I summarize the key points of the US political debate around the ‘traditional family’. Quoting JD Vance and Vivek Ramaswamy, I explore how it ties up with Rob Henderson’s ‘Luxury Beliefs’. I ponder over how desirable it is to go for radical policy changes in an institution that stood the test of time.
Why Political Discourse Seems So Stupid
I talk about why the current political discourse seems so stupid. I borrow the following concepts to make my point: - Final Vocabulary - Purva Paksha - Ideological Turing Test - Pigeonholing
Are You Addicted to Social Media?
I talk about social media addiction, and how it affects our personal lives. We joined Facebook to connect with long-lost friends across the globe. Only to lose the ability to hold uninterrupted conversations with friends right in front of us. I dig into the perils of phone-based childhood and what young parents can do about it. Also, I briefly share my recent experiments to wean myself away from social media.
How Frugality fuels Creativity
I go down the memory lane, to the 90s where technology was still on the fringes of life. I revisit the days when we exchanged letters, where photos were taken to mark an important event. And, then, I ask whether the abundance of technology has cheapened what ideally should be treasured.
How much knowledge is enough knowledge?
I ask: how much knowledge is enough knowledge? Every year, we see a new list of books that promise to reshape our understanding of how the world works. But to a curious reader, this poses a problem: how much knowledge is enough knowledge? I seek answers to whether there is a reading equivalent of Minimum Effective Dose, the smallest dose that will produce a desired outcome.
Authenticity and Political Correctness in Business Communication
Should you publicly express an opinion that is at odds with the prevailing standards of political correctness? In this article, I seek answers to questions like: - If you self-censor on social media platforms, are you still being authentic? - Are you being authentic if you’re complying with what’s politically correct? - Is there no middle ground between authenticity and political correctness? If you ever held back from expressing an opinion online, this is for you.
The Future of Reading
The same writing appears dramatically different when you shift your gaze from a printed copy to a digital screen.
Are You a Hedgehog or a Fox?
“The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing.” ~ Greek poet Archilochus
Compassion vs. Empathy
Compassion requires you to rise above the dualities of victim and predator and look at the system that produces these classes.
Of Unearned Wisdom
“Beware of unearned wisdom.” - Carl Jung
Musings by Madhav 