No, But...

Much of the world is engaged in a tug-of-war where each side just yanks as hard as it can, trying to topple the other side and win. Every argument becomes binary.

This isn’t how good decisions are made! Instead, you need to listen to the other point of view and consider it seriously. You need to see where the nuance is, and head directly there.

I described some of this nuance in Yes, But… Today, I want to turn that equation around and consider the other side of things.

Social media has been especially divisive over the last decade. People are at one another’s throats, amplified by misinformation and an increasingly polar world. Echo chambers are all too easy to find these days. In fact, someone can pretty much live their entire lives inside one of these sheltered, coddling, reality-warping cults.

Even worse, there are also physical symptoms you can develop by spending too much time on social media. You can become depressed, sleep less, and feel more anxious. Unrealistic standards for the way you’re supposed to look can amplify a poor self-image and make it almost unbearable for people. Cyber-bullying makes the situation even worse.

You might be tempted to ask, then: is social media a substitute for the relationships we’ve traditionally had in real life?

No, but… for those who would otherwise have virtually no interaction in the real world, it can provide an easy way to communicate with their peers, and a window into the wider world. While social media is not without its faults—ample and easy to see—it’s also not without its benefits, especially for folks who have no other way to connect with people.

No, social media is not the best place to get your news, but… it can be the only way actual news gets through the filter of an oppressive regime. Sometimes the only counterpoint that can get through is by way of a discussion on social media, and that’s better than no counterpoint at all.

No, social media is no replacement for brick-and-mortar businesses, but… social media is a means to grow a business for a lot of people. I myself had a great deal of success with both US Grappling and Revolution BJJ by marketing on Facebook, and today there are plenty of people who have completely online solo businesses they’ve started.

While governments have tried to use social media to control people, I myself felt liberated by the ability to connect and do business with people in ways I simply didn’t have before social media.

The same conversation is happening with AI right now. Is artificial intelligence going to replace humans? No, but… the job disruptions are already happening, and they’re real. We need to take them into account.

Likewise, an AI romantic companion might seem anathema, like something that should never be done. But what if it can be shown to save lives by way of increasing mental health? What if it prevents suicide?

Do we have a way to solve our biggest problems? No, but… there are more brilliant minds working on solving climate change and curing diseases than ever before, and maybe AI can help.

Do I need to finish this third cup of coffee? No, but… coffee is such a great part of my day, and the third cup is just as delicious as the first.

Trade offs are everywhere. Sure, I’ll be a bit more thirsty and maybe even a little shaky after this cup, but I’ll be the one who enjoys my coffee.

What are some “No, but…” examples that come to your mind today? Are there any from your personal or work life that come to mind?