Where's your Red Line?
Plus: Seven Things on neo-archeology, more maps, video art and more.
Hello friends!
The year-end is often a time of change for many. We reflect on the year past and on our hopes for the one to come. But how do you know when it’s time for a change? Today, I’d like to share:
One — A story about your own sort of “change-required” indicator
Two — Seven Things on neo-archeology, more maps, video art and more.
I hope you enjoy it and thanks as always for subscribing and reading!
Tom
1. Red Lines To Limit Regret
When Elon Musk took over Twitter and initiated sweeping changes to its content moderation team and strategies, Yoel Roth, the then-head of this department, found himself at a pivotal crossroads. His situation mirrors dilemmas we all face: deciding when to stay the course and when to walk away from situations that challenge our core principles.
Roth faced a tough choice. He could potentially improve Twitter’s content moderation but at the risk of having to comply with top-down decisions that conflicted with his own values. To navigate this, Roth drew a red line: He penned a list of decisions and events he couldn’t ethically support, determining the point at which he could only preserve his values by throwing in the towel. When these red lines were indeed crossed, he was able to make a clear, principled decision instead of any rash emotional reactions.
We’re often confronted with challenging situations beyond our control. The question is, how do we avoid spur-of-the-moment decisions we might regret later? The Stoics teach us that while we can’t control external events, we can control our reactions to them. Your red line is a preventative manifestation of this philosophy.
To be clear, a red line isn’t a list of minor grievances; it’s a boundary that, once crossed, signifies a significant and irreversible shift. To define your red lines, consider future events and reflect on whether their consequences align with your life goals and personal ethos. These markers guide your path, ensuring your choices resonate with who you are and aspire to be.
Another way I think about them is as objective indicators of when hope shall be abandoned. Hope isn’t always helpful. It can make us hold on to hopeless situations and prevent us from working our way out of a mess. Without a red line, when a situation goes off the rails, I’m inclined to keep looking and hoping for a sign that things will improve. In the near term, it’s easier to maintain the course and hope for the best while moving the goalpost for what good looks like. A pre-defined red line is a message from my past self that it’s time to change something.
Red lines don’t make it easier to make tough decisions. However, they provide clarity that can help us navigate complex situations without regret. It’s about being prepared, knowing what you stand for, and recognising the signs when a line is about to be crossed. When this happens, they give us the confidence to stop second-guessing ourselves and move on with our lives with good conscience.
What are the non-negotiables you hold dear? Have there been moments in your life where you’ve had to draw your own red lines or noticed one had been crossed after the fact? Reflecting on these questions can reveal much about our values and decisions in the face of adversity.
2. Seven Things I thought were worth sharing
Gifting: ‘Tis the season so I wanted to share my favourite piece of gifting advice this year from Personal Finance guru Martin Lewis.
Personal Growth: The New Year is soon upon us too. As we’re all gearing up to become our best-ever selves once more, here is every self-help book ever, boiled down to 11 simple rules
Creator Showcase: Tons of creative experiments to be explored on Zach Lieberman’s website, but if you’re after a quick-hit, check out his trippy videos on Instragram.
Maps: Underground maps are a bit like chairs in Design - There are innumerable designs and still you’ll find more that are different, surprising, and beautiful. I’ve recently enjoyed this 3D London Underground map, and New York’s Live MTA Map.
Technology: Making the unreadable readable while - virtually unfolding age-old petrified scrolls (Video).
Tools: Break down goals into sub tasks with the free Magic ToDo
Fun/Entertainment: Still in love with niche webcam streams: Watch a sunset anytime on Eternal Sunset