My Rules for Engagement
I spent all my twenties thinking time was the most important asset you could ever have, but lately that belief has been shattered. I think the most important thing is attention. You could have all the time in the world and still waste it away, so it's not about timeāit's about what you do with it.
I am in my early 30s now, and there are things I want to do in this world and experience to the fullest in my own way, so anything that diverts me from those moments needs to be ruthlessly cut down. People who know me well know that I don't do anything to please the crowd or fit into a box. My opinions can be unconventionalānot because I want to stand out, but because I always question and strive for the right answer.
But I also have the humility to accept that I cannot focus on every problem in the world. At present, I am a mortal being who has spent 1/3 of my life asleep, so I need to optimize the remaining 2/3 in the way I want to spend it. Whether it's working on the technological problems I care about, producing / writing amazing films, spending quality time with my family and friends, or experiencing the world through adventure and curiosityāI choose the path, not others.
Lately, I have been dragged into multiple conversations where I don't know much about the topic or don't agree with the norm because it doesn't fit into the logical thinking framework I have constructed in my head. That being said, I am always open to adapting and evolving, but that only happens if someone gives me a bulletproof counterfactual argument. But most people don't do that. Despite technological evolution, we are still primitive in our thinking, and it's easier for us to see the world in binary terms: good/bad, wrong/right, etc. It's easy to reconcile with that, and it probably helps with the internal ego boost that props up one's identity.
Anyway, I am not here to argue what one should or shouldn't do. When it comes to freedom of speech and expression, I support and stand by it indisputably, even if the person next to me is spewing racial slurs. As long as humans behave within the constraints of law and are not physically hurting other beings, it should be allowed. I don't think I have any sort of moral superiority or inferiority to tell someone they're wrong. Without this, there's no absolute freedom.
I believe in human optimism. I believe that there are no good or bad human beings in absolute termsāmerely a set of actions that people choose because of the consequences they have faced throughout their lives. I believe in utopia. I believe in us flourishing. I absolutely believe that no human should ever suffer from lack of basic needs such as food, shelter, and safety. I believe in equality of opportunity but not equality of outcomes.
So, now that you have the gist and want to have a conversation with me about open-ended topics, here's the ruleset:
Science and Facts
When it comes to science, facts trump opinionsāand I am talking about hard sciences. Social science is riddled with statistical inconsistencies and cherry-picking of data and needs to evolve. For example, if you want to tell me all vaccines are bad, you are stupid/wrong, but if you want to debate the efficacy of a certain vaccine that hasn't been through rigorous testing, I would be willing to listen as long as you support your claims.
Selective Focus
I don't need to have an opinion or take a stance on every problem in this world. My energy and time are limited, and I need to focus on the problems I can control or impact. So yes, despite how unbelievably painful the suffering is (which I truly empathize with from the bottom of my heart), there's not much I can do about it. So no, I don't have an opinion on Israel-Palestine, Russia-Ukraine, or India-Pakistan. They are complex issues riddled with nuances and unfortunately prime examples of human tribal mentality.
Against Virtue Signaling
I hate virtue signaling, and if that's your thing, don't bother bringing it to me. I believe in long-term solutions, not patchwork. For example, with climate change, the long-term solution isāsurprise, surpriseāmore technological advancement: clean, renewable, and affordable energy sources not just for the affluent West but for the remaining 90% of developing economies in the world. Instead, if you think your idea of helping climate change is to go protest on a highway, by all means, go ahead (referencing point one about believing in freedom of speech and expression). I will appreciate your enthusiasm, but according to me, you are not moving the needle. You think you are, but you are not.
Economic Systems
Democracy and regulated free markets are the least worst things we have for a functioning society, and I am a product of that. Without capitalism, there's no chance for me or the generations ahead to rise from poverty in a small village in India, breaking all caste and religious dogma to sit where I am. So yes, if you have a better option, I am all earsābut only when it makes sense. Yes, I know things need to be fixed and it's messy, but if your solution is either communism, socialism, or more government control, once again, you've lost touch with reality or probably speaking from a privileged position, and honestly, I would consider that an insult to people like meāand I represent millions and millions.
Optimism Over Pessimism
Last but not least, if your worldview is filled with pure pessimism, I am sorry that you feel that way, but don't come and rub that off on me. If you want to feel miserable, by all means, you do youābut leave me alone. I have better things to do than sit in a corner crying that the world's going to shit. Fun fact, by the way: the world has always been shit. Our history is written in blood. There's no fairnessāneither then nor now. There's no equal opportunity. A hundred years ago, if you were born a peasant, you died a peasant, but now it's improving. Because unlike you, there are others who wake up and do their jobs to help themselves and others. They care for their families and friends. They do their best to help the communities they are connected to in their own way. One step at a time.
But if you decide that you would like to see a ray of hope in that pessimistic dark corner of yours, I will be the first to lend my hand and be there with you, next to you, and show you how beautiful life can be.