Morning Thoughts From A Social Justice Warrior

I find it useful to have “tripwires” set up, such that people who say or do certain things can be clearly considered to be either sleepers, snakes, monsters, or simply see the world so differently that you cannot travel together. If they define “car” as “cat” or vice versa, you are going to have a difficult time having a conversation, and would be well served to assume that there are other words they define oddly as well, enough that when you disagree about something, you have to stop and examine every fundamental building block of the conversation: every word, phrase, concept, to be sure you are actually talking about the same things, or accepting similar standards for evidence of existence or negation.

Without that, you have no conversation. There are lots of possible explanations for why this happens:

1. You might be wrong. Your own definitions or standards might be incorrect. There are arenas where you are discussing things that cannot be objectively measured. Unfortunately, it can be quite difficult. One solution: if we are in conflict, and it is not possible to create an objective standard, then I ask: what are the results they get from holding this point of view? Are they healthier than I am physically? Happier alone and in relationships? Make more money doing something they love? Yes? Then I’ll look much more carefully than if the answer to any of those is “no.” And if the answer to ALL of them is “no”? Umm…
2. They might be wrong…about this. But still have much to offer in…