Comments on: The Point http://www.ryanholiday.net/the-point/ Meditations on strategy and life Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:25:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Contemptuous Expressions Pt 2 « RyanHoliday.net http://www.ryanholiday.net/the-point/#comment-13183 Contemptuous Expressions Pt 2 « RyanHoliday.net Thu, 14 Apr 2011 20:28:54 +0000 http://dev.ryanholiday.net/the-point/#comment-13183 [...] tried here, here, here, here, here, here, here and so many times when I needed to convince myself that it wasn’t all that it appeared. [...] [...] tried here, here, here, here, here, here, here and so many times when I needed to convince myself that it wasn’t all that it appeared. [...]

]]> By: Other Matt http://www.ryanholiday.net/the-point/#comment-12002 Other Matt Wed, 16 Jun 2010 10:47:53 +0000 http://dev.ryanholiday.net/the-point/#comment-12002 I took your advice and re-read this post. I certainly think I see where you're coming from, and I agree that the conditions of internet discussion tend to create surface level misinterpretations that are more often a product of unrecognized personal bias than they are the actual content of the source. Given this weakness, I had a couple questions. You said: "Think: misinterpretation layered on top of misinterpretation, stripped from context and general understanding. Without the ability to separate the folds to look at the central, underpinning parts of an issue, you're at the mercy of the comically distorted reality of the people mentioned above." What, then, is the value of a comments section of a blog like yours? How do you cultivate that value? You suggested a few practical exercises (Cui Bono, contemptuous expressions). Does anything else come to mind? These aren't rhetorical, I'm just curious what your thoughts are. I took your advice and re-read this post. I certainly think I see where you’re coming from, and I agree that the conditions of internet discussion tend to create surface level misinterpretations that are more often a product of unrecognized personal bias than they are the actual content of the source.

Given this weakness, I had a couple questions. You said:

“Think: misinterpretation layered on top of misinterpretation, stripped from context and general understanding. Without the ability to separate the folds to look at the central, underpinning parts of an issue, you’re at the mercy of the comically distorted reality of the people mentioned above.”

What, then, is the value of a comments section of a blog like yours? How do you cultivate that value?

You suggested a few practical exercises (Cui Bono, contemptuous expressions). Does anything else come to mind?

These aren’t rhetorical, I’m just curious what your thoughts are.

]]> By: Adam http://www.ryanholiday.net/the-point/#comment-12001 Adam Wed, 16 Jun 2010 10:04:48 +0000 http://dev.ryanholiday.net/the-point/#comment-12001 I really like this post. Blink talks about how too much information isn't helpful, and this really goes to the root of that. Your example of sex is perfect. The description you used isn't enough to really describe what sex is and convey all the pertinent aspects, but it is a perfect starting point. From there it would be an interesting exercise to see how few words can be added and convey all the pertinent info. My job could really benefit from thinking like this to reduce the amount of bullshit given, but it is strange (well not really) that the brass are actually pushing us in the opposite direction most of the time. I really like this post. Blink talks about how too much information isn’t helpful, and this really goes to the root of that.

Your example of sex is perfect. The description you used isn’t enough to really describe what sex is and convey all the pertinent aspects, but it is a perfect starting point. From there it would be an interesting exercise to see how few words can be added and convey all the pertinent info.

My job could really benefit from thinking like this to reduce the amount of bullshit given, but it is strange (well not really) that the brass are actually pushing us in the opposite direction most of the time.

]]> By: Kyle http://www.ryanholiday.net/the-point/#comment-12000 Kyle Sat, 12 Jun 2010 08:28:05 +0000 http://dev.ryanholiday.net/the-point/#comment-12000 I found this to be a very important read. I don't know how I'll change, but it has certainly lit the fuse to something. I found this to be a very important read. I don’t know how I’ll change, but it has certainly lit the fuse to something.

]]> By: grammar nazi http://www.ryanholiday.net/the-point/#comment-11999 grammar nazi Fri, 11 Jun 2010 20:10:48 +0000 http://dev.ryanholiday.net/the-point/#comment-11999 "is about more that improving reading comprehension." - THAN "in private verses the image he presents" - VERSUS And use some damn nouns “is about more that improving reading comprehension.” – THAN

“in private verses the image he presents” – VERSUS

And use some damn nouns

]]> By: Ryan Holiday http://www.ryanholiday.net/the-point/#comment-11998 Ryan Holiday Thu, 10 Jun 2010 19:33:45 +0000 http://dev.ryanholiday.net/the-point/#comment-11998 No, it's not like Gary Coleman dying at all. But this is a good example of what I was talking about. No, it’s not like Gary Coleman dying at all. But this is a good example of what I was talking about.

]]> By: Justin http://www.ryanholiday.net/the-point/#comment-11997 Justin Thu, 10 Jun 2010 17:15:29 +0000 http://dev.ryanholiday.net/the-point/#comment-11997 It's like when Gary Coleman died. Nobody wanted to find out what happened, they all just wanted to make jokes about it. Believe me, I'm all for jokes, but if that's where you're starting then the accuracy of anything from that point on is doomed. With blogs and social media, people get a ton of their news and information second-hand and riddled with opinion, and because we want to move on to the next thing before we're done with the first, nobody takes the time to check out the source. It’s like when Gary Coleman died. Nobody wanted to find out what happened, they all just wanted to make jokes about it. Believe me, I’m all for jokes, but if that’s where you’re starting then the accuracy of anything from that point on is doomed.

With blogs and social media, people get a ton of their news and information second-hand and riddled with opinion, and because we want to move on to the next thing before we’re done with the first, nobody takes the time to check out the source.

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