The world has always been filled with a lot of shit. Somewhere, someplace there are people dying for no fault of their own. There is always suffering and unfair exploitation. Long time ago you could get by without knowing much of it, only the things you could see around you. But our relationship with information has changed.

Now the only thing that prevents us from knowing what's happening elsewhere is choice. We choose to not look it up. Mostly the choice is peripheral: you're not actively avoiding the starving children in

Yemen

but you don't get around to it because you have another routine. Maybe today you're listening to a podcast about

crypto

or listening to a great biographical audiobook.

Given that

time

is the ultimate, limited resource, it can be equally easy to consider someone evil for not spending theirs paying attention to world issues as it is to consider someone ineffective for focusing on it.

This isn't a post about what one should pay attention to. I just wanted to outline how easy it is to play either ostrich in the sand or self-immolating monk... or the anti-ostrich/anti-self-immolater.

I think a good relationship is one that makes you more curious. More loving. And more grateful. WIth so much happening in the world you can see how good relationships are an endangered resource just like water. If you find someone who makes you more loving, more grateful, and more optimistic in spite of everything then cherish that.

Inspired by this Tweet Thread.