sensitivity is a superpower – IMO sensitivity + smarts + strength is the holy grail. We have many cargo cults that worship smarts and strength, but sensitivity is far too often derided as weakness. I want to persuade people to see sensitivity as the superpower it can be.
many cultures have anti-narcissist defenses that, kinda unfortunately, seem to end up discouraging everyone except actual narcissists. I want to persuade people to advocate for themselves and their interests as they would for a most beloved friend It can be more narcissistic to be private than public, if you’re doing it with the intent of […]
The following post is a copy-paste of a Twitter thread. It will take some time before it turns into an essay of its own. I’ve mentioned an essay idea to several people in the past week and have received a lot of positive feedback about it. I call it the SLINGSHOT THEORY, loosely based on […]
Warning: This “blogpost” is currently just a messy, meandering collection of thoughts and notes. 2023: My current best description of friendship is “shared understanding”. ✱ If I can only pick one thing from my memex to share with the world, I think it might be “Make friends”. It’s maybe the simplest two word directive that […]
Here are a list of my threads.
People keep asking me about the memex in my Twitter header. You can download a PDF of it if you like.
The public is insufficiently educated on how to be a good public. I think this is civilisation-specific (ie not an issue for egalitarian hunter-gatherers who live enmeshed lives). And I think appreciating this requires appreciating that civilisation is hierarchical, stratified. The reality of status hierarchies is starker than we articulate. Nobody introduces you to sexism […]
Friends from abroad often ask me for suggested readings re: Lee Kuan Yew. I recommend starting by reading The Art Of Charlie Chan Hock Chye, which isn’t directly about Lee Kuan Yew – but it’s a story set in Singapore. I’ve also recommended watching this video of talking about the 1980 SIA pilot’s strike [2:09]. I […]
I thought it would be interesting to make a list of notable events where I’ve spoken at. I’ve emceed 2 weddings. Interestingly, both of the grooms were named Kenneth. I’ve given speeches at 2 others – my ex-boss’s, and my brother’s. I’ve spoken at Hong Lim Park against internet regulations. [youtube] I organized a screaming […]
Naughty Boy: Under-table Scribblings Of A Recalcitrant Joker is a collection of poems by blogger and entrepreneur Visakan Veerasamy. Visakan is known for selling t-shirts with Hokkien swear words on them, and inciting members of the public to scream at Hong Lim Park. “A refreshing, breezy voice that talks about difficult issues in a smart, […]