This essay, "On Great Conversation," feels like an extension, and frankly, better expression, of some of the ideas I was trying to get at with Principles of Interaction. They key points: Conversation is (or should be) a co-creation of shared meaning. Good conversation has new additions building on old, whereas bad conversation replaces what came … Continue reading Comments on “On Great Conversation”
Tag: social interaction
Principles of Interaction
Note: This essay is a work in progress, a way to think through some ideas I have about social interaction, reality testing, worldviews and what not. Introduction "Von Neumann would carry on a conversation with my 3-year-old son, and the two of them would talk as equals, and I sometimes wondered if he used the … Continue reading Principles of Interaction
The Self: Presented, Perceived & Real
Read, "Didi" by Amber Caron reprinted on the Electric Literature website as "A Teenage Girl is a Funhouse Mirror," and I liked it quite a bit. I thought I'd reference it here because I can imagine referring to it again in the future. The key takeaway that I took from it is that it is … Continue reading The Self: Presented, Perceived & Real
Parking Lots & Cultural Stans
"The twin gods of Smooth Traffic and Ample Parking have turned our downtowns into places that are easy to get to, but not worth arriving at.” The quote is from urban designer Jeff Speck. It’s hard to think of a pithier one to describe the parking pandemic blighting America’s city centers — except perhaps the … Continue reading Parking Lots & Cultural Stans
Communities vs. Transactions
My wife and I have different ways of looking at the world. It occurs to me today that the ambiguity of these two ways of looking at relationships is often exploited. I think my wife's understanding is typical. In her view, people do things for one another because they care about one another. Unless it … Continue reading Communities vs. Transactions
The Evolution of Trust
"In the short run, the game defines the players. But in the long run, it's us players who define the game.So, do what you can do, to create the conditions necessary to evolve trust. Build relationships. Find win-wins. Communicate clearly.-The Evolution of Trust Really interesting explanation of game theory. Worth going through in its entirety. … Continue reading The Evolution of Trust
The Danger of Small Talk
"The Finnish don’t believe in talking bullshit." —Laura Studarus. "How the Finnish Survive Without Small Talk." BBC.com. October 17, 2018. Small talk is a social lubricant. It creates openings, fills in gaps in conversation, and eases partings. In environments with complex social networks that extend past our Dunbar numbers, social anxiety is a natural byproduct … Continue reading The Danger of Small Talk
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