I’ve been thinking for a while about trying to be aware of how ideas or thoughts enter my awareness. I am not convinced that I have much original thought, so much is influenced by what is going on around me. Quiet times of reflection are few and outside messages remain. I am not sure how imaginative I can be, even if placed into a meditative environment conducive to stillness.
Some of this is best observed in others as I am able to critique them or observe their thoughts better than my own.
One of the areas that has provided a clear example of this is the opinions the world has of Tesla. As one who has obsessed over this company, at minimum since original roadster days, it is interesting to hear opinions of others and how clearly they lack original thought, and seem spit out by whatever media blurb they have caught onto. An easy sample of this just yesterday were neighbors talking about the ugly cybertruck or another neighbor that sounded more knowledgeable really just reiterating what sensational news media have said of late. Such opinions of the neighbors were stated as if that is what they thought, believed, but were really the exact stuff put out by popular press.
Another example of this unoriginal thought by others comes from a group of generally well versed investors over at bogle heads. They post an annual hedge fund contest. Looking back at the 2019 contest it was amazing to see how many were short Tesla.
https://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=268324&start=200
I don’t blame these folks, I don’t blame the peanut gallery of hacks here, just as well as I am not sure I can take credit for being long, holding all year, buying more all year.
I’d really like to better understand how original thoughts permeate my brain and i’d Like to better control them apart from media.