Who has influenced your mind the most?

[LangIsAllWeNeed]

For me, Tyler Cowan, Sam Harris and Richard hanania have influenced my and way of thinking radically, like I’m a different person completely since being exposed.

I often don’t agree with them about specifics, escpially hanania, but that’s not really the point, it’s the style of approaching ideas that struck me.

Not always certain the influence is for the best. Most people do not think about the world in this way, in my setting. Sometimes I miss then ease of being very tribal, easily falling in line with another persons simple talking points instead of just quietly nodding or sometimes rarely dissenting.

Who has influenced you? Who do you still respect and look up to?

[iainplays]

My cantankerous raconteur of a best friend. Excoriating wit, hyper-literate, with deep interests, strong opinions and views, all well-reasoned. A pleasure to spend time with in-person and in-text.

Doesn’t suffer bullshit or excuses. Holds me to a high standard. Helped me to discover what I value most, and live those values, right to the top of Maslow’s Pyramid.

[wiz21c]

RMS (software as a political statement), Jay Sussman (why computer sciences), James Hansen (climate politics), Riccardo Petrella (water cannot be made proprietary)

These ideas, expressed by these people, have accompanied me for years.

[cratermoon]

Eihei Dōgen, Robert Aitken, Walker Evans