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I think that’s generally true of all descriptions of activities — we simply prefer to list the bad, as commiserating is more socially acceptable than “bragging”

by jakear 5y ago

I think that’s generally true of all descriptions of activities — we simply prefer to list the bad, as commiserating is more socially acceptable than “bragging” about how nice something is. See also: chewing fat over how work sucks rather than how happy you are to be working on interesting stuff, “the ol ball and chain” not how nice it is to have stable relationship, “fucking landlords taking all my money” not convenience of having someone else pay for repairs and assuming risk, etc.

Der_Einzige 5y ago
This is why "critical thinking" is overrated. Becoming good at critical thinking means that you become good at critique - the process of describing the flaws of something. This is the issue with the modern left in america. They do a great job of highlighting injustice (through teaching many critical thinking skills as part of "wokism") but then the solutions given are so poorly articulated that they're laughed out of the room. Most people know they are exploited - few know how to escape it. I'd rather not even know I'm exploited if I have no way out (you know, ignorance is bliss) You highlighted this with our own culture in small acts - but it's just as apparent with our body politic as well...
- ravenstine 5y ago
  Critical thinking is overrated in the sense that it's hard to distinguish from using superficially skeptical language. Being understanding epistemology and being flexible in thinking is more useful than being a curmudgeon who assumes anything that isn't intuitive is bullshit.
  - _carbyau_ 5y ago
    :-) OTOH, being old enough now to have seen multiple variations of quite a few products, I am amazed at how "designers" of products manage to get basic shit wrong. I mean, how hard is it to just look at your competition and see what they do right. ...and so I likely come across as a curmudgeon calling poorly designed things bullshit as I express my disappointment in a society that hasn't figured out hoverboards yet...

by jakear 5y ago

Der_Einzige 5y ago

This is why "critical thinking" is overrated. Becoming good at critical thinking means that you become good at critique - the process of describing the flaws of something. This is the issue with the modern left in america. They do a great job of highlighting injustice (through teaching many critical thinking skills as part of "wokism") but then the solutions given are so poorly articulated that they're laughed out of the room. Most people know they are exploited - few know how to escape it. I'd rather not even know I'm exploited if I have no way out (you know, ignorance is bliss) You highlighted this with our own culture in small acts - but it's just as apparent with our body politic as well...

ravenstine 5y ago
Critical thinking is overrated in the sense that it's hard to distinguish from using superficially skeptical language. Being understanding epistemology and being flexible in thinking is more useful than being a curmudgeon who assumes anything that isn't intuitive is bullshit.
- _carbyau_ 5y ago
  :-) OTOH, being old enough now to have seen multiple variations of quite a few products, I am amazed at how "designers" of products manage to get basic shit wrong. I mean, how hard is it to just look at your competition and see what they do right. ...and so I likely come across as a curmudgeon calling poorly designed things bullshit as I express my disappointment in a society that hasn't figured out hoverboards yet...