How can we make rational art?

Good morning Stefan, no question but wanted to let you know my husband and I are having a baby boy soon (due date is 22nd). We cannot wait to meet him. Thank you for all that you do, you’ve made us stronger than ever and we couldn’t have done it without tuning in to your shows and podcasts!!! Much love 😄

What would be a good way to get into creative writing? What would be a nice, simple prompt to begin?

I mean this as a way to build up a “muscle”. Something I could do every day to get comfortable.

What is behind the need that some people have to get other people to do all the same things that they do themselves? What I mean is that my wife takes up a personal interest, but then insists that I do the same thing and take the same interest, even at the expense of my own leisure time and even my work and career. Now she has started learning the Czech language and is hard on my case because I have not yet starting learning it.

Hey Stef, what do you think about parents not giving their teenage children money as incentive when you own a family business, because they justify it by them already paying their living expenses or helping in other ways, doing what a parent should do?

What would be some issues with dating someone or being in a relationship with someone who is a victim of sexual assault? Are these relationships doomed? What would constitute a healthy way to deal with this versus unhealthy ways? Or do you have any key thoughts on this type of topic?

Any thoughts on youtuber Mr.Beast? He's the one who pays money to people for doing stuff for him. Of course, it is all voluntary and I myself get paid at work for my time and energy in exchange for money. But I get that uncomfortable feeling about Mr. Beast - can he get someone to do things for him without paying at all? I get a strong sense of Me+ here. It's also interesting to see what people are willing to do for cash.

Recently went to a modern art museum with some relatives. I could not stand the pretentiousness of some “artist” having a gallery of 4x4 frames of pieces of paper saying things like “sky” “landscape” and “ocean”. Is this meant to demoralize and humiliate the viewer?

Is it different to do business with Asians (ex: mainland Chinese) than people from the West? I am having a difficult time working with a Chinese woman who thinks that she’s better than westerners bc her culture has been around for 1,000’s of years and is inflexible with negotiations unless I put her in her place tactfully. She doesn’t know how to get along & collaborate with other people and is very one sided and has a double standard.

What kind of manipulation is provoking a reaction in others by lashing out and then immediately denying it when called out on it? I have a relative who's full of rage and gets triggered easily by small things. I then automatically react with "Chill out. Stop shouting!" I always get "I'm calm, I'm not shouting" in response. "No, you are!" etc. etc. This repeats almost every time we meet (which is rare). Shouting is normal in his household. Obviously, this person has led a dysfunctional life.

#Question: Giving unsolicited advice costing me relationships?My wife has detected a bit of a pattern; I seem to have lost 4 relationships now because of my diplomatically giving unsolicited advice to friends/loved ones.

Is giving advice to friends and loved ones simply not worth it? I'd like to NOT just stand by while friends make really bad decisions. I'd like to have friends with whom I can exchange thoughtful criticism from time to time. But I also don't want to be isolated with no friends because people, in general, can't handle criticism these days. I seem to be missing the nuance to effectively giving friends and family unsolicited advice?

I rarely have vivid dreams. Is that an indication of some kind of distress?

How can one counter accusations of “victim-blaming” when you speak about risk assessment, such as you described in the “that one guy out of 99” scenario you just went over? That’s where my discussions screech to a halt- I get put on the defensive and “lose” the argument.

Stef in one of your call in shows about the promiscuous guy. You told him that if he kept being promiscuous he would end up dating worse and worse woman. Why is that the case? Why would you end up dating worse and worse woman?