driven research methods necessitate the collection of huge quantities of data and in doing so, they dismantle opportunities for paying close specific attention to the world. These methods also tend to obscure the many other ways of building understanding. Also, perhaps intentionally, data collection increasingly acts to maintain the status quo. We use data to study problems that would be more effectively addressed through simple political action. The impetus to “study the problem” ad nauseam gives the appearance of addressing an issue while perfectly maintaining the present state of affairs.
The story ends when enough people stop believing in it, not when the opportunity space actually dries up.
Venkatesh Rao • Narrative Slipstream Effects
Put a bag of cookies in the break room and it might sit for days.
Open the bag and leave it out, and within an hour, all the cookies will be gone.
We are happy to take a tiny slice off the thing that’s being shared, but we hesitate to open the bag.
The same is true with all of the initiatives in our culture. Design, movements and ideas are all... See more
Open the bag and leave it out, and within an hour, all the cookies will be gone.
We are happy to take a tiny slice off the thing that’s being shared, but we hesitate to open the bag.
The same is true with all of the initiatives in our culture. Design, movements and ideas are all... See more