Category Archives: Human Relations
Don’t “Other” Other People
Most people aren’t familiar with the idea of “othering,” but they are familiar with what it is. They’ve seen it. They’ve done it to other people, and they’ve had it done to them. To “other” a group of people is … Continue reading
Minding Our Own Business
I’m pretty sure that the Dalai Lama quote is fake, but it’s still true. “Not my effing problem” can be a path not only to inner peace, but also to social peace. Think for a moment about what it means … Continue reading
What To Do If Someone Dislikes You
What should you do if someone dislikes you? The first step is simple and obvious: Get over it. People sometimes dislike us for all kinds of reasons that have nothing to do with us. Maybe we remind them of a … Continue reading
Humility and Tolerance Go Together
Name an issue: Immigration. Abortion. Free speech. Lockdowns. Riots. Race relations. Many people are absolutely sure that they know what the problems and solutions are. If you don’t agree with them, then they think you must be ignorant, stupid, or … Continue reading
You Are Responsible for You
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) was a poor boy from Illinois who became one of America’s greatest presidents. He was not a perfect person. He failed often, but he never let it stop him. He kept on going. And whether he failed … Continue reading
In Defense of Misguided People
Misguided people are all around us. Of course, which people we call misguided depends on how misguided we are, ourselves. So I want to say a few words in defense of misguided people. They might not know the facts I … Continue reading
Why People Are Not Things
Is it ever justified to treat people unequally? Before you try to answer, notice something about the question: It’s not a factual question. It doesn’t ask what is, but what ought to be. We might include facts in our answer, but … Continue reading
The Costs of Forbidden Thoughts
“Truth has nothing to fear from open discussion and debate: in fact, they are its closest allies.” Continue reading
Two Beliefs That Don’t Conflict
Some beliefs are inconsistent with each other. If you hold one of the beliefs, then you can’t hold the other. For example: The number 5 is less than the number 10. The number 5 is not less than the number … Continue reading