I'm completely obsessed with Dunbar's number! How many of the issues we currently face are simply because we all have instincts for living in small packs of 100-200 people, but we now live in metropolises??? (spoiler: a lot!)

Mockery works great! ...in the short run. But in the long run you are simply helping your opponent to grow their base.

Evolution > revolution Do you want to change who is at the “top” of the current system? Or do you want to create a better, more balanced, system?

People are rarely wrong, they are just missing perspective. If you want to change minds, don’t tell people that they are wrong, with what they are looking at, they probably aren’t wrong. Instead, show them that there is additional data that needs to be added to their equation.

I was a monetary theory nerd before I was a Bitcoin nerd & I love having a front row seat to watch how the evolution of technology expands monetary theory. Do we even have a theory for a multi-asset Lightning Network? What kind of economic theory applies when Alice can pay with whatever unit of account she wants and Bob can receive the money that he likes?!? Trying to guess how this will play out is going to require some more study into the psychology of unit of account, looking at previous examples of competing currencies, and thinking about how increased liquidity and reduced switching costs affects choices. My current thinking is that the network effect will wind up applying to the Lightning Network itself rather than to the specific coin or unit of account. What economic theories do you think apply to a multi-asset Lightning Network?

I'm gunna default to using female pro nouns for everything for a week. All animals, every time I speak abstractly about doctors, lawyers, bosses, etc. "Ladies" instead of "guys". I'll just assume female and see how many people I trigger 😁

We all have such an intense need for connection, and when we don't get in from local communities, we get it from being swept up in broader social movements. This is where all these political manias come from. And so the solution isn't political. To fix this we have to help people live more connected lives.

Unfortunately, I've experienced very little protection from men in my life. And people like this are the same ones who think that protection and control are the same thing. I never had, and want nothing to do with their "protection".

We all know it’s our job to manage our own emotions & behavior—and theirs is to manage theirs. But anyone who’s been married or had any kind of long-term relationship knows: it’s a lot easier for others to stay calm when you’re not being a giant ass. And really this is what most “communication skills” are about. learning how to say what needs to be said in a way that doesn’t require the other person to have expert-level emotional regulation. In any interaction, yes, you’re responsible for your behavior not theirs. But what’s your goal? If it’s emotional revenge, sure, stay calm while landing blows. If it’s education or agreement, deliver your message in a way that’s easy to digest. So… what are your goals?

Why do the police wear uniforms and badges? Well one reason is so that people can tell the difference between someone getting arrested and someone being kidnapped. Another is so that police can be identified and held to a high standard. What other reasons are there?

It’s a growing sentiment, the idea that mocking others, “dunking” on others, is an effective tool for changing minds. It may feel that way, especially on some social media platforms. But… # of likes ≠ winning hearts and minds. In fact it’s generally the opposite. I don’t engage in mockery, not because I’m a superior human, but because I know it is not only ineffective, it is counter productive. Here is what happens when you “dunk” on others… - You “energize your base” and excite those who are looking for emotional revenge. - You silence those who aren’t willing to step into the shit storm. - You demonstrate to the people watching that you are not safe to engage in real conversations with. - You hurt and shut down those who were on the other side but curious about your views. - You inspire revenge from those you’ve insulted, and can expect their blow back in the future. - You further the division. Mockery can feel like winning, especially on some social media platforms, as it is an effective short term strategy. In the short term you excite your base, get likes, and drive away dissenters. But you lose the hearts and minds of anyone outside your core base. You show yourself to be not worthy of real engagement. You push those on the fence over to the other side. And in the long run you’ve put yourself and your team in a much worse position. It might feel really good in the moment, but it’s a small short term win in exchange for a large long term loss. Mockery is an indulgent, short term strategy.