It Takes One to Know One

A poor man becomes rich. A drug addict gets sober. A Marxist political theorist becomes a reactionary. A Muslim converts to atheism. As the saying goes, “it takes one to know one.” Those who have transitioned from one extreme to next are best situated to understand the views of their opposites. 

Take Christopher Hitchens. The British writer came of age protesting US interventionism in places like Vietnam and East Timor. He traveled around the world making a living writing for leftist papers. Then, in 2003, he suddenly resigned from The Nation to argue for the US invasion of Iraq and toppling of Saddam Hussein. Though many would argue Hitchens was wrongheaded, they would struggle to defeat him in a debate. While Hitchens understood their point of view, they could not understand his. 

Imagine an AI company is hiring a writer to help market their products. They would look for somebody who is optimistic about technology, has written positively about AI, and is enthusiastic about the prospect of it invading every aspect of our lives. 

If a neo-Luddite who had written about the dangers of AI and made the case for reverting to a more primitive lifestyle applied, they likely would not get an interview. This is small thinking. Many people are fearful of AI and its impacts on humanity.

Who better to subdue the Luddites than Ned Ludd?

Another example is Alcoholics Anonymous. If an addict is struggling to get clean, the best people for them to talk to are those that have been where they are but are now sober. It would be of little use for them to seek advice from somebody who never had the problem. 

The point is one of complexity. Shifting back and forth between competing viewpoints requires critical thinking. If somebody has never questioned their views, they probably do not care enough to have thought about contending arguments. 

So, if you are looking for a speechwriter to make the case for tariffs, find somebody who came of age reading Adam Smith. If you are looking for a psychiatrist to help you deal with depression, find somebody who overcame the challenge and is now happy.

It is much easier to write about endless summers during the depths of winter. Otherwise, it all feels the same.