How to Do the Most of Bike Packing?

While Bike Packing we have plenty of ‘free time’ in our heads.

Our body knows what to do, which gives us a perfect time to reflect.

These are some scattered (or not) thoughts I have been gathering over time.

And the posts goes...

  • Process vs. Result: Why Traveling Is Not About the Pictures
    • Traveling is about the journey and mindset, not just pictures.
    • Focus on the process, not just moments.
  • The Reason I Deleted Instagram
    • Social media distracts from meaningful storytelling.
    • Aim for deeper engagement and focus.
  • Beyond 'Just Doing My Job' - The Power of Saying 'No'
    • Recognize the moral implications of actions and pressures from authority.
    • Question unethical orders or practices.
    • Encourage moral courage and institutional accountability.
  • Riding the 'Best Possible Wave'
    • Saying Yes means saying No several times - the opportunity costs.

Process (vs) Result - or Why travelling is (should) not about the pictures

Travelling is about the journey, the process and the proper mindset to embrace what you learn along the way.

But Pictures are just events - snapshots.

Events can teach us too, but which ones you think show the most, the good ones or the bad ones?

The ‘attention merchants’ have made us believe that it is all about consumption of moments - But tell me, how many times you had to fake a smile to be as you were expected to in a photo?

In movies, we are bombarded with heroes, which normally are getting some super power at some event.

Havent you ever wonder: When did that hero get those abs?!

And making the trip that you ever dreamt about, is definitely NOT an event

Process vs Event
The Journey - After thousands of such Lines I made it to Tallin

Focus on the process, work step by step on The Mindset

The Reason I Deleted Instagram

I used to have an associated Instagram account for Cycling There.

But not anymore. Why not?

Because I don’t think that social media platforms provide the optimal environment to tell stories properly.

We get bombarded with whatever ‘The Algorithm’ thinks is trending next, plus some ads .

These phenomena are driven by algorithms designed to optimize user engagement, manipulating our psychology to maximize the time spent scrolling and giving attention to a social media platform.

Social media platforms often contribute to the phenomena of tribalism and echo chambers through various mechanisms:

  1. Algorithmic Bias: Social media algorithms prioritize content that aligns with users' interests, creating echo chambers by reinforcing existing beliefs.
  2. Filter Bubbles: Personalized content limits exposure to diverse perspectives, reinforcing tribalistic tendencies.
  3. Confirmation Bias: Users engage with content that confirms their beliefs, intensifying echo chambers.
  4. Group Polarization: Interactions within social media communities lead to the adoption of more extreme beliefs, exacerbating tribalism.
  5. Social Identity Theory: Social media fosters the formation of virtual tribes based on shared identities, promoting in-group favoritism and out-group hostility.

Recognizing these dynamics is crucial for fostering open dialogue and mitigating the negative effects of tribalism and echo chambers in online communities.

’The algorithm’ is nothing magical; it’s a mathematical tool used to achieve specific objectives - in this case, manipulate our attention

And before you are starting to taste something, then, the ‘new’ new takes your focus away.

I want to be able to tell stories, and I want to be able to tell them in a way that I can control.

From your reader’s perspective - You know what to expect when you come here.

You know that you will find a story, not just a picture that will fade away shortly after.

Wise people across history pursued deep concentration and mindfulness, but now…

Also, because I think that being able to retain attention in one thing for more than just seconds is a valuable skill that we are losing.

Let’s get it back, together.

Start by reading articles, take back the habit of reading some books (no phone allowed in the room).

The ‘Just doing my Job’ Effect

Have you ever wondered what the people who built these walls…

…And these kind of carefully planned horror installations have in common?

You are right - They were just ‘doing their work’.

Quoting Shakespeare: ‘For one sweet grape, who will the vine destroy?‘

Seems very clear that the people ordering and the ones executing would get ‘their grape’, their paychecks that provided no real value to anyone. Paid with violence and providing more violence in exchange.

The real danger lies in the abdication of personal responsibility and moral judgment, allowing for inhumane acts to be carried out without active resistance or questioning.

Have you heard about Zimbardo experiment? Aka: Stanford Prison Experiment

The Zimbardo experiment, also known as the Stanford Prison Experiment, was a psychological study conducted by Philip Zimbardo in 1971 at Stanford University. The experiment aimed to investigate the psychological effects of perceived power, focusing on the struggle between prisoners and prison officers.

  • Procedure
    • The 'prisoners' were arrested at their homes, taken to the mock prison, and subjected to a simulated prison environment.
    • The 'guards' were given uniforms, clubs, and sunglasses to prevent eye contact.
  • Duration
    • The experiment was intended to last two weeks but was terminated after only six days due to ethical concerns.
  • Findings
    • Participants quickly adapted to their roles, with guards becoming abusive and prisoners showing signs of extreme stress and depression.
    • The experiment demonstrated how situational dynamics and assigned roles could lead to dehumanizing behavior and loss of personal identity.
  • Relevance to Group Dynamics
    • The Stanford Prison Experiment illustrates how individuals can behave in ways they might not otherwise when influenced by group settings and assigned roles.
  • Key Aspects of Group Dynamics
    • Role Assimilation: Participants quickly adopted the behaviors expected of their assigned roles as guards or prisoners, highlighting the power of social roles and expectations.
    • Deindividuation: Guards experienced a loss of individual identity and accountability, leading to increased aggression and cruelty.
    • Authority and Obedience: Guards felt empowered by their authority and lack of oversight, leading to abusive behavior.
    • Social Influence: Guards' behaviors were influenced by the actions and expectations of other guards, demonstrating conformity and peer pressure.
    • Group Polarization: Group settings amplified tendencies toward aggression among guards and passivity among prisoners.
    • Situational vs. Dispositional Factors: The experiment highlighted the power of situational factors (prison environment and roles) over dispositional factors (individual personality traits) in determining behavior.

How Saying ‘No’ Can Save Lifes

Recognizing the power of individuality and the ability to say “NO” is essential in preventing similar events from happening.

The notion of 'just doing my job' can sometimes lead to unethical actions, especially when individuals feel pressured by a group or authority. What can we do about it?:

  • Awareness: Recognizing the moral implications of our actions and how pressures from authority or the group can lead us astray is the first step. Learning from history helps underscore the value of personal accountability.
  • Critical Thinking: It's crucial to question orders or practices that seem unethical. We should feel empowered to analyze situations independently and assess the wider consequences of our actions.
  • Moral Courage: Saying 'no' to unethical practices takes bravery, especially when facing adverse reactions. Encouraging a supportive environment for ethical conduct and safeguarding those who stand up for what's right is paramount.
  • Institutional Accountability: Ethics must be at the core of organizational cultures, demanding accountability at all levels. Rewarding ethical behavior and not tolerating misconduct are key to eradicating the 'just doing my job' mentality.

By embracing our individuality and the significance of our choices, we can avoid complicit behavior in injustices.

Easy to say, hard to put in practice.

The only way for ideas to be shared across many of us is for them to be very simplistic

Am I riding the ‘best possible wave’

Just like in surfing, where choosing the right wave is crucial, making decisions in life involves selecting the best opportunities.

Not all waves are equally good (or bad); some might be too small, too large, or break in ways that aren’t suitable for a good ride.

Similarly, in life, not all choices will lead to equally favorable outcomes.

When as surfer you commit to a wave, you are inherently pass up the opportunity to ride the waves that follow immediately after.

You might hear about this as the opportunity cost

Guess who made more shoulders that was required to ride his first wave ✋

By choosing one path or option, you are saying no to other potential opportunities that might arise.

It’s important to assess each decision carefully, understanding that the choice you make means letting go other possibilities.

When did Science became another religion?

Whenever we say: I support whatever science says about it - Arent we just following blindly?

Is not that the same as going the listen the priest of your ceremony of choice?

The scientific method is indeed based on methodic questioning, skepticism, and continuous testing and validation of hypotheses.

New evidence can lead to the refinement or even rejection of previously accepted theories.

Blindly supporting current scientific consensus without openness to new evidence contradicts the evolving nature of scientific understanding.