>> People only voted for Trump because they were 'tricked'.
This narrative implies we lack free will and is really insulting to people. They’re using fear to position the reader as a potential victim who should continue reading their articles to avoid a similar fate.
Sure, there are superficial interactions with strangers in dense, global communities. There’s also an increased likelihood of meeting someone who may significantly expand your network and change your life at any moment.
Humility is an aspect that’s often missing from these urban vs. suburban/rural discussions. Living in an suburban community and working in tech, it’s very easy to have a high opinion of yourself. Moving to SF quickly humbles you as you are suddenly surrounded by people much smarter than yourself. You feel a need to focus on what you’re uniquely good at and work on continuing to improve your skills in that niche. That was my experience anyway.
I don't view myself as a "negative person", although I've been repeatedly diagnosed as such by "positive people" for pointing out truths that they would have preferred to ignore indefinitely. At the end-of-the-day, these "positive people" make up the bulk of humanity and the universe is constantly ridding itself of them through the natural consequences of their actions.
I think you are going about this all the wrong way. You seem to think that most people who use positive words are just putting up a facade and using these words for the sake of using them.
Consider the co-worker who acknowledges hard work you do, and appreciates you for your effort. This acknowledgement gives this you a sense of accomplishment, which in turn makes you feel happier and better.
Consider the neighbor who offers help when he notices you have a problem with your car, or gives you advice that helps you solve your problem easier.
Consider the person who recognizes that you have a disability or health defect, and chooses to help you and provide you with positive reinforcement to help you focus on progress and feel better about your situation.
I think the article, and the notion of "positive people," is more than just throwing a word around. It's about people who add weight and meaning to their words through thoughtful consideration and genuine compassion.
> 1. Recognize when their automatic responses might get them into trouble,
> 2. Slow down in those situations and behave less automatically,
> 3. Objectively assess situations and think about what response is called-for.
Some martial arts training teaches that. The more defensive martial arts, such as aikido, focus on that. Training in a defensive martial art might help impulsive kids. It teaches them that lashing out blindly is a quick way to lose, and that there are much more effective responses to an attack.
This is a lot like the SAFE technique for crisis management. I was taught it in the context of wilderness survival (particularly when you get lost), and apparently it comes from kayaking.
1. Stop
2. Assess the situation
3. Formulate a plan
4. Execute
Repeat steps 2-4 as you progress. (I guess you could make it SAFER, and make R for Repeat).
I've found it very useful for general crisis management, especially for physical crises. Just forcing yourself through the steps makes you think of better options, rather than running off and making the problem worse.
I don't think it's such a good pattern for long term problems though, the idea is that you're reacting to your immediate situation and dealing accordingly, so it's effective for events that need immediate attention, such as car crashes, first aid situations, or getting lost in the wilderness.
> Recognize when their automatic responses might get them into trouble
How? Ok, if I set my mind to it I'm probably ok for 5 minutes or so until pure instinct sets in again....how to keep self-monitoring one's mood indefinitely?
How is it just to charge him with more than one count of vandalism? He may have only written in chalk once if they would have charged him immediately after the first incident.
