Smart and stupid. They’re opposites, right? Actually, they might be more connected than we may think. Sometimes, what we consider stupid may be more unfamiliar-therefore-seemingly-undesirable than lacking intelligence. Sometimes, what starts out as stupid can be re-framed as smart and … Continued
There is a concept in decision-making called satisficing which describes the process of searching through available options until you arrive at one that meets “threshold acceptability,” that is, it is satisfactory and suitable and has enough of the characteristics you’re … Continued
Have you noticed that idealism (and its variations: ideal, idealistic, etc.) has become a dirty word lately? Utopia seems out of reach, especially during times when people feel as though integrity has taken a vacation & utter chaos fans the … Continued
The word ENTITLEMENT gets bandied about rather often… those to the right on the political spectrum say it with a sneer, feminists lament its patriarchal presence, millennials & Gen Z-ers are accused of having enough to spare, and Boomers loathe … Continued
Solidarity is born of rebellion. The common problems that believers and non-believers face together in politics and society — the plague of Nazism, for example — require everyone to work together. That, in and of itself, is an act of … Continued
We see the word SETTLE in a few different contexts that range from the legal to the historical & even to slang. A settlement is an official agreement intended to resolve a dispute or conflict, a formal arrangement made between … Continued
In Internet slang, a troll is a person who starts quarrels or upsets people to distract and sow discord by posting inflammatory and digressive, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community (such as a newsgroup, forum, chat room, or … Continued