Building on two articles by Holden Karnoffsky, I argue that utopian fiction fails because it's trying to depict something impossible. Read more (5 min, 1700 words).
Why Utopia Fails
Tag: psychology
The Self Compass
Four classes of forces shape our selves, which do we think of as the most important? It varies, and if we miss this we have a hard time properly understanding what others are saying. Read more (11 min, 2800 words).
The Political Is Personal
People experience the nature of their wants, needs and desires very differently, and when they generalize the specifics of their own psychology onto everyone else it has a profound effect on their political beliefs. Read more (13 min, 3200 words).
7 Unworkable Projects
I discuss seven overly ambitious projects I idly fantasize about being able to complete. Read more(20 min, 4900 words).
Toxic Emissions
We often say things we don't really mean, which is fine as long as what we say doesn't make its way to where it looks like we do mean it. Avoiding that is getting more and more difficult and the consequences are quite serious.
Read more (8 min, 2000 words).
Further Comments on a Joke
I elaborate on and explain my satirical piece from the month before Read more (19 min, 4700 words).
Abolish Secret Ballots
An argument that secret ballots is an unacceptable exercise of power without accountability. Read more (6 min, 1400 words).
Platist Politics
I muse on whether there is a link between being easily stressed by having to keep many things in mind and having a rights-based, individualist political intuition. Read more (12 min, 3100 words).
I Hate the Plate
I discuss the difference between stress buckets and stress plates and conclude that my plate is making it hard for me to feel well. Read more (6 min, 1500 words).
Variations on the Tilted Political Compass
I make up ten variations of my version of the political compass from last year. Some small and fun, some large and serious, and it all comes together by the end. Read more (36 min, 8900 words).
Everything Studies 