Beware the logical error of the false dichotomy.
Anytime I fall into this trap I find myself full of righteous indignation. How is it possible for me to be so right and that person to be so deliberately, obstinately wrong is such a fundamental way?
That’s a signal.
An emotional reaction is not the only signal. Immediately seeing the one and only extremely easy and obvious answer to a conundrum is another signal.
The problem is not, primarily, jumping to the answer. That is a problem and can cause damage, but it’s not the real problem. The real problem is my misunderstanding of the question. It’s the fact that I am presented with and do not recognize a false dichotomy.
What to do? Always look for the “and”.
It’s not an “or” world. It’s an “and” world.
Even if I can’t see the and.
It’s there, but the problem is me. I can’t see it.
When I’m at my best, I don’t even try to reason out the and. All I have to do is say “It’s not an ‘or’ universe. It’s an ‘and’ universe.” That is enough to pull my head out of my ass.
It’s enough to see a paradox (hint: it’s almost certainly not a paradox) and be willing to entertain it in my head.
I’m writing this for me, today, because I saw something on The Internet and the man’s error is blindingly obvious. 🙄