During The Know Show yesterday, I talked about the deeper lesson of this whole Djokovic story, and it’s got nothing to do with tennis! Or even him. Instead, it’s more about how we speak to each other and get emotionally involved in stories – especially when famous people are in the mix.
For a couple of weeks now, this story has been in headlines around the world, it’s still not over (his lawyers are fighting the latest visa cancellation), and we still don’t really know the truth. Regardless, passions have been very high.
For Melbournians, who’ve suffered the longest lockdowns in the world, they are angry. They have collectively come together to do their part in fighting the pandemic, and as a sport’s loving city, this whole saga is infuriating. Why does he get special treatment when they’ve suffered so much? Of course, not all Melbournians will think this way.
And then we have the shambolic Australian Government, led by ScoMo, and well, they haven’t exactly been experiencing their finest hour by a long shot – not just with Djokovic, but with everything they’re doing. Lot’s on that below.
We also have reports about Australia’s Border Force, and if you’ve ever visited Australia, you know this is a serious bunch of people. You do not mess with Australia’s Border Force.
Of course, Djokovic’s fans are screaming their outrage, his fellow Serbians too, not to forget his loyal family speaking up on his behalf as well.
It’s a story of the haves and have nots getting special treatment, in a world sick and tired of inequality.
And let’s not forget Djokovic’s contribution to the whole story, by talking about his Covid diagnosis and the fact he broke quarantine – on social media.
He’s also an anti-vaxxer, which isn’t serving him well in many people’s eyes. For others, it makes him a legend.
Yes, it’s a story that has captivated the world.
But this is what I want to share with you, as a lesson going into 2022. This story is a perfect example of how people emotionally react to stories – whichever ‘side’ you’re on. When you are emotionally connected to a story, or a ‘side’ of a story, you can never stand back and look at it objectively.
So the first sign of losing your objectivity is when you experience strong emotions linked to whatever story is getting you all riled up!
The other big part is, how we’re speaking to each other about it. Here’s a scenario playing out around the world on social media.
You’re against him being in Australia and you share your opinions on Facebook.
One of your mates or a family member disagrees with you and they’re not nice about it.
You shoot back, straight from the hip.
Before you know it, everyone is screaming and no one is listening.
No winners in this mix.
Honestly, watching this play out for this story, and for every other story that generates intense emotions, is exhausting and it’s a huge challenge we face in this world.
I often see things I disagree with. If there’s an opportunity to gently share an opposing view, without creating anger, I might do it. However, if I know the person isn’t open to even a gentle touch, I won’t. No point.
Most comments and posts I disagree with, I just move on. Not everything is for everyone, and honestly, in a story like this, where none of us really know the whole truth, it’s just not worth getting involved in heated arguments, because all it does it piss you off and leave you feeling angry. It doesn’t change a single thing, so why do we continue to do it?
Let me be clear, this is not criticism towards anyone sharing their opinions on this story. I appreciate the passion people have for tennis, but I just wanted to show it as an example of how we are constantly allowing ourselves to get caught up in rage, and really, what’s the point? It’s tearing us all apart – this rage.
Not to forget, it’s also a great example of how we are so distracted by stories in the media, especially when famous people are involved.
In fact, go and check out Jennifer Aniston’s latest post on Instagram. She’s posted a picture with humid hair. I like Jennifer Aniston, she’s great, however at time of writing, her photos had 3.2 million likes and 23,949 comments. I wish the World Wildlife Foundation got that many likes and comments on their posts.
‘Don’t Look Up’ got a lot right. We’re so distracted we forget to pay attention to what’s important. But that’s why I’m here – check out the environment section below, as well as the Covid and global politics section too. Definitely more important stuff to be focused on, yes?
Top tips for 2022 – let’s get the rage out of our world
- Check your emotions about a story – if they are strong, try standing back from it
- When you share your opinion (which you have the right to do) try to present it objectively
- Try not to engage in vicious arguments, especially with people you like and love – definitely take it off-line if it means a lot to you
- If you don’t know the person, ignore them, hide their comment or block the post – zero point arguing with someone you don’t know, because you don’t understand where they get their knowledge from and you don’t understand their emotional baseline
- If you disagree with someone who is sharing an opinion, just move past it. No point commenting. They’re clear in how they feel and your comment won’t change a thing
- If you need to comment, try and do it gently, to show them another way
- If you want to keep raging, regardless of what I’m saying here, you do you! I’m talking to people sick and tired of the anger
Like I said, I have no opinion on this and if you want to share anything about Djokovic because of what I’ve written, please don’t waste your time. What I DO care about is helping people see where our divisions are taking us, and stories like this are all about magnifying divisions in our societies.
We need to heal and we need to come together to overcome the enormous challenges we face as a global community. All of us, or as many as possible! Agree?
Right, let’s get into the important stuff.
Friend’s content and mine
Why is the Caribbean Choosing China? China Digital Currency is Changing Everything! – Richard Turrin is someone I’ve met through my work and I have great admiration for his message.
Interview- Justine Wahlin – a lady I admire so much, Justin Wahlin. Follow her, buy her music (she’s brilliant), support her, give her business. A total legend.
The Definitive Guide to Fixing Fossil Fuels a new connection and doing amazing work – Dr. David Ko. Check it out. A possible solution to a very complex problem.
A Word With an Author – thank you so much to Dee Allen for interviewing me for Expat Living Singapore!
We kicked off Season Two of The Know Show, with Tim Wade and Joe Augustin. Looking forward to getting stuck into this again for the year. Tune in if you’re interested in what’s going on around the world, and if you want to be a guest, reach out. We are always looking for people willing to get involved.
Donation time
If everyone gave #just10percent of their time, talent, money or voice, we’ll change the world. Can you donate? Make it a regular donation to the World Food Programme. Help by donating to the UN Refugee Program, PowerOf , Kiva.org , Soi Dog Foundation. It’s a time for giving and taking care of each other.
Content to read
And here’s the content I’ve been reading this last week. Scan the headlines, read the ones that jump out at you, read or watch them all. Knowledge is power, and global knowledge is even more powerful.
Climate crisis
How the speed of climate change is unbalancing the insect world
We’re suing the UK government over its net zero strategy
Climate Tops 2022 WEF Global Risks Report
Living life to the greenest: the sustainability trends that will dominate in 2022
Climate Code Red – Saving Singapore’s Shores – tks Wendy Tan
Australia soars to 50 degrees for first time this century
What economists get wrong about climate change
Podcast Parag Khanna – World Economic Forum
How bad is my gas stove? (Part Two)
Climate change overtakes pandemics as greatest worry for global experts tks Samantha Gayfer
Ketchup sachet ban to help squeeze out single-use plastics
Maersk speeds up decarbonisation target by a decade
Antarctica: World’s biggest nesting icefish colony discovered
MICROBES ARE EVOLVING TO EAT PLASTIC POLLUTION, SCIENTISTS SAY
Natural disasters cost world US$280 billion in 2021 — a third more than in 2020
Podcast Climate Rising Harvard Business School Business & Environment Initiative
Don’t Look Up’s Credits Scene Delivers On Its Best Real Life Character Gag
Rushing headlong into electrification, the West is replacing one energy master with another
Climate change induced heat wave raises ‘major concerns’ after hundreds of penguins die tks Sophia Henri
We Need a Second Cut of ‘Don’t Look Up’
IEEFA: Accepting gas is unsustainable will bolster China’s position on green energy finance
Volvo’s heavy-duty electric truck is put to the test: excels in both range and energy efficiency
Customers shun red meat after carbon footprint added to weekly shop receipts
U.S. can get to 100% clean energy with wind, water, solar and zero nuclear, Stanford professor says tks Susanna Hasenoehrl
Air pollution: Delhi’s smog problem is rooted in India’s water crisis
Government invites oil companies to help write rulebook on whether new fossil fuel drilling is green
Get rid of the “use it or lose it” rule that forces airlines to operate empty flights to maintain airport slots tks Susanna Hasenoehrl
Don’t Look Up: four climate experts on the polarising disaster film
Pakistan snow: Deadly weather traps hundreds of drivers
Covid
Raina MacIntyre – Why Covid-19 will never become endemic tks Phillipa Edwards
The puzzle of America’s record Covid hospital rate
Covid-19: Half of Europe on track to contract Omicron, says WHO
Hillsong Is Straight-Up Running A Music Festival In NSW Right Now And Artists Are Furious tks Colin Hill
Novak Djokovic: Australia to detain tennis star after visa cancelled
Novak Djokovic: Unanswered questions over Australian Covid saga
Omicron detected in nearly every country in Americas: PAHO
‘Crisis’: Government’s urgent rapid test order slammed
How a birthday party exposed Hong Kong officials to the harsh reality of zero-Covid
Novak Djokovic admits breaking isolation while Covid positive
Immunocompromised, Harry was exposed to COVID-19 at a major Sydney hospital tks Graham Harvey
Omicron represents a new kind of epidemic – we must keep up
Cathay Pacific says crews spent 73,000 nights in quarantine in 2021
Study Finds Cannabis Compounds Prevent Infection By Covid-19 Virus
5 reasons you should not deliberately catch Omicron to ‘get it over with’ tks Angela Frechette
The Vaccine Scientist Spreading Vaccine Misinformation
Australia to ‘push through’ Omicron, as total cases hit 1 million
Omicron could be ‘first ray of light’ towards living with Covid
Unvaccinated NHS doctor challenges Sajid Javid over compulsory Covid jabs
Qld Covid update: chief health officer urges immediate halt to ‘pox parties’ aimed at spreading virus tks Shaun Mcewan
Djokovic pictured maskless at public event one day after positive Covid test
New Omicron Studies Help Explain Why Variant Is Mild but Spreads Fast
How To Think About Covid Data Right Now
Bangkok, Pattaya eye sandbox deal
‘We need to respect the process of healing’: a GP on the overlooked art of recovery
Omicron, Australia & the incompetence of leadership | Auto Expert John Cadogan – tks Warwick Merry
Global politics
Right-wing politics is cancerous to democracy, society, and human life tks Phillipa Edwards
Another Top Trump Ally Agrees To Testify For Jan. 6 Committee
Russia, at an Impasse With the West, Warns It Is Ready to Abandon Diplomacy
Boris Johnson: Ministers rally round PM as he faces calls to quit
Spaceship-Like Electric Aircraft ‘Alice’ Prepares For Its First Flight In These Awesome Images
Healthy humans drive the economy: we’re now witnessing one of the worst public policy failures in Australia’s history tks Willie Wahlin
As it happened: Boris Johnson apologises for lockdown drinks party
The world values our artists. Why don’t our leaders?
The New Yorker: Politics and More – Podcast
David Sassoli: Flags lowered for EU parliament leader
Who’s The Enemy at the Gates? – Pt. II
Business and technology
The Highest-Paid YouTube Stars: MrBeast, Jake Paul And Markiplier Score Massive Paydays
How to deal with price increases in this inflationary market
Belt & Road encircles Latin America and the Caribbean tks Richard Turrin
The “new normal” work culture may have evolved for the better tks Maeve Henry
US FAA requires precautions for some Boeing 787 landings after new 5G launches
Channel7 Wild Feed Mike Amor Rebecca madden on Novak Djokovic – tks Phillipa Edwards
Social issues and humanity
Awe: The ‘little earthquake’ that could free your mind tks Tim Hamons
Global spread of autoimmune disease blamed on western diet
Prince Andrew loses military titles and use of HRH
Prince Andrew to face civil sex assault case after US ruling
Why Is ‘Weaponized Incompetence’ Blowing Up On TikTok? Because Too Many Of Us Do It
20 times women took down toxic men in truly majestic fashion
Man gets genetically-modified pig heart in world-first transplant
Paralympic swimmer Will Perry ‘sick to death’ of dwarfism abuse
Life after a great leap: lessons from people who dropped everything in search of happiness tks James Taylor, great read
Passion, humour, history
CEOs Give Advice To Millennials About Saving Money – note it’s The Onion.
Turkmenistan plans to close its ‘Gateway to Hell’
Amy Schneider wins $1 million on ‘Jeopardy!’ — and respect for trans Americans
After 16 years together, Jason Momoa and Lisa Bonet have separated.
Britney Spears and sister Jamie Lynn’s rift grows with social media feud
Australian Lamb : The Lost Country of the Pacific
Let me know what jumped out at you? Or share with me what you’re reading? I love that!
Cheers
Andrea
Uncommon Courage – my new book – is available
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