OBLIGATIONS
I've been keeping this twitter thread on corporate amorality, but I haven't given nearly enough thought to our own amorality.
A brief thread on our little hypocrisy.
I've been keeping this twitter thread on corporate amorality, but I haven't given nearly enough thought to our own amorality.
A brief thread on our little hypocrisy.
I've been as guilty as others on Twitter...
"It’s easy to proclaim virtues when you have nothing at stake — and status to gain. But true morality is a luxury good when your livelihood’s at stake. When your family, reputation, or assets are on the line."
- ideafaktory.com/amoral/
"It’s easy to proclaim virtues when you have nothing at stake — and status to gain. But true morality is a luxury good when your livelihood’s at stake. When your family, reputation, or assets are on the line."
- ideafaktory.com/amoral/
All our actions must be viewed in context of our obligations—to our kids, spouses, communities, friends, nation, humans, employers. Likely, in that order.
It's why I've argued there is no evil. We all believe we're doing our best for at least 1 of those.
It's why I've argued there is no evil. We all believe we're doing our best for at least 1 of those.
Problems arise when we aren't in the group being served.
That opens the door to resentment, accusations, denunciations & labels.
That brings me to the controversy du jour: China.
That opens the door to resentment, accusations, denunciations & labels.
That brings me to the controversy du jour: China.
It's easy to denounce what's happening in Hong Kong on Twitter. To be heroes behind avatars. To denounce the NBA or its staff for bending to the will of a totalitarian state. But what do WE have at stake? What are WE willing to do about it?
NOTHING.
We're not sending money or supplies
We're not going there to fight
We're not pushing our representatives to go to war over Hong Kong
Would we risk not getting iPhones to support an embargo? Doubtful.
We empathize. We romanticize their struggle from a distance.
We're not sending money or supplies
We're not going there to fight
We're not pushing our representatives to go to war over Hong Kong
Would we risk not getting iPhones to support an embargo? Doubtful.
We empathize. We romanticize their struggle from a distance.
The crazy part of this is how normal this behavior is in all of us when it comes to protecting our livelihoods.
The abusive bosses we tolerate, the small sentiments we can't express, the unfairness we tolerate to keep our jobs. To keep our obligations.
The abusive bosses we tolerate, the small sentiments we can't express, the unfairness we tolerate to keep our jobs. To keep our obligations.
Life is servitude to our obligations
So is satisfaction
So is oppression
The difference?
Obligations we choose can bring satisfaction. Ones imposed or mandated by circumstances feel oppressive.
Either way, a touch of mercy is in order before pointing fingers at a fellow servant
So is satisfaction
So is oppression
The difference?
Obligations we choose can bring satisfaction. Ones imposed or mandated by circumstances feel oppressive.
Either way, a touch of mercy is in order before pointing fingers at a fellow servant
This Hong Kong, China, NBA situation has Twitter knee-jerking, as always. But our moral clarity on Twitter belies our murky hypocrisy.
ideafaktory.com/obligations/
ideafaktory.com/obligations/
Compliance. Companies do it. We do it.
Why? Obligations. ideafaktory.com/obligations
theverge.com/2019/10/10/209…
Why? Obligations. ideafaktory.com/obligations
theverge.com/2019/10/10/209…
