Say Nice Things On The Internet
Running the cost-benefit analysis on snarky hot takes
If you saw that headline and got all the info you need, feel free to stop reading now. I won’t be offended. It’s kind of like in Do The Right Thing, when Da Mayor tells Mookie, “Always do the right thing,” and Mookie responds, “I got it. I’m gone.”
But for those of you who, like me, sometimes feel the urge to say not nice things on the internet, you may derive a modicum of benefit from reading on.
I consider myself a generally positive person, but occasionally slip into bouts where I’m contrarian and cynical. I also tend to glamorize those traits as the result of critical thinking. And when those tendencies manifest into snark or wit, I, thinking I’m a regular Christopher Hitchens, believe that the world might benefit from hearing my particularly biting turn of phrase on some platform or another.
But then I keep it to myself.
No matter how witty I think I am, I’ve tried to avoid throwing barbs online. When I run the cost-benefit analysis, it’s hard to see any benefit and there’s potentially plenty of cost.
Instead, I’ve tried to actively go in the other direction, and look for positive things to say. I’m not trying to say I’ve cracked some mysterious code (every kid is told at some point, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”) or that I have some elaborate process (I basically just leave comments and DMs complimenting people on things that I think are cool).
But I have found that the cost-benefit analysis gets completely flipped. The cost is low: it’s easy and fast to say nice things. And the benefit can be high if it helps you form new relationships with people you think are doing cool things.
What I’ve found, however, is that there is a more important benefit. It’s helped me be less transactional. I’m more appreciative of doing the right thing just because it’s the right thing and not because it might help me in some way.
When I worked with Madhappy on their Local Optimist blog, I did a story on a woman who sent a postcard to someone every day expressing gratitude for that person. I always thought that was awesome.
In my case, I’m mostly just firing off DMs to people that I don’t know. The response rate is very low, but I still feel good doing it. That’s because the act is the ice cream. Someone replying is the cherry on top. If I don’t get the cherry, I’m still psyched for the ice cream.
Dear Rider
The story of how Jake Burton Carpenter helped grow not only Burton Snowboards but the entire sport of snowboarding is about as Horatio Alger as American business stories get. If you haven’t already, his “How I Built This” episode is definitely worth a listen. This new documentary hits on all those business points, but it also taps into the spirit and culture of snowboarding and the full breadth of Jake’s life in a very elegant way.
—Justin
Birthblock
I accidentally got fully crypto-pilled this week in a way that feels a lot like winning your first blackjack hand. That is to say, I got lucky and now I’m hooked. Separate from that, however, is this awesome project from crypto playboy Brenner Spear. Birthblock is an NFT that generates unique art based on the data from your first transaction on Ethereum. If you’re curious how this all works and how to mint your own Birthblock, DM me and I’ll try to point you in the right direction. Profits neither promised nor guaranteed.
—Andrew
Coloring Lessons Volume n°2
Coloring Lessons is an all-encompassing music “thing” from NYC-based DJ duo, Muscle Cars. Part of this “thing,” which I’m calling it because it’s a label and a party and a radio show, are these compilation albums featuring new music from artists in the community. Volume 2 is an awesome dinner party album – an upbeat mix of house, soul, and jazz. If you enjoy the album, consider waiting until the next Bandcamp Friday to buy it.
—Andrew