I hate being right. It's a huge pain.

I mean sure, if I think it's cold outside and I put on a coat, that's fine. But you probably know that isn't what I mean.

Being right when other people aren't getting it is a burden.

It's what I do as a teacher, but in that situation, it's my job, and a student who comes to me for help usually isn't offended when that's what I offer.

Democracy needs a major update. A good amount of pop psychology even in 2021 is bogus. Groupthink is everywhere. Polarization is damaging. We have to understand each other.

(Those are some examples. I'm probably right about those things, vague as they may be. But we'll see!)

When I figure out a student's hangup with, say, a computer science concept, when it becomes clear to me why that student is confused, that does not make me any worse at computer science.

We have to stop thinking that by understanding others who we believe are on the wrong side, we are infecting ourselves with a moral contagion.

You will be no worse a person for understanding.

On the contrary, you will probably become a better person. (I know that's a bit presumptuous to say, but hear me out.)

Understanding a person hardly means approving of everything about them. Nor does it mean standing around watching them create havoc for others and doing nothing about it. Understanding means understanding. "Know thy enemy" does not mean "Help thy enemy destroy you." It means "The most effective, efficient, durable, and human solutions come from true understanding."

That should not have been confusing, but I try to understand why people are confused by it.

Most people still seem to be confused by it.