We discuss bikeshedding, which is when people discussing solutions for a large, complex problem bog themselves down in minutia.
In this episode, we examine a situation in which a discussion about redesigning healthcare in the United States becomes hyper-focused on one aspect of American health and lifestyle.
Content warnings for this episode: discussions of anti-fat sentiment, transphobia, and a brief mention of suicide.
We also talk about the Stardew Valley, NHL, the Russian Machine Never Breaks podcast, A Unit of Caring, the HTC Vive, and Beat Saber:
There’s a special request for ideas related to travel at the very end of the episode. Please hit us up on social media or in the comments.
New this month will be an episode transcription! We’re cleaning up what an automated service provided, but it’ll be up soon.
The transcription is attached to the episode! We welcome any reports of issues or suggestions for improvement. If this solution seems sound, we’ll be using a transcription service going forward and will work on getting transcriptions up for older episodes.
Please share any comments you have! If you have a submission of an everyday situation where it’s hard for you to be empathetic or compassionate, write us at: us@avery-weir.net
How can you accept your feelings and still make intentional choices when you’re in an unpleasant situation?
Our prompt comes from a listener:
Dear Y’all,
Help me not hate my puppy.
My teenage son called me in a panic recently because our puppy had bitten him on the finger. It turned out that it was a bit of an overreaction, as it was a scratch (the puppy is only four pounds). But I still find myself really disliking the dog. I know he’s a dog and a puppy. But in addition to biting my son, he also barks, which jars my nerves.
I don’t like that I have all of these negative feelings about a baby animal who really can’t help these behaviors. But here we are.
Halp.
Anxious in Puppyland
We also talk about Stardew Valley by Eric Barone and Giant Days by John Allison, Lissa Treiman, and Max Sarin.
Please share any comments you have! If you have a submission of an everyday situation where it’s hard for you to be empathetic or compassionate, write us at: us@avery-weir.net
How do you manage your own and others’ grudges and longstanding grievances?
Our prompt comes from Interpersonal Skills Stack Exchange user Tinkeringbell (original and abridged version ccbysa3.0):
About 8 years ago, we had some serious get-a-lawyer trouble with a couple of neighbors. I was in university at the time, and I have a general knowledge of what happened, but my parents never spoke about their interactions with the neighbors.
Since then, I’ve had some interactions with one of our neighbors, and she seems genuinely apologetic about the whole thing. I’m not the easiest person to win over, but I really think she’s sorry for what happened and wants to apologize. I’ve seen her make several attempts to try and speak to my mom, but my mom always avoids her or gets ‘rescued’ by dad.
Yesterday, we received a Christmas card from her. My mom was so mad she didn’t even read it. I did, and it was a really nice card. It stated something along the lines of ‘I really like to apologise and I want to start anew, just like the new year does’.
Then, there was a invitation for the entire neighborhood to come and have the traditional New-Years eve drinks in her home.
Needless to say, when I told my mom what was actually in the card, she got really, really mad, to the point of shouting at me that I was being naive and manipulated.
I’m guessing our neighbor did something that’s even worse than the things I know about, but when I asked mom about it yesterday she wouldn’t tell me. I’d really like to know why she called me out for being naive and manipulated, and understand her anger.
How can I have a talk about the reasons for her anger with my mom, when only mentioning the subject pisses her off this much? I’d really like to find out what it is that happened that is so inexcusable she doesn’t want to talk about it or find it in her heart to forgive, even after years.
We also talk about Dishonored 2 and Reddit.
Please share any comments and marketing ideas you have! If you have a submission of an everyday situation where it’s hard for you to be empathetic or compassionate, write us at: us@avery-weir.net
How do you deal with someone who makes assumptions about people based on hasty categorization?
Continue reading “Audacious Compassion 015 – Four Pints in a Gallon”
How can you be compassionate (and act compassionately) toward someone with hateful views?
Continue reading “Audacious Compassion 012 – Your Soul Leaving Your Body”
