Joan Westenberg (@Daojoan) was one of the first good things that happened to me after joining Mastodon. I started reading her publications in no time and it amazes me how she manages to post good content at such a pace.
As I try to keep up, I want to suggest you read: We don’t need more cynics. We need more builders.
Take this insight for example:
Creating is harder than criticizing. Much harder. This fundamental asymmetry shapes our intellectual landscape in profound ways.
This is an asymmetry we usually overlook as a society. Ironically, being so prone to highlight the flaws at sight —not within, hardly translates into action. Although it would be unwise to try to correct all the things we believe could be better, our built-in reluctance to acknowledge the nuances and biases within the alleged flaws plays a major role in our subjective perception of reality.
Or, in Westenberg’s words:
Cynicism is comfortable. It’s safe. It’s often even correct about specific problems. But it’s ultimately a dead end. The future belongs to those who combine critical thinking with creative building and skeptical analysis with hopeful action.
So, what I get from this article is a clear contrast of how pragmatic meliorism has more potential in changing reality than cynicism, despite the latter being right about the wrongs.
Photo by Jakob Rubner on Unsplash
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