{ "blyg": "0.3", "id": "77pyxrq9qev708w26pzapwk9s6", "kind": "fragment", "origin": "https://www.msweet.net/notes/", "page": "052-coral-falcons", "author": { "name": "Matthew McDowell-Sweet", "url": "https://www.msweet.net/" }, "created": "2026-08-23T12:28:05Z", "updated": "2026-08-23T12:28:05Z", "version": 1, "content_md": "Both are true; progress depends on [unreasonable](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Bernard_Shaw) people *and* most of the people responsible for the incremental gains in progress over time are themselves remarkably [mediocre](https://ribbonfarm.com/series/mediocratopia/).\n\nWhat’s common to both groups is the apparent reasonableness of the actions they take on behalf of progress. To the unreasonable, that which is done seems *obvious to them*, despite its apparent unreasonableness to everyone else. To the mediocre, the reasonable course is the obvious one, even if, in the eyes of the unreasonable, it is abhorrent.", "content_html": "

Both are true; progress depends on unreasonable people and most of the people responsible for the incremental gains in progress over time are themselves remarkably mediocre.

\n

What’s common to both groups is the apparent reasonableness of the actions they take on behalf of progress. To the unreasonable, that which is done seems obvious to them, despite its apparent unreasonableness to everyone else. To the mediocre, the reasonable course is the obvious one, even if, in the eyes of the unreasonable, it is abhorrent.

", "content_hash": "sha256:2dca249f0bff00962d2d5ecb167136eea29edbf3617fdaf73dbc8fc9326b77dc", "media": [], "changelog": [ { "version": 1, "at": "2026-08-23T12:28:05Z", "note": null } ] }