Talking about cultural things means getting things wrong.

I think cultural things are the most interesting things but they’re also the hardest to talk about with other people

A big part about talking about cultural things is getting things wrong. RIght? How can you get things right the first time around? If you’re interested in something, you’re going to explore, you’re going to hypothesize, and you’re going to be wrong

The experience of being wrong ain’t all that bad. But the experience of being piled on when you make a mistake is… pretty bad. I think I have some of the thickest skin, at least among the people I know IRL. I often encourage people to blog, to write publicly, to participate…

But lately I’m not so sure I can do that anymore. It has to come with a warning. “Be careful not to be wrong.” Because if you’re wrong, oh boy. Somebody’s going to let you know. If you’re particularly unlucky, many people are going to let you know. Repeatedly. It won’t be fun.

But what sort of shitty warning is that? Be careful not to be wrong? That’s terrible advice! Oh my god, I’ve turned into an adult. Be careful not to be wrong. What is wrong with me (lol). If you’re not making mistakes you are playing it way too safe + you aren’t learning anything

So what should it be then? Try not to be TOO wrong? Run all your thoughts by a risk-assessment panel? Or just acknowledge that every so often you’re going to be wrong and it’s going to hurt? Probably the last one. Feel the pain + do it anyway. How’s that different from “man up”?

May it be written on my grave: he was often wrong, and sometimes in interesting ways. (Pfft Visa ur SoooOoooO dramatic)