Haven’t been on Substack long, but these kind of posts is what’s keeping me here. I honestly haven’t found this much value and interest in anything online in a long time! Great post, please keep it up.
All ten have elements of truth. They are pithy ("telegraphic") explanations of complex "arguments." I wrote about 25 contributions to various encyclopedias. The most (15) were to the Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology 1st edition. Some were longer (5,000 words was the most) and many were shorter (250 words was the shortest). Then we were asked to reduce each contribution by about 65% for a one volume version. That was REALLY hard. (I already felt even the longest was not long enough.) It is very hard to get a complex idea across in a few words and write that in a style that the average sophomore can grasp without constantly consulting a dictionary. I had to cut out words like "epistemology" and "metonym" from several (due to editorial comments or proof reader comments. So, I think you did a great job! Thank you. It is not easy to put write a very succinct definition that is fairly accurate and not too misleading.
For me in the last half century "If anything can go wrong, it will." also , "if anything can be reversed, backwards or inverted, it will be" The solution might be double-check or triple-check but also validate your assumptions.
There are many variants of this long-standing law for Engineers, Designers and Creators, perhaps writers too , although they have more opinions and creative license.
Thank you. I liked "If it can be inverted, it will be." That happened to the word "meme" as coined from a technical term by Richard Dawkins. The internet use of "social media memes" was an inversion (reversal) of the broader meaning. I think Dawkins meant "cultural tropes" and meant to stay somewhat neutral. Now it is often a term used in a negative sense.
In my country Malaysia, I can relate No. 3 refers to an Idiot called Hadi Awang who spews hatred towards non-Muslims. No.8 refers to another idiot called Mahathir Mohamed former Prime Minister. Thanx for the list.
Thank you. I had never heard of him (Abdul Hadi Awang). I looked him up. He is considered one of the 500 most influential Muslims in the world. He said Christian missionaries come to Malaysia because they have failed in their own countries (e.g., USA). He also said there is little difference between Trump and Biden. Both statements can be disputed, of course. I know next to nothing about Malaysian politics today.
This was great, thanks. This was linked in the Morning Dispatch newsletter.
This stack deserves to be printed and framed. These are up there with Occam and Hanlon.
Haven’t been on Substack long, but these kind of posts is what’s keeping me here. I honestly haven’t found this much value and interest in anything online in a long time! Great post, please keep it up.
All ten have elements of truth. They are pithy ("telegraphic") explanations of complex "arguments." I wrote about 25 contributions to various encyclopedias. The most (15) were to the Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology 1st edition. Some were longer (5,000 words was the most) and many were shorter (250 words was the shortest). Then we were asked to reduce each contribution by about 65% for a one volume version. That was REALLY hard. (I already felt even the longest was not long enough.) It is very hard to get a complex idea across in a few words and write that in a style that the average sophomore can grasp without constantly consulting a dictionary. I had to cut out words like "epistemology" and "metonym" from several (due to editorial comments or proof reader comments. So, I think you did a great job! Thank you. It is not easy to put write a very succinct definition that is fairly accurate and not too misleading.
Thank you for your contributions. I'll keep this in mind as I move towards 2023
Great insights, glad I subscribed!
I have often maintained that the only difference between stupidity and genius is that genius knows its limits.
Quite good . Thanks
Wow! Annnata! Good stuff! Double like! : )
Outstanding. Every missive from you is a breath of fresh air in my day. Thanks!
“because people are more interested in criticizing others than helping them.” Surely not all people on the internet are interested in being critical?
Not all, no. Since each description I wrote had to fit into a tweet, I chose to favor pithiness over precision.
Great summary! If you don't mind I'd like to post this on my blogs, Flourishing and Thinking Objectively, with proper attribution, of course.
No problem Henry, go ahead. Thanks.
Thanks! I enjoy your work.
For me in the last half century "If anything can go wrong, it will." also , "if anything can be reversed, backwards or inverted, it will be" The solution might be double-check or triple-check but also validate your assumptions.
There are many variants of this long-standing law for Engineers, Designers and Creators, perhaps writers too , although they have more opinions and creative license.
https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Murphy%27s_law
Thank you. I liked "If it can be inverted, it will be." That happened to the word "meme" as coined from a technical term by Richard Dawkins. The internet use of "social media memes" was an inversion (reversal) of the broader meaning. I think Dawkins meant "cultural tropes" and meant to stay somewhat neutral. Now it is often a term used in a negative sense.
Late to the game here, but number 8 is interesting but makes me want to know what makes a good leader. I have my own opinions.
A list of 10 things says 9 of them are useless crap… I see what you did there.
Not at all. The 90% of "junk" specifically referred to small talk, clickbait, and marketing. None of the entries in this list are any of those things.
In my country Malaysia, I can relate No. 3 refers to an Idiot called Hadi Awang who spews hatred towards non-Muslims. No.8 refers to another idiot called Mahathir Mohamed former Prime Minister. Thanx for the list.
Thank you. I had never heard of him (Abdul Hadi Awang). I looked him up. He is considered one of the 500 most influential Muslims in the world. He said Christian missionaries come to Malaysia because they have failed in their own countries (e.g., USA). He also said there is little difference between Trump and Biden. Both statements can be disputed, of course. I know next to nothing about Malaysian politics today.