Concealed effort
Modern society conceals effort. Its vital structures – agriculture, freight transport, energy production, city planning – are invisible to us. Its interfaces – malls, shops, call centers, websites – dispense …
The twists of ’99
The best plot twist is one that completely respects the rules. Consider Fight Club and The Sixth Sense, two 1999 films famous for their third-act mindblowers. If you haven’t seen …
My counselors
I was a bad fit at school. Life at home wasn’t always a breeze either. So, when I was nine, I started seeing the school counselor. She was a young …
The anime feeling
One of the traditional differences between American and Japanese animation is their portrayals of advanced technology. America has shied away from it, favoring creatures, fairytales, and preindustrial societies. You can …
Willpower
Two people take turns trying to lift a large rock. One holds it above their head for a few moments. The other can barely get it an inch off the …
Why I don’t hate capitalism
Like most progressive youths, I had an anti-capitalist awakening. With a nudge or two to the left from more educated friends, I understood just how ruthless the modern world is. …
The sandcastle
I was at the park yesterday. A young boy was hard at work sculpting a sandcastle, until his mother called: “Time to go home, dear.” “No, I wanna stay longer.” …
Good and bad gatekeeping
Gatekeeping is the practice of inventing additional criteria for a label. Think “you’re not a true metalhead if you don’t like Maiden”, or “you’re not really a parent if your …
Hot take on humanity
The general consensus on humanity – that is, humanity’s attitude toward itself – is mixed. In some ways, we hold ourselves in exceptionally high esteem. We see something inherently miraculous …
Models of good and evil
I believe in moral non-objectivism, meaning that I don’t see good and evil as independent virtues. As far as I’m concerned, they only exist in our minds, and it’s their …