Flip-sides of compromise
This is a short one.
Compromise is a funny thing. It may be the thing that allows groups to get along, governments to function, and peace to reign. It may also mean selling out to adversaries, greasing the wheels of corruption, and putting cooperation before principles. The question, usually, is when to view it in which way. When to fight and dig in your heels, and when to agree.
Here's another way to put it: What is compromise? People usually frame it as a way to make everyone happy. But really, this is untrue. If everyone's happy, nobody's happy. Compromise is a way to make sure everyone is UNhappy, preferably equally so! When people can accept that this is better than some people being happy and most being really unhappy, things can move forward. No space for purists.
Compromise is a funny thing. It may be the thing that allows groups to get along, governments to function, and peace to reign. It may also mean selling out to adversaries, greasing the wheels of corruption, and putting cooperation before principles. The question, usually, is when to view it in which way. When to fight and dig in your heels, and when to agree.
Here's another way to put it: What is compromise? People usually frame it as a way to make everyone happy. But really, this is untrue. If everyone's happy, nobody's happy. Compromise is a way to make sure everyone is UNhappy, preferably equally so! When people can accept that this is better than some people being happy and most being really unhappy, things can move forward. No space for purists.
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