The Garden of Forking Paths

The Garden of Forking Paths explores complexities of modern life, politics, technology, and human behavior. It delves into contemporary issues like Trump's influence, political behavior, technology's unseen impacts, and global political trends, while also reflecting on human psychology, societal changes, and the intricacies of democracy and individual perception.

Politics Technology Human Behavior Society Psychology Democracy History Global Issues

The hottest Substack posts of The Garden of Forking Paths

And their main takeaways

Why does 40%+ of America still support Trump?

2731 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media Analysis
  1. The Deplorables Hypothesis - Some of Trump's supporters may overlook his wrongdoings because they themselves hold negative beliefs.
  2. The Coastal Elites Hypothesis - Some supporters disregard Trump's behavior to rebel against the establishment they despise.
  3. The Tribalism Hypothesis - Some voters back Trump simply because he is the Republican candidate, even if they don't fully endorse him.

The Perils of an Enormous Social World

2535 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Globalization
  1. In today's interconnected world, we compare ourselves globally rather than locally.
  2. Constant and global social comparison through social media can lead to negative impacts on mental health, especially among teenagers.
  3. Living in a large online community can be isolating, emphasizing the importance of balancing digital interactions with real-life connections.

The Woman Who Can See 100 Million Colors

2515 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
🔬 Science Evolutionary biology Neuroscience
  1. Human perceptions can vary vastly, influencing history and interactions with the world
  2. Different species perceive reality uniquely based on their senses, like the peacock mantis shrimp with 12 photoreceptors
  3. Technology offers possibilities to enhance and even create new senses, changing how we experience the world

The rise of political remoras

2889 implied HN points • 13 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political Analysis Partisan Politics Government Election Integrity Republican party
  1. The concept of political remoras describes individuals who feed off larger, more powerful figures in politics.
  2. Elise Stefanik's political journey symbolizes the descent of the Republican Party into an anti-democratic stance.
  3. Stefanik's evolution from a bipartisan moderate to a supporter of Trump's rhetoric highlights a concerning shift in modern American politics.
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The Hidden World of Undersea Cables

2869 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Internet Infrastructure Data Security Geopolitics
  1. The internet largely runs through undersea cables spanning about 900,000 miles, connecting the world in a hidden network.
  2. Early undersea cables were made possible by materials like gutta-percha and played a key role in rapid communication during events like the US Civil War.
  3. Specialized ships lay and repair undersea cables made of fiber optics, and even guard against threats like sharks and sabotage by SCUBA divers.

The Rise of Counterfeit Democracy

2319 implied HN points • 24 Jul 23
🌍 World Politics Democracy Authoritarianism Human Rights
  1. Outside of established democracies, there is a rise in counterfeit democracy - authoritarian rule disguising as democratic.
  2. Many countries pretend to be democracies, but are actually authoritarian - leading to a decline in global democracy.
  3. Counterfeit democracies use elections and democratic trappings to maintain power, but lack true democratic values and institutions.

Why the Russian Coup Plot Failed

2633 implied HN points • 27 Jun 23
🌍 World Politics Power struggles Political Dynamics
  1. Coup plots often fail due to the challenges of secrecy and coup-proofing strategies implemented by dictators.
  2. The Bandwagon Effect is crucial for a successful coup, as support grows when the plot looks likely to succeed.
  3. After a failed coup plot, dictators may resort to purging enemies and escalating violence to maintain power.

Interstate 35-W and the Murder of George Floyd

2024 implied HN points • 01 Aug 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Racism Urban planning Community Impact Social justice
  1. Interstate 35-W in Minneapolis has a history intertwined with racist urban planning that led to the displacement of Black residents.
  2. The American interstate system, while a marvel of human ingenuity, has a legacy of intentionally segregating communities through practices like redlining and racial covenants.
  3. The tragic murder of George Floyd at the corner of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in Minneapolis is connected to the deliberate engineering of racial injustice along roads like 35-W.

The origins of power dynamics, or why chimps can't play baseball

2122 implied HN points • 05 Jul 23
🔬 Science Evolution Biology Psychology Anthropology Human behavior
  1. Humans can throw objects accurately and at high speeds, shaping our modern power dynamics in society.
  2. Our unique shoulder adaptations allow for precise and fast throwing, giving us a competitive advantage over other species.
  3. The ability to use ranged weapons and throw projectiles from a distance has influenced human social structures and power dynamics.

How I Won a Disinformation Battle — But Lost the War

2358 implied HN points • 14 Jun 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Disinformation Debunking Political Scandal Media influence Information Warfare
  1. Disinformation can be spread effectively by creating simple, captivating narratives.
  2. False information tends to stick in people's minds, even after being corrected.
  3. Debunking lies is important, but it's crucial to present the truth in a way that resonates with the audience and to address disinformation strategically.

How to Fix the US Supreme Court

1552 implied HN points • 11 Jul 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Judiciary Reform Bipartisanship Democrats Republicans
  1. The US Supreme Court is highly politicized with lifetime appointments causing a imbalance of power.
  2. By looking at models from small island nations, like Comoros and Fiji, we can find ways to reform the US Supreme Court using consociationalism and centripetalism.
  3. Proposed solutions for Supreme Court reform include changing the judicial selection process to be nonpartisan and considering power-sharing models like in New Jersey or requiring a supermajority vote for confirmations.

The Case for Pro-Democracy Rituals

1670 implied HN points • 26 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Democracy Rituals Authoritarianism Patriotism
  1. Pro-democracy movements can benefit from utilizing the power of rituals to build strong social connections and a shared sense of purpose.
  2. Rituals have the ability to create a feeling of collective effervescence, fostering unity and a sense of belonging among participants.
  3. It is important for progressive and pro-democracy movements to embrace and develop rituals that celebrate inclusive values and community engagement in order to strengthen their causes.

The Billion Dollar Shack

1788 implied HN points • 05 May 23
🌍 World Politics Globalization Refugee Crisis
  1. Nauru, a small island in the Pacific, is a unique example of globalization's impact
  2. The island's history is marked by unexpected riches from phosphate mining and financial ventures
  3. Nauru's fortunes fluctuated due to changing global events, leading to economic challenges and environmental threats