Thread by @personunsure

This is one of the most important things I’ve ever seen on the internet ncase.me/crowds/

I grew up in a debate heavy culture. Lots of arguments about religious/theological minutiae. It gave me a continuous feeling that I was aware of multiple perspectives on the world and was therefore capable of making wise decisions

This game made me realize how deeply wrong that was. I spent 24 years without even a single acquaintance who wasn’t a devout evangelical christian. I never heard a good faith argument for any other way of looking at the world

I think I knew that for a long time, and I think I knew it was a problem for a long time. But I think it was debate culture that blinded me and made me feel safe. If we could spend so much time arguing about our faith, then we must be taking it seriously and it must be solid

For example: the problem of evil. I’ve spent hours of my life discussing it, but never had a discussion where it was seriously considered that maybe the supreme being is actually the cause of evil

We always started with the good Christian god, and there was no space for the conversation to ask if maybe that god is actually responsible for evil. That conversation, while it felt stimulating and validating at the time, had absolutely nowhere to really go

Aside from an existential crisis, it leads me to emphasize making sure I’m aware of the subtly agreed upon assumptions that I enter debates with. Whether it’s work or personal, I need increased clarity about what’s on the table and what is not

When we have a strategy conversation, are we willing to ask the big, deep questions about what we’re trying to accomplish? Are we willing to turn everything upside down with new information? Or are we set on continuing down the road we’re on with only minor adjustments?

Not to say that we should enter every conversation ready to question our fundamental beliefs about the world. But that we should always be clear headed about what we’re actually willing to discuss. If we’re asking big questions, everything is on the table for me

If we’re asking questions about college, I’m asking if we really expect higher education in 16 years to still resemble today’s college.

If we’re asking questions about the meaning of life, I’m asking if maybe there’s no meaning at all.

Don’t let a debate culture, especially in the internet age, falsely convince you that you’ve thought deeply about things.

Ask the biggest questions, and go wherever they take you