Winning Slowly

Structures and systems, agency and individuals: three axes (and a sub-axis) for thinking about the world we live in. Show Notes We introduce our system for thinking about the "structure/agency" or "systems and individuals" problem: how do the systems and structures of our lives shape us? How do we shape them? How free are we, and where are the places where more freedom is good, and the places where it might actually be bad? How do we confront the structural issues we face, or strengthen and preserve the good systems we do have in place? Questions we'll be asking • How much can a system penalize an individual for not being part of it? • How much can a system hurt an individual who is part of it? • How much can a system benefit an individual that is part of it? • How much can a system benefit an individual who is not part of it? Our analytical axes • Positive vs. Negative: is the relationship between systems and individuals good or bad—and if so, for society as a whole, for individuals, or both? • Visible vs. Invisible: is the structural pressure visible or invisible—i.e., living in a capitalist society is invisible but deeply impacts us. • Legal vs. Social: does the structure get its force through law and the power of the government, or through cultural and societal pressure? ◦ Organized vs. Unorganized: both social movements and legal structures may be more or less coherent and organized. Applying the axes Two big questions we'll ask about the particulars for each issue we look at: • How constrained are you by these structural pressures? • To what extent is that constraint or freedom good or problematic? We think that in almost no cases is a radical end of individual freedom or structural control right. Nor does any system have merely positive or negative outcomes; we live in a broken world where even the best systems working in the most productive cycles with the most virtuous individuals still cannot solve everything perfectly. (And, since people's own situations and religious and ethical beliefs differ, there will be people who dispute our positive/negative valence. We make no apologies for ours, but we welcome disagreement!) Links • 32 Theses (and several more words) on Podcasting • The Internet Archive Music • "Equations", by The Midnight Sons, which is Stephen. Used by Stephen's permission. Or insistence, even. • "Winning Slowly Theme" by Chris Krycho. Kind of strange to think it's been two and a half years since he wrote this. Sponsors Many thanks to the people who help us make this show possible by their financial support! This month's sponsors: • Andrew Fallows • Jeremy W. Sherman • Jeremy Cherfas If you'd like to support the show, you can make a pledge at Patreon or give directly via Square Cash. Respond We love to hear your thoughts. Hit us up at twitter.com/winningslowly, facebook.com/winningslowlypodcast, or email us at [email protected]!

We use the Panama Papers as a jumping-off point to sum up the season and talk about: - the alleged flatness of the world - the possibilities of both globalization and localization - the twin dangers of imperialism and parochialism - the ways that growing income inequality intersect with globalization - the things different cultures can learn from each other - the distinction between “reasonable” and “justifiable” responses - the importance of humility, whether in art or in charitable action - the value of choosing _not_ to do something at times In other words: how can you be a _good actor_ in a global space? As an aside, on the rough size of a Word file (referenced with regard to the size of the Panama Papers data release): a 20-page paper from Chris’ seminary degree is about 52 kilobytes. 2 gigabytes would be 20,000 such papers. Previously on the Show - 4.07: Kickstarting a Hyper-Local Superfarm - 4.08: A Ghost in Singapore - 4.10: The Ancient Wisdom of Usenet - 4.12: Five Years of Facepalming (Live at NC State) Music - “River’s Sigh”, by Hazelwood. Used by permission. - “Winning Slowly Theme” by Chris Krycho. This theme is never changing. Even if we get a neater recording, or a variation on it: it's slowly winning at taking over your brainspace at the end of every episode. Sponsors Many thanks to the people who help us make this show possible by their financial support! This month’s sponsors: - Andrew Fallows - Jeremy W. Sherman - Jeremy Cherfas If you’d like to support the show, you can make a pledge at Patreon.com/winningslowly or give directly at cash.me/$winningslowly. Respond We love to hear your thoughts. Hit us up via Twitter (@winningslowly), Facebook (winningslowlypodcast), or email ([email protected])!

The global nature of Christianity and the beauty of many cultures practicing the same faith Show Notes We look at how Christianity is changing as it shifts from being heavily Western to being far more global (as it was in its birth). What new things might we see and learn as other eyes come to the same text? What do the various cultures of the world have to offer each other as we practice the same, ancient faith? Links • Reading we’ve found helpful on today’s topic: ◦ Misreading the Bible Through Western Eyes: Removing Cultural Blinders to Better Understand the Bible (E. Randolph Richards and Brandon J. O’Brien) ◦ Theology in the Context of World Christianity: How the Global Church Is Influencing the Way We Think about and Discuss Theology​ (Timothy Tennent) ◦ The Next Evangelicalism: Releasing the Church from Western Cultural Captivity (Soong-Chan Rah) (Note that we don’t endorse everything in these books, as we don’t with most things we link—but that particularly bears repeating when looking at theology.) • Zencastr Music • “SARCOPH▲GUS”, by GLYPTØTEK. Used by permission. • “Winning Slowly Theme” by Chris Krycho. Five seasons of hearing this theme. Is it stuck in your head forever, now? Sponsors Many thanks to the people who help us make this show possible by their financial support! This month’s sponsors: • Andrew Fallows • Jeremy W. Sherman • Jeremy Cherfas If you’d like to support the show, you can make a pledge at Patreon or give directly via Square Cash. Respond We love to hear your thoughts. Hit us up via Twitter (@winningslowly), Facebook (winningslowlypodcast), or email ([email protected])!

The EU and internet law—monopolies, copyright, taxing, freedom of speech, and learning from each other. Show Notes In this second of two episodes recorded live at NC State (with a different class of students), we tackle the European Union’s approach to internet legislation—including everything from copyright law to dealing with monopolies—as a way to look at how differently things work around the world. What might we learn from other countries here in the U.S.? What might they learn from us? Music * “The House”, by Air Traffic Controller. Used by permission. * “Winning Slowly Theme” by Chris Krycho. That Creative Commons bit is pretty great: it means you can do whatever you want with this theme wherever you live. Sponsors Many thanks to the people who help us make this show possible by their financial support! This month’s sponsors: * Andrew Fallows * Jeremy W. Sherman * Jeremy Cherfas If you’d like to support the show, you can make a pledge at Patreon or give directly via Square Cash. Respond We love to hear your thoughts. Hit us up via Twitter @winningslowly, Facebook.com/winningslowlypodcast, or email [email protected]!

Art, protest, and propaganda—in the Israeli-Palestine conflict, and in general Show Notes In the first of two episodes recorded live at NC State, we tackle the challenges posed by protest art. When does art cross a line and become morally reprehensible? When is it a viable alternative to other, far worse ways of dealing with the same problems? Previously on the Show - 0.01: We Need Some Context! - 4.02: Helpings - 4.10: The Ancient Wisdom of Usenet * Disagreeing well - 1.06: Rebuke Me Some People - 4.05: The Price of Democracy Music * “Half a Second” by Hummingbirds. Used by permission. * “Winning Slowly Theme” by Chris Krycho. Big horns underneath and some piping woodwinds carrying the top line? Interesting thought. Sponsors Many thanks to the people who help us make this show possible by their financial support! This month’s sponsors: * Andrew Fallows * Jeremy W. Sherman * Jeremy Cherfas If you’d like to support the show, you can make a pledge at Patreon.com/winningslowly or give directly at cash.me/$winningslowly. Respond We love to hear your thoughts. Hit us up via Twitter @winningslowly, Facebook (winningslowlypodcast), or email ([email protected])!

Populism, social media, and wisdom in when, how, and where to (dis)engage with people you disagree with. Show Notes There’s a wave of populism sweeping the world. Twitter and Facebook are some of the epicenters of the new populism. How should we think about interacting with radical populists in general? And what about specifically on social media? Previously on the Show * 4.05: The Price of Democracy – the necessity and the limitations of gradualism, incrementalism, and compromise in politics. * 3.11: Augustine’s Podcast – Social circles on- and offline and differences between our embodied and virtual selves. * 3.04: Mom Memes – Generational shifts in social media and the diversifying web * 0.01: We Need Some Context – Religious twittering, Google nesting, and hobbyists careering. Music * “Optimist” by Wanderwild. Used by permission. * “Winning Slowly Theme” by Chris Krycho. If you’re wondering what it would sound like as a majorly epic score, he’s thought about doing that version. Sponsors Many thanks to the people who help us make this show possible by their financial support! This month’s sponsors: * Andrew Fallows * Jeremy W. Sherman * Jeremy Cherfas If you’d like to support the show, you can make a pledge at Patreon or give directly via Square Cash. Respond We love to hear your thoughts. Hit us up via Twitter @winningslowly, Facebook.com/winningslowlypodcast, or email [email protected]!

The Syrian refugee crisis, the difference between refugees and general immigration, and hard choices for nation-states Show Notes We discuss the problems that face major nation-states trying to respond to the massive refugee crisis in Europe. We also look at the complex relationship between nations on topics like this in a “global world” (nice, Chris) and suggest that Americans both invest actively in making things better and chill out a bit insofar as we don’t live in Europe. Previously on the Show * 1.12: Political Appinations – in which we talked (among other things) about the value of more local politics * 4.06: Kickstarting a Hyperlocal Super-Farm – in which we talked about local governance in the context of the * 4.07: A Muscle-Flexing Flyby – in which we talked about Russia * 4.09: A Ghost in Singapore – in which John O’Nolan exhorted people to be charitable in their assessments of businesses Music * “Come Down” by Water District. Used by permission. * “Winning Slowly Theme” by Chris Krycho. Do you hear that? It’s the sound of there not being any sweet remixes yet. Someday. Someday. Sponsors Many thanks to the people who help us make this show possible by their financial support! This month’s sponsors: * Andrew Fallows * Jeremy W. Sherman * Jeremy Cherfas If you’d like to support the show, you can make a pledge at Patreon or give directly via Square Cash. Respond We love to hear your thoughts. Hit us up via Twitter, Facebook, or email!

John O'Nolan on Ghost, Singapore, international commerce, and giving the benefit of the doubt Show Notes We invite Ghost cofounder John O’Nolan on the show to talk about Ghost’s reincorporation in Singapore, what that means for them as a non-profit, and how we should think about these kinds of moves. We talk about everything from the specific details of Ghost’s move to the ethics of business tourism, and John basically hammers on themes we’ve been talking about all season. It’s _fantastic_. Music - “A Better Life” from _Silent Moon_ by Supersmall. Used by permission. - “Winning Slowly Theme” by Chris Krycho. If you ever do a remix of this track, we’ll probably feature it on the show. (Seriously.) Sponsors Many thanks to the people who help us make this show possible by their financial support! This month’s sponsors: - Andrew Fallows - Jeremy W. Sherman - Jeremy Cherfas If you’d like to support the show, you can make a pledge at Patreon.com/winningslowly or give directly via Square Cash (cash.me/$winningslowly). Respond We love to hear your thoughts. Hit us up via Twitter (@winningslowly), Facebook (winningslowlypodcast), or email ([email protected])!

War, the modern nation-state, and an end to "the end of history" Show Notes We talk about nation-states, war, hopes of permanent peace and how “the end of history” and the notion of fewer major wars is likely a pipe dream. But also, how to think about foreign policy issues as citizens of nations we love, and the value of nation-states even in a “global village.” Music - “Warpaint On” by Risley. Used by permission. - “Winning Slowly Theme” by Chris Krycho. He doesn’t need permission to use his own stuff. But you know what? It’s Creative Commons Attribution licensed… so _neither do you_. Sponsors Many thanks to the people who help us make this show possible by their financial support! This month’s sponsors: - Andrew Fallows - Jeremy W. Sherman - Jeremy Cherfas If you’d like to support the show, you can make a pledge at Patreon or give directly via Square Cash. Respond We love to hear your thoughts. Hit us up via Twitter (@winningslowly), Facebook (winningslowlypodcast), or email ([email protected])!