Josh Allred's Blog

Observational bias is a trap people fall into when they only search for something where it is easiest to look. There is this old joke called the Streetlight Effect, or Drunkard’s Search Principle, that demonstrates this. It goes something like this: 

A policeman sees a drunk man searching for something under a streetlight and asks what the drunk lost. He says that he lost his keys, so they both look under the streetlight together. After a few minutes, the policeman asks if he is sure he lost them here, and the drunk replies no and that he lost them in the park. The policeman asks why he is searching here, and the drunk replies, “This is where the light is.” 

It might be easier to solve the problems of where the light shines. The first step is facing the problems right at the edge of our understanding. Right where the light ends, and the darkness begins. Perhaps then, we must find the courage to take a step into this unknown and let the light follow. And if we can do it once, we can do it again. If we keep moving a little further, maybe we will get to the park where we can face the real human problems of our world. 

So, let’s put to work our lens and pick two axioms. The first is the concept of Spaceship Earth. The earliest known use of the term is in a passage in Henry George’s published work in 1879 called Progress and Poverty. George writes, 

”It is a well-provisioned ship, this on which we sail through space. If the bread and beef above decks seem to grow scarce, we but open a hatch and there is a new supply, of which before we never dreamed. And very great command over the services of others comes to those who, as the hatches are opened, are permitted to say, “This is mine!”

It suits as a powerful framework that encourages people to remember that life is fragile in the universe, so we should act as harmonious crew members working toward the greater good as this spaceship we call Earth drifts through outer space. This planet, with how it is positioned in our solar system, sustains life, and our future survival is dependent on this ship working. And never forget that outside this spaceship, the universe is unhabitable. 

Competition is a highly regarded feature in our industrial world. The problem is most of us don’t stop to ask why? Sure there are economic reasons but more important it is the inherent bias of money that drives this behavior. We could choose different default settings. One where dignity is in the center. When do we move from this scarce mindset? Do we truly not have enough?

Humans are more resilient than they give themselves credit for. And at some point, life hits all of us. The difference is for those who may get to wait longer to get the short end. There is nothing wrong with advantage. Take it if you got it. But don’t inhale it. Because life has a way to bring us down once we feel confident that we have it all figured out.

“Dad, is Santa real?”

“Of course, he is son. Think how many people would have to be in on it.”

– Internet Meme

I find this quite funny. But the alarming part isn’t the amount of people that buy in and breathe life into the holiday. Every concept follows the same process.

What worries me is the distinction of fact and fiction. We are entitled to our own opinions but not our own facts. And if a holiday that starts out as a fun time with family and friends turns into tears—it goes to show how powerful these ideas can have over us.

It’s obviously not just the holidays I am talking about either.

I read once that here is to space as now is to time.

That there is no significance in terms of infinite with no point of reference.

Something our brains cannot even fathom because, to each of us, the present is special. But in the hustle and bustle of industrialism, we have forgotten how to live in the present in hopes of a more profitable future.

Is that something we really want to trade?

“On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero.” — Chuck Palahniuk

Not just people but ideas, legal fiction, and even our planet.

The point is we make what we have count because tomorrow is not guaranteed.

The term mind control seemed to be reserved for extreme examples. Like in 1953 when the CIA began its “research” and experimenting with psychedelic drugs, hypnosis, and electroshock on mental patients. (MK-Ultra went on for 20 years before it was shut down.) This is an extreme form of violence. But there are more subtle forms, such as undue influence. When authority structure changes a person’s belief system without informed consent and makes them dependent on that same authority structure—this is undue influence and mind control. 

What we are talking about is agency here. My argument here is this: If we raise generations of kids to strongly protect their agency, they won’t fall prey to giving it up to let them decide.

What divides are so big that they can’t be overcome?

One of the hardest gaps to cross is when something was taken away that can’t be brought back.

Death, time, and virginity are a few that come to mind.

Perhaps the key to finding forgiveness is in the grief of loss and the acceptance of it.

Everything else seems trivial: an inconvenience where one or more parties feel slighted.

With those things, it’s amazing what a good night’s sleep can cure.

Curbing a craving is a difficult task for any human to overcome.

Our approach as a culture, however, is completely wrong.

We act as if this person would behave more appropriately, then it wouldn’t be a problem.

But that isn’t how to get rid of any cravings.

So much of our addictions are dictated by how easy it is to access that thing we want.

Substances are demonized, but the distinction between addicts and those who are clean is more a legal distinction, if anything.

We are all hooked on something: social media, sex, status, and money…