{"id":16213,"date":"2012-10-11T15:51:24","date_gmt":"2012-10-11T22:51:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bloodhoundrealty.com\/BloodhoundBlog\/?p=16213"},"modified":"2012-10-11T15:52:48","modified_gmt":"2012-10-11T22:52:48","slug":"unchained-melody-cultivating-indifference-with-cage-the-elephant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bloodhoundrealty.com\/BloodhoundBlog\/16213\/unchained-melody-cultivating-indifference-with-cage-the-elephant\/","title":{"rendered":"Unchained melody: Cultivating indifference with Cage the Elephant."},"content":{"rendered":"

Man Alive!<\/em><\/a> is six months old this week. A video I made on Monday celebrates the book’s demi-anniversary by eviscerating two mutually-contradictory theories of human free will<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, I’m in the early stages of writing a new book on moral philosophy, this one concerned with moving your self rightward on the number line discussed in Chapter 7 of Man Alive!<\/em><\/p>\n

Cathleen and I were talking about a piece of this pie last night, the idea I call Cultivating Indifference. She asked me if I am really unhurt by other people’s (sometimes virulent) criticism of me. I am, although I understand why people might find this hard to believe. But here is how my thinking runs:<\/p>\n

If you say something about me, it is either true or it isn’t. If it’s true, I am improved by your observation, however it comes packaged. My goal is to do better in everything I do, so if someone points out that I have been in error, I am glad to know it.<\/p>\n

And if the claim is not true, I am unmoved. I keep my own counsel in everything I do, and I never change anything in my thinking or my behavior without a good reason.<\/p>\n

If the criticism is offered in good faith, I will explain my thinking. And if it is simply malice, a verbal spear intended to wound me, I will know that the person throwing that spear is not to be trusted, and my life will be improved by that bit of new knowledge.<\/p>\n

In all cases, I am concerned with nothing but my self, so other people’s behavior toward me is only interesting to the extent that it offers me opportunities to improve my own mind and conduct.<\/p>\n

To my mind, this is completely rational. I like it when folks I admire return my admiration, but I don’t give a rat’s ass if unlikeable people don’t like me. It would be a red flag for me if they did!<\/p>\n

Anyway, here’s a rockin’ tune from Cage the Elephant that expresses my attitude on this subject perfectly:<\/p>\n