In this article, the author describes his experience of living like the Founding Fathers for a year, which included writing with a quill pen and ink. Despite the downsides, such as ink stains and annoying sounds, the author found that writing longhand changed the way his brain worked and allowed him to enter a state of flow. The Founders valued cool reason over immediate emotional responses, and writing longhand provided a slower, less impulsive style of writing that enabled deeper thinking and exploration of topics.
The author suggests that Americans could benefit from more face-to-face civil discussions with people outside their own bubble, as it can lead to more thoughtful conversations and less reliance on hot takes and immediate emotional responses. Writing by hand has been shown to benefit thinking, with precisely controlled hand movements contributing to the brain’s connectivity patterns that promote learning. Even if not writing by hand, the author recommends using software that disconnects the computer from the internet to give oneself time to digest thoughts and come up with context.
By writing responses offline and revising them before sending, the author found that he was able to tone down anger or frustration and communicate in a more productive manner. The author emphasizes the importance of measured and moderated thinking, especially during times of high passions such as an election year. The Constitution itself was written offline, with the author suggesting that the document would not have been as thoughtful or compromising if it had been done through instant messaging or collaborative online platforms.
While acknowledging the benefits of modern technology, the author believes that certain aspects of life could benefit from a slower pace, particularly when it comes to writing and thinking. By imposing limitations on the speed of communication, individuals may be able to engage in more thoughtful and deliberate conversations. The author’s year of living like the Founding Fathers highlighted the importance of deep thinking, civil discourse, and offline communication in fostering a more thoughtful and reflective society.
