Your opponent's view

Imagine the opposite point of view: that we can fully understand our opponent without being able to argue from their perspective.

Understanding your opponent’s perspective is crucial not only in conflict but also in everyday interactions and struggles. It allows for more empathetic and effective communication.

Steelmanning involves constructing the strongest possible version of an opponent's argument, even if you disagree with it, so you can create the best possible refutation.

This contrasts with strawmanning, where you create arguments your opponent does not hold and defeat those, distracting from their actual point.

Steelmanning encourages a deeper understanding and more productive dialogue

Mostly Improbable

 

Experience Possession

 

I Will Not Yield

In the shadow of the ballot's cast, 

Where tyranny's grip threatens to last, 

I stand alone, defiant and bold, 

My heart aflame, my spirit untold. 

I will not yield, tyranny must die, 

Justice and freedom, my battle cry.

Democracy's promise, now betrayed, 

By those who seek to see us swayed. 

Yet in my veins, the fire burns bright, 

To challenge darkness, to reclaim the light. 

I will not yield, tyranny must die, 

Justice and freedom, my battle cry.

Virtue and wisdom, my guiding stars, 

Against the masses' unqualified czars. 

The rule of law, my steadfast shield, 

Injustice and corruption, I shall not yield. 

I will not yield, tyranny must die, 

Justice and freedom, my battle cry.

Against the tide, I hold my ground, 

In every heart, the courage found. 

To face the storm, to break the chain, 

To rise again, and end the pain. 

I will not yield, tyranny must die, 

Justice and freedom, my battle cry.

So hear my cry, let it resound, 

In every city, in every town. 

I am the guardian, fierce and true, 

In the face of tyranny, I will break through. 

I will not yield, tyranny must die, 

Justice and freedom, my battle cry.

Justice Mending the Broken

 

Lupusolus Unbound

Under the cold, watchful eye of the moon, I tread through the snow-covered wilderness. The night is a vast, silent expanse, and the chill bites at my fur, a constant reminder of my solitude. The pack sleeps huddled together, wrapped in the warmth of their collective body heat, their breaths mingling in the frosty air. They find comfort in numbers, bound by the traditions and safety of the group. But I, Lupusolus, have chosen a different path. In the silence of the night, I find my truth, a song of freedom that resonates with the wild's untamed spirit.

In my solitude, I am unbound. I am a hunter of dreams, free to roam where my instincts lead me. There are no rules to bind me, no chains to hold me back. The night is my canvas, and I paint my journey with the strokes of my paws on the snow. The pack's call is a distant echo, a siren's song that promises safety and belonging, but I have chosen liberty over conformity.

The pack offers security, a shield from harm, and a chance to thrive. In their midst, I was whole, yet bound by the expectations and customs that dictated my every move. The warmth of their embrace was a binding charm, a comfort that came with limits. I spurned these expectations, choosing instead the call of the wild, the freedom to wander alone, even as the nights grew long and cold.

Hurt by the loss of my pack, I am resolute in my quest. In solitude, I find my own path, my own test. The moon's cold light is my only guide, casting shadows where secrets hide. I hunt the night, a soul unchained, and in this solitude, my spirit gains strength. The pack's warmth is a distant dream, a memory of what once seemed like home.

In the pack, there is a balance of freedom and belonging, a necessity for survival. But in my heart, I know the truth. In solitude, I am unbound, free to chase the moon and the stars. The pack's call is a reminder of what I have left behind, but it is also a testament to my choice, my resolve to live by my own rules.

The wilderness is my domain, a realm where I am both hunter and hunted. The cold night air fills my lungs, and the silence is a symphony that only I can hear. I am Lupusolus, a lone wolf, free to roam, free to dream, free to be. The pack's norms no longer bind me, and in this freedom, I find my true self.

Yet, the pack's warmth and safety are not forgotten. They are a part of me, a reminder of the balance I once knew. In their midst, I was whole, but now, in my solitude, I am unbound. The journey is mine alone, a path that I have chosen, and in this choice, I find my strength.

For in my heart, I know the truth. In solitude, I am unbound, and in the pack, I find proof of what I have left behind. Both is a necessity for all, to be free and whole, to rise and to fall.

Normative Barber-arians

 

For many decades the barber's chair was/is a kind of special communal space, of news, gossip, debate, and familiar faces. However in the era of quick cuts this has fallen away, as we have become a thing to be processed and moved along.