From Manu on Identity.

It’s also why I find broad group definitions so annoying. Lumping together potentially billions of people using arbitrary traits as the dividing line is such a lazy way to look at the richness of human diversity and experience. Every time I see people using one of these definitions—in a serious way that is—I immediately start to lose interest in the argument they’re making. And unfortunately, overly broad definitions are everywhere online and I’m sure you’ve seen them: people grouped because of where they were born—how can you just say “the Chinese”, “the Indians”, or “Americans” and be taken seriously? People grouped based on the hue of their body—seriously? In 2025? People grouped together based on their gender and/or sexuality—as if all lesbians, gays, or trans are the same. The list of these broad generalizations is endless.

and

Humans are complex. You are complex. Reducing you to a simple label is convenient because it allows me to not go through the effort that’s necessary to understand who you actually are.

It’s easy to generalize so we don’t have to understand. Reminds me of Think Again which is all about how to have hard conversations with people you don’t agree with, or that don’t agree with you. It’s not about “winning” them over or sticking them in a box, it’s about communication and seeing their humanity.

I need to read Think Again…again.