Navigating the Traffic of Ideas: The Road to Effective Communication

Imagine New Zealand in the 1970s: big cars cruising on open roads with ample parking, a time when seatbelts were an afterthought and drink-driving was not uncommon. This era represented the pinnacle of individual transportation freedom. Like many other places, New Zealand removed trams to make way for cars, driven by the ideal of personal transport freedom. Perhaps, even then, traffic and congestion were issues, but the prevailing dream was always the liberty offered by private vehicles. However, this ideal, once a guiding light in road development, has morphed into a commuter's daily nightmare. Modern roads are often congested, parking is scarce, and the societal costs of maintaining this system are steep. Finding alternative transport solutions is challenging, as evidenced by the opposition to cycle lanes from those who believe such changes impede their individual freedoms. Public transport, expensive and unreliable, leaves people stranded and waiting in the early morning rain. It sucks.

In Logic in the Wild, I discuss how logic can create a safe space for enquiry. Let's extend that concept with a new analogy: achieving neutrality in discourse is akin to managing traffic on communication roads. Historically, the avenue of expression was less crowded, allowing individuals to voice their opinions loudly and without restraint, as often as they wished, largely because only a select few had access to this communicative space. Today, however, the landscape has changed significantly. The road of communication is now populated with a multitude of voices, each trying to be heard simultaneously. This congestive scenario is akin to a busy highway, where maintaining a smooth flow of traffic requires careful management and consideration of all participants

So, what is the solution? Simply building more roads? No, that leads us to the paradox of traffic, another topic I discuss in Logic in the Wild. The answer I propose lies in regulating our communicative roads. We need to slow down our interactions, guided by logic, allowing others to express their views safely before we share ours. The approach to handling tailgaters is to decelerate their pace, ensuring they listen and let others speak.

Consider daily commuters, all sharing a common goal: to reach their destinations safely and in a reasonable time. This doesn't mean everyone heads to the same office or parks in the same lot; it means providing equal opportunity for everyone to safely and timely reach their destinations without succumbing to the old, chaotic ways.

The solution for our roads of communication is akin to public transport in traffic management. We need a system that improves the quality of discourse and manages the flow of ideas in a manner that is safer and more beneficial for everyone, while reducing the casualties of miscommunication.