You might have heard this one:
Tradition is a solution to a problem you’ve forgotten.
It sure is!
This witticism is mostly used to insult tradition, but it misses the point. You can forget a problem while it still lurks in the shadows. Tradition can be the only thing holding it back.
For example, most traditions tell you to raise your children with structure and discipline. That can go too far, obviously, but it protects children. A few generations ago, folks forgot what problems it solved and decided to raise children as their besties.
If you want to know why anxiety dominates these days, this is a big part of why.
Giving children too much freedom means giving them too much responsibility. They’re too young to handle it, so they collapse.
Meanwhile, modern solutions to problems often falter. Look up the Cobra Effect – fresh examples show up daily.
Criticise tradition all you want – at least it has a proven track record. Your fresh, exciting new policy doesn’t – and will likely fail in strange ways.
I’m no luddite or anything. In fact, I’m working on a few projects powered by some funky AI technologies.
But the answers to your biggest questions probably lie in the deep and proven past.
The Bible – or at least the Stoics.
This isn’t an absolute rule. Not every new insight is a path to sadness and stickiness.
But every new idea is suspect.
It has to prove itself.
Not sound good – actually prove itself.
And that’s the attitude you should bring to my products. Assume they’re just pretty-sounding ideas.
Unless, of course, you trust I know what I’m talking about.
If not, no worries. Keep reading and you’ll get there.
Otherwise, here’s a link for you: