How to Grown Up

I'm only peripherally aware of John Perry Barlow's mark on modern culture and society. As a young man, he was one of the Grateful Dead's lyricists (among other songs, he wrote Mexicali Blues), as a result of his childhood friendship with Bob Weir. (He's also reported to be the person who introduced the Dead to Dr. Timothy Leary, and in so doing ushered in some...crazy shit.) Later, he became one of the leading thinkers on digital rights and civil liberties, helping shape the modern internet, and his work with the Electronic Frontier Foundation established a libertarian-leaning framework that guided many of technology's most prominent minds.



As I said, I kinda knew most of that stuff. But not much more. Barlow passed away this week, and  among the numerous articles on his life, I stumbled upon his 25 Principles of Adult Behavior, which you'll find below:

1. Be patient. No matter what.
2. Don’t badmouth: Assign responsibility, not blame. Say nothing of another you wouldn’t say to him.
3. Never assume the motives of others are, to them, less noble than yours are to you.
4. Expand your sense of the possible.
5. Don’t trouble yourself with matters you truly cannot change.
6. Expect no more of anyone than you can deliver yourself.
7. Tolerate ambiguity.
8. Laugh at yourself frequently.
9. Concern yourself with what is right rather than who is right.
10. Never forget that, no matter how certain, you might be wrong.
11. Give up blood sports.
12. Remember that your life belongs to others as well. Don’t risk it frivolously.
13. Never lie to anyone for any reason. (Lies of omission are sometimes exempt.)
14. Learn the needs of those around you and respect them.
15. Avoid the pursuit of happiness. Seek to define your mission and pursue that.
16. Reduce your use of the first personal pronoun.
17. Praise at least as often as you disparage.
18. Admit your errors freely and soon.
19. Become less suspicious of joy.
20. Understand humility.
21. Remember that love forgives everything.
22. Foster dignity.
23. Live memorably.
24. Love yourself.
25. Endure.

According to Kottke.org, at which you can find a more expansive discussion of Barlow's principles, Barlow drew up this list when he was 30. Which makes him far more mature and thoughtful at that age than the average bear.

Or the average Gheorghie, who will find much with which to agree on Barlow's list.

I've got some work to do. Really need to finally give up blood sports.