I was asked the eternal question. Well okay, so it’s not really eternal, but — because I talk so much about negotiation and compromise — I get asked it A LOT. “How do you negotiate with such people?” Such people are the bullies, temper tantrum throwers and “NO COMPROMISE!” idealists (read, pain in the … [Read more…]
Over the last few years I have been telling people that I was tracking the rise in “Right Wing Extremism.” Now much of it was just tough talk, but there was enough to make me seriously concerned — especially when it was looking as if Hillary was going to win. These guys were gearing … [Read more…]
I get tired of people asking me for ‘fear management’ questions and ‘how can I do 27 stupid things and still be safe? I do not live in a world of insults, loss of face, feelings or self-esteem issues. I do live in a world of danger. Dangers usually created by selfish and reckless … [Read more…]
The internet is awash with memes. Many of these memes are designed to convey a point of view or explain a subject. Many memes can be divided into two types, Smart Memes and Dumb Memes. Smart Memes have the effect of making you smarter by providing insight, by showing you a new perspective, or … [Read more…]
Are you interested in making America strong? Here are my thoughts on how you can help do it. Making a strong America requires having more strong Americans. What does it mean to be a strong American? It means to be a strong person. What does it mean to be a strong person? Being a … [Read more…]
There’s something I’ve written about, thresholds, and it’s not quite right. Experience with violence rewires you. The person who has survived a violent encounter is not the same person as they were before the violent encounter. Five encounters later, there’s another definite change. Then another and another and another. Six discrete stages is as … [Read more…]
I often tell people I weathered the LA Riots — and most of them have no clue what that means. Nor do they understand why I fear mob uprisings (especially thick are those who are pushing for such uprisings). You really do want cops keeping a lid on things and you really don’t want to … [Read more…]
Working on a model. A lot of things have puzzled me for the last several years, especially things that look, to me, like people fighting against their own self-interest; people blind to the disconnect between their own peaceful words and violent actions; people arguing and even rioting against their own civil rights (WTF, people?); … [Read more…]
Video link. Otherism also known as Othering is when a person is considered to “not be one of us.” It is the exclusion of a person who deviates from “acceptable” norms. The exclusion can be based on race, religion, ethnicity, country of origin, social economic factors, gender, sexual orientation, disability, and more. Many forms of … [Read more…]
Congratulations, you smeared distinctions to create a bigger political block, raising an inclusive banner to seem to present a unified whole for your cause. Good idea right? After all, your PR to create and identify a large, unified group to the outside world worked. Except now everyone else can’t tell the difference between you and … [Read more…]