Right Man, Wrong Place
@asymmetrical.bsky.social
Research scientist; global catastrophic risks, geopolitical spillover events, complexity
If it is too difficult or implausible to set/achieve a strategic goal, rather then focusing on winning for your side, a reasonable goal can be merely ensuring your adversary loses.
November 12, 2025 at 10:01 AM
If it is too difficult or implausible to set/achieve a strategic goal, rather then focusing on winning for your side, a reasonable goal can be merely ensuring your adversary loses.
It can be advantageous to keep your adversary guessing. However, if you delay too long, or make it too regular a practice, you will belie an indecisiveness which will be used against you.
June 21, 2025 at 1:35 AM
It can be advantageous to keep your adversary guessing. However, if you delay too long, or make it too regular a practice, you will belie an indecisiveness which will be used against you.
If your strategy may not work, don't be afraid to change it. However, never make changes which might begin to alienate allies, or at least, not many of them. It will soon become a poison pill you must swallow which may upend your initial goal entirely. Perceived flexibility is not always apt.
June 7, 2025 at 12:03 AM
If your strategy may not work, don't be afraid to change it. However, never make changes which might begin to alienate allies, or at least, not many of them. It will soon become a poison pill you must swallow which may upend your initial goal entirely. Perceived flexibility is not always apt.
The grander your strategy, the more opportunities this greater amount of adversaries will have to offset your strategy. Grander strategies require greater teams of consensus. Adversaries will always try to gain at the cost of your teams. If you succumb to any distraction, your advancement suffers.
May 13, 2025 at 6:22 AM
The grander your strategy, the more opportunities this greater amount of adversaries will have to offset your strategy. Grander strategies require greater teams of consensus. Adversaries will always try to gain at the cost of your teams. If you succumb to any distraction, your advancement suffers.
Be wary of wins. Hubris can and will create holes in your strategy which your adversary will be all too happy to exploit.
April 28, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Be wary of wins. Hubris can and will create holes in your strategy which your adversary will be all too happy to exploit.
Look for weaknesses in your adversary's strategy by an equal amount to the degree to which they are loud/distracting.
April 27, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Look for weaknesses in your adversary's strategy by an equal amount to the degree to which they are loud/distracting.
After your adversary either finishes a gambit or backs away from one, they may attempt to overestimate their success with said gambit.
April 10, 2025 at 6:55 AM
After your adversary either finishes a gambit or backs away from one, they may attempt to overestimate their success with said gambit.
Strategies that are strong and effective do not have to move very loudly, unless in very specific circumstances. If your adversary is moving very loudly, it may be because they're trying to cover for mishaps in their strategy.
April 2, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Strategies that are strong and effective do not have to move very loudly, unless in very specific circumstances. If your adversary is moving very loudly, it may be because they're trying to cover for mishaps in their strategy.
It can be advantageous to set up situations where your adversary becomes comfortable. While this should generally only be considered for longer term strategies, comfort can induce shortcuts or mistakes by your adversary.
March 25, 2025 at 3:07 AM
It can be advantageous to set up situations where your adversary becomes comfortable. While this should generally only be considered for longer term strategies, comfort can induce shortcuts or mistakes by your adversary.
Pay attention to how your adversary deals with revealing information.Your adversary will go through greater lengths to hide truths than it will to ignore falsehoods.
March 23, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Pay attention to how your adversary deals with revealing information.Your adversary will go through greater lengths to hide truths than it will to ignore falsehoods.
If an element you considered an ally against your adversary becomes unfair or otherwise betrays your trust, consider whether they can still play a part in your strategy with this new information. Adaptation doesn't always need to include abandonment.
March 18, 2025 at 9:05 AM
If an element you considered an ally against your adversary becomes unfair or otherwise betrays your trust, consider whether they can still play a part in your strategy with this new information. Adaptation doesn't always need to include abandonment.
It's important to pay attention what you're adversary is paying attention to, and what they aren't. Focus is a limited resource for everyone. If your adversary is focusing on something they think is important, there is a likelihood that they are not focusing on something that is also important.
March 16, 2025 at 8:10 AM
It's important to pay attention what you're adversary is paying attention to, and what they aren't. Focus is a limited resource for everyone. If your adversary is focusing on something they think is important, there is a likelihood that they are not focusing on something that is also important.
If an adversary is large and begins to act erratically, it may be that they are trying to trick you, or consider that there may be warring factions within
March 8, 2025 at 6:44 AM
If an adversary is large and begins to act erratically, it may be that they are trying to trick you, or consider that there may be warring factions within
When considering Grand Strategy, it's important to understand: if you pull away from a space or interest, it immediately gives your adversary the opportunity to push into that space or interest. When such a thing is lost grand strategically, it will be extremely difficult and taxing to get it back.
February 24, 2025 at 4:52 PM
When considering Grand Strategy, it's important to understand: if you pull away from a space or interest, it immediately gives your adversary the opportunity to push into that space or interest. When such a thing is lost grand strategically, it will be extremely difficult and taxing to get it back.
Always ask yourself if you're making convenient assumptions of your adversary's moves. Being too pollyanna with your strategy can, and often will, be disastrous.
February 23, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Always ask yourself if you're making convenient assumptions of your adversary's moves. Being too pollyanna with your strategy can, and often will, be disastrous.
Be sure to watch the speed with which your adversary does things. They act at that speed because their strategy dictates they must act at that speed. Your strategy doesn't have to move at the same speed as your adversary's. Your rhythm can break their's.
February 17, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Be sure to watch the speed with which your adversary does things. They act at that speed because their strategy dictates they must act at that speed. Your strategy doesn't have to move at the same speed as your adversary's. Your rhythm can break their's.
Force your adversary to question their fundamental hypothesis of the combat. If your adversary believes the combat is only between you and them, introduce a third element. Show your adversary what they expected to happen, and then show them what they didn't.
February 8, 2025 at 5:49 AM
Force your adversary to question their fundamental hypothesis of the combat. If your adversary believes the combat is only between you and them, introduce a third element. Show your adversary what they expected to happen, and then show them what they didn't.
The fact that there were relatively much less people in Davos this year during World Economic Forum week is the most recent sign of how fast we're heading to a multipolar world. If we're not there already.
February 4, 2025 at 4:54 PM
The fact that there were relatively much less people in Davos this year during World Economic Forum week is the most recent sign of how fast we're heading to a multipolar world. If we're not there already.
Last year I had the supreme honor of helping a true Paragon of Courage, Jaha Dukureh, in stopping the legalization of Female Genital Mutilation. I saw her face down multiple threats on her life. The documentary is here: youtu.be/6E5THx_NYto?...
Uncut Future (S4, E14) | 52 Documentary
YouTube video by Voice of America
youtu.be
February 3, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Last year I had the supreme honor of helping a true Paragon of Courage, Jaha Dukureh, in stopping the legalization of Female Genital Mutilation. I saw her face down multiple threats on her life. The documentary is here: youtu.be/6E5THx_NYto?...
Wondering why your adversary is doing something is a low-tier question. Complaining about why they do something is even more useless.
Instead, learn from them. Often adversaries give lessons freely, but sadly many don't see them, or care to learn, and are more than likely repeat the same mistakes.
Instead, learn from them. Often adversaries give lessons freely, but sadly many don't see them, or care to learn, and are more than likely repeat the same mistakes.
February 2, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Wondering why your adversary is doing something is a low-tier question. Complaining about why they do something is even more useless.
Instead, learn from them. Often adversaries give lessons freely, but sadly many don't see them, or care to learn, and are more than likely repeat the same mistakes.
Instead, learn from them. Often adversaries give lessons freely, but sadly many don't see them, or care to learn, and are more than likely repeat the same mistakes.
Regarding Deepseek: if you're going to show your cards, make sure it's a fait a compli.
February 1, 2025 at 4:24 AM
Regarding Deepseek: if you're going to show your cards, make sure it's a fait a compli.
Great people find a way for the future to find meaning in their lives after they've passed.
January 27, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Great people find a way for the future to find meaning in their lives after they've passed.
When working to accomplish a large goal, it's important to remember that one often needs equal parts of luck and boldness. It could be pointed out that boldness may be a choice, but luck is not. However, the more chances you give yourself, the greater the chance you will be lucky.
January 27, 2025 at 9:52 AM
When working to accomplish a large goal, it's important to remember that one often needs equal parts of luck and boldness. It could be pointed out that boldness may be a choice, but luck is not. However, the more chances you give yourself, the greater the chance you will be lucky.
Trust is always earned, never bought.
January 23, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Trust is always earned, never bought.
Regardless of any opinion, grand-scale national investments in technologies that are of great importance to national security are important.
January 23, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Regardless of any opinion, grand-scale national investments in technologies that are of great importance to national security are important.