It does seem like a hard problem.

There being so much focus currently on the idea of the so-called “metaverse,” especially while we prepare to realize major upgrades to various physical infrastructures, it feels worth noting, while there is a direct – and important – relationship between thoughtscapes and landscapes, not all are created equal.

Constraints can be some of the most important dimensions of environments conducive to problem-solving (alongside privacy and collaboration in the right proportion and sequence, of course); and, increasingly, as media silos become more expansively large, impenetrable, and distant from one another, I wonder whether an array of creative solutions to many of the world’s problems, already falling by the wayside, could be further obscured.

Given that partisan journalism outfits already arguably preview the effects of pretend-what-you-like diversions, I believe it is particularly important today to beware of new forms of this kind of diversion. Particularly during a time when it can be tempting to disengage and turn away from hard problems, it is more essential than ever to protect and help defend ourselves and others against this tendency. (When one pulls away from a hard problem, it can take almost no time for thieves to approach and steal all one holds dear.)

But if we remain engaged, eyes locked-in on our collective adversaries of apathy, fear, and procrastination, we will prevail, I believe. I love one particular scene in the already-referenced film Cinderella Man in which the titular character is tired, reeling from a series of brutal blows, but obeys when lovingly coached by his friend to “stick with” his opponent; and he wins.

I believe if we resolve to engage – and not to disengage – with our shared reality – by acknowledging, listening, adjusting – and, yes, recharging in our own individual ways when we need to do so – we can reconvene to compromise in a principled way; and we will make collaborative progress.

Although it may feel occasionally like it is only a matter of time before, like Disneyworld, partisan news sources result in what could be termed practical theme parks reifying their diverging, personal points of view (and it is arguable this has already happened), perhaps our opportunity today is to stick together by engaging, hard as it may be, so that our efforts, taken together and one by one, might lead to a place, instead, of gathering.