The Anti-Social Life of the Unapologetic Man

The Anti-Social Life of the Unapologetic Man

On the fantasy of masculinity without accountability.

Aaron Ross Powell

Decentralization is Insurance

Decentralization is Insurance

And no one's excited to buy insurance.

Aaron Ross Powell
3

We Needn't Have a One True Platform

We Needn't Have a One True Platform

On Bluesky, user numbers, and the silliness of endless growth.

Aaron Ross Powell
2

Distinguishing Labor from Work

Distinguishing Labor from Work

We should get rid of the former, if we can, but we should absolutely keep the latter.

Aaron Ross Powell

Your Internet Doesn't Need to Be Big

Your Internet Doesn't Need to Be Big

But it definitely can be better.

Aaron Ross Powell
1

NIMBYism's Slow Cancellation of the Future

NIMBYism's Slow Cancellation of the Future

How the cost of housing undermines creative dynamism

Aaron Ross Powell

A Couple of What They Call Media Hits

A Couple of What They Call Media Hits

Liberal virtues and right-wing vices.

Aaron Ross Powell

Skillful and Unskillful Politics

Skillful and Unskillful Politics

Skill is a combination of good intent and sufficient knowledge to act well.

Aaron Ross Powell

The Ambiguity of "Growth"

The Ambiguity of "Growth"

Anti-growth rhetoric sounds appealing, but it privileges the present over the future.

Aaron Ross Powell

American History as Fandom Lore

American History as Fandom Lore

On MAGA canon and cosplay.

Aaron Ross Powell

Out Now: Liberalism's Inner Life

Out Now: Liberalism's Inner Life

The first episode of The Inner Life of Liberalism podcast.

Aaron Ross Powell

My New Project: The Inner Life of Liberalism Podcast

My New Project: The Inner Life of Liberalism Podcast

Subscribe now in your favorite podcast app.

Aaron Ross Powell

The Thing About Griping About Bluesky

The Thing About Griping About Bluesky

Let a thousand mutually suspicious communities bloom.

Aaron Ross Powell
14

Don't Harm Your Enemies. Make Them Less Harmful.

Don't Harm Your Enemies. Make Them Less Harmful.

Speaking with intent to harm trains the speaker in habits of hatred. The cost of online cruelty isn't only to the target.

Aaron Ross Powell

What the Ancients Knew About Posting Well

What the Ancients Knew About Posting Well

An early Buddhist text gives us four questions to ask before posting—and most of what we post fails the test.

Aaron Ross Powell
3

Two Helpful Essays Illuminating Liberal Practice

Two Helpful Essays Illuminating Liberal Practice

Two short Buddhist essays from Thanissaro Bhikkhu on karma as feedback loop, identity as inheritance, and intention as a skill you can practice.

Aaron Ross Powell

The Ethics of Not Being Offended

The Ethics of Not Being Offended

Discomfort isn't harm. Treating it as harm burns the finite moral attention we need for the suffering that actually exists.

Aaron Ross Powell
2

The Kids Aren’t Into Retro Tech Because of Surveillance Capitalism

The Kids Aren’t Into Retro Tech Because of Surveillance Capitalism

Teenagers buying CDs aren't making a political statement. They just like CDs.

Aaron Ross Powell

ReImagining Liberty Ends (And What's to Come)

ReImagining Liberty Ends (And What's to Come)

After 101 episodes, it's time to move on to new projects.

Aaron Ross Powell
ReImagining Liberty Ends (And What's to Come)

Who Is AI Music For?

Who Is AI Music For?

Google's music-making AI makes songs. I just can't figure out why anyone would listen to them.

Aaron Ross Powell

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