Banned Books, Endangered Cosplay and 50+ Hours of Conversations About Diversity | Non-Obvious Insights #254

Dear Newsletterest,

I have to admit, my head is spinning this week. After months of conversation, earlier this week we finally launched our Non-Obvious Beyond Diversity Summit with 217 speakers and more than 50 hours of content. Listening to these conversations and being part of this event has given me a crash course in empathy, belonging, collaboration and just how much we can learn from people who are unlike ourselves.

If you haven't already, check out my opening session interview with comedian Maysoon Zayid where we talk about soap operas, disabilities, "martyr moms," lemurs and bad hair days. Yup, it was pretty wide ranging. Right now on YouTube you can watch the full playlist >>

Of course, alongside these conversations, I curated some fascinating stories to share with you as usual. This week's stories focus on friendship, underground comedy, abandoned oil rigs, Japanese cosplay and a new museum of banned books. Lots to talk about (and watch), so let's get started!

The Pandemic Has Erased Entire Categories of Friendship

"I realized how much I missed all of those people I only sort of know ... the pandemic has evaporated entire categories of friendship, and by doing so, depleted the joys that make up a human life—and buoy human health. But that does present an opportunity. In the coming months, as we begin to add people back into our lives, we’ll now know what it’s like to be without them."

Could the pandemic actually help us make our extended social circles more powerful or have we lost casual relationships that will never return? In this insightful article from The Atlantic, writer Amanda Hull explores the idea of friendships at different levels and how each of us might shift the way we navigate these relationships, and how we appreciate them, in the future. It's an important point and one that I suspect more people will be thinking about in the coming months, and more psychologists will be studying for some time as well.

How the Japanese Government Might Change Cosplay Forever

The image of a cosplay character has become a distinctly Japanese export now copied around the world - but there are concerns this week that this popular and profitable activity might soon be subject to more restrictive copyright laws. No one knows exactly what this means, but it has raised the question of what constitutes fandom versus what is a profession. Fanfic, cosplay, fan communities and content creators should all be watching this debate in Japan closely for the implications it might hold for all of us.

Roblox Heads Toward Creating An Actual Multiverse For Us All

Imagine an online world where we could all exist in an avatar form and interact with one another. It's a dream often portrayed in science fiction films such as Ready Player One , but it may be getting closer to reality thanks to Roblox. Explore the story of Roblox, and why the founder's vision for the site might not be as ambitious or disturbing as the vision presented in the film - and why that's a good thing:

"We almost see ourselves more as the creators of a primitive part of the electrical grid, back there in the distance, and we’re trying to tap the creative genius of our creator community, which is really the real engine that works with us to power our part of the metaverse."

The Museum of Banned Books Is Open, and It's Already On My List

Banned Books is part museum, part bookstore for books that haven’t just been banned, but also ones that have been censored, restricted, or even burned. These books have been gathered and displayed in an effort to encourage a larger discussion around free speech.

This museum and bookstore in Tallinn, Estonia has exactly the sort of non-obvious focus I love to see. Collecting banned or censored books is such an interesting lens to put on the study of history. Imagine studying history by focusing on ideas so radical they were banned at the time they came out. That's a class I would sign up for.

Check out the Non-Obvious Beyond Diversity Summit this week ...

This week there are so many sessions to choose from so beyond my usual weekly show, have a look at the full agenda of sessions and pick a few to watch when you get some time.

Want to watch past episodes? Just visit my YouTube channel to see a full archive of all my previous guests. Watch the full playlist on YouTube >>

How are these stories curated?

Every week I spend hours going through hundreds of stories in order to curate this email. Want to discuss how I could bring this thinking to your next event as a virtual speaker? Visit my speaking page >>

Be Part Of Our Community ...

Join our LinkedIn Group for the Non-Obvious Nation to read stories and see the world a little differently. Join Now >>

Want to share? Here's the newsletter link:
https://mailchi.mp/nonobvious/254?e=f7921ac548

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Banned Books, Endangered Cosplay and 50+ Hours of Conversations About Diversity | Non-Obvious Insights #254

The Pandemic Has Erased Entire Categories of Friendship

How the Japanese Government Might Change Cosplay Forever

Roblox Heads Toward Creating An Actual Multiverse For Us All

The Museum of Banned Books Is Open, and It's Already On My List

Check out the Non-Obvious Beyond Diversity Summit this week ...

Older messages

Inauguration, Transitions and Why Experience Is So Undervalued In Politics | Non-Obvious Insights #253

Why Brands Redesign Logos and a Preview of the World's Most Ambitious Conversation About Diversity | Non-Obvious Insights #252

2020 Year In Review and 2021 Non-Obvious Megatrends To Watch | Non-Obvious Insights #250

Return of Movie Theaters, Why JK Rowling Got Canceled & Unusual 2020 Time Capsule Ideas | Non-Obvious Insights #249

Tinder's Year In Review, Polar Bear Trackers, "Smellicopters" and a Diversity Summit Unlike Any Other | Non-Obvious Insights #247

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