13 ms·

It's an interesting analogy: Our approach to an abundance of food vs. our approach to an abundance of information. Those who benefit from the food abundance se

It's an interesting analogy: Our approach to an abundance of food vs. our approach to an abundance of information. Those who benefit from the food abundance seem to explore the variety of what's available. They have a wider range of food experiences and therefore a broader spectrum of choices. For food, it's The strip mall choices vs. 'farm to table'. What's the spectrum for information? Vox Clickbait vs. ? Growing up in the Midwest, every pear I ate was as hard as an apple. Typically picked before they were ripe and mom didn't ripen them. As an adult in California, the first fresh picked, fully ripened pear I ate was incredible. Juice dripped down my arm, potent pear flavor, sweet like ice cream. How does one have a similar epiphany with information?

deltron3030 6y ago
> How does one have a similar epiphany with information? By becoming a paying subscriber. Gated content isn't tweaked for search algorithms and primitive human psychology and therefore always better (if it's not a scam).
Jtsummers 6y ago
> How does one have a similar epiphany with information? This is a hard problem. It's not like, with food, where you can go to an area where some kind of food is actually better and experience it (or not as easily). Even giving someone who's been on a poor information diet better quality content they may not recognize it or even accept it (in contrast to the extreme difference between a well-ripened pear and a still hard one). Culturally, an emphasis needs to be placed on better education with a focus on critical thinking. Individually, reading broadly and interacting with people of opposing views and differing cultures helps a lot. If you grow up in an insular community and are told, "The others are heathens", you will internalize it and find it difficult to appreciate their statements (whether fact or opinion or somewhere in between) and consider them. It also helps to become somewhat detached and critical of your own views, self-questioning (not self-doubt) and introspection allow you to start separating your beliefs (opinions and interpretations of facts) from your knowledge (the actual factual basis for beliefs, if it exists). Then you can start reforming your beliefs and better reflect on the beliefs and statements of others.
souprock 6y ago
How certain are you that the pear was fresh picked? (did you watch?) Do you have a high tolerance for grainy texture? Normally, pears must be picked green. If they ripen on the tree, they get a grainy texture that most people hate. They aren't like tomatoes; they can ripen just fine after being picked. Ripening a pear is certainly difficult. The skin is fragile. Pears are easy to bruise. It is very common for a pear to rot before ripening. Be really careful. Also, avoid buying pears with any sign of rot already starting at the bottom end, such as white fuzz. To get pears home safely, I place them on top of soft things like bread, and then I place them separately into my car.

deltron3030 6y ago

> How does one have a similar epiphany with information? By becoming a paying subscriber. Gated content isn't tweaked for search algorithms and primitive human psychology and therefore always better (if it's not a scam).

Jtsummers 6y ago

> How does one have a similar epiphany with information? This is a hard problem. It's not like, with food, where you can go to an area where some kind of food is actually better and experience it (or not as easily). Even giving someone who's been on a poor information diet better quality content they may not recognize it or even accept it (in contrast to the extreme difference between a well-ripened pear and a still hard one). Culturally, an emphasis needs to be placed on better education with a focus on critical thinking. Individually, reading broadly and interacting with people of opposing views and differing cultures helps a lot. If you grow up in an insular community and are told, "The others are heathens", you will internalize it and find it difficult to appreciate their statements (whether fact or opinion or somewhere in between) and consider them. It also helps to become somewhat detached and critical of your own views, self-questioning (not self-doubt) and introspection allow you to start separating your beliefs (opinions and interpretations of facts) from your knowledge (the actual factual basis for beliefs, if it exists). Then you can start reforming your beliefs and better reflect on the beliefs and statements of others.

souprock 6y ago

How certain are you that the pear was fresh picked? (did you watch?) Do you have a high tolerance for grainy texture? Normally, pears must be picked green. If they ripen on the tree, they get a grainy texture that most people hate. They aren't like tomatoes; they can ripen just fine after being picked. Ripening a pear is certainly difficult. The skin is fragile. Pears are easy to bruise. It is very common for a pear to rot before ripening. Be really careful. Also, avoid buying pears with any sign of rot already starting at the bottom end, such as white fuzz. To get pears home safely, I place them on top of soft things like bread, and then I place them separately into my car.