FAQ

Who are you?

I’m Tuck. I love music, thinking, discussion, exploration and curiosity. I’m not “a believer” but I’m also not against it. For this purpose, I’m a guy who thinks non-believers should have a place to gather, know each other, have fun, talk, sing, eat and feel part of a community. So I’m trying to make it happen.

What the heck is Oden Thinking?

Just try to ignore it. This website is primarily for my freelance writing / creative consultation business, and I’m using it to house the House landing page. But don’t ignore it if you want to hire me.

What sort of stuff would we sing?

That’s open to discussion and input for sure. They should be appropriate to us all, easy to sing, inspiring and relevant. Some of my favorite and most applicable song ideas are:

Tom Waits: Come on up to the House

The Wood Brothers: Sing About it

Pink Floyd: On the Turning Away

Bill Withers: Lean on Me

Leonard Cohen/ Jeff Buckley: Hallelujah

Talking Heads: Once in a Lifetime

Phish: Waste

What are the shared values?

I’m so freaking glad you asked.

Uncertainty; Embracing the Unknown

Uncertainty is foundational. Together we’ll learn to navigate and be at home with uncertainty. To withhold judgment. Explore. Entertain other perspectives – even reprehensible ones – without preconceived ideology or rushed judgment.

Curiosity

One flip side of uncertainty, curiosity is the fuel for a trip into the unknown, the antidote to bias and the crowbar to a closed mind.

Critical Thinking

The counterbalance to curiosity and uncertainty. Thinking critically means subjecting anything to inquiry and skepticism. Put it to the test. Ask questions. Try to find good answers for others’ questions.

Humor and Irreverence

Nothing is above laughing about. Nothing is above question. Laughter is a great equalizer, the destroyer of rank, status and hierarchy.

Honesty

Honesty with yourself about your feelings, motives and desires is paramount. Honesty with others is nearly as vital, but can be wisely filtered. Without honesty, no progress can be expected.

Suspended Judgment

Suspending or withholding judgment allows us to fully explore foreign – even distasteful ideas – thereby actually understanding others’ feelings, beliefs and perspectives.

Respect

Respect means allowing others to speak until they are done, even if you disagree or find what they say offensive. Hear them out. Suspend judgment. Try to understand.  

This is a safe place to explore, question and discuss, but not a sheltered “safe space” free of challenge, dissent or “triggers.” These things help us grow and force ideas and beliefs to stand on their own merit. What makes it a safe place is that You are separate from your ideas. Your ideas/beliefs may or may not be loved and accepted, but you are. 

Even perceived bigotry, intolerance and hate speech are permissible as long as they’re accompanied by uncertainty: As long as the person holding such beliefs allows some room for the idea that they might be wrong – that there might be another, more accurate perspective. Perhaps they haven’t been curious enough or suspended their judgment yet.  

Writing them off would only ensure their misconceptions persist. 

Bigotry and intolerance also include those popularly accepted and praised varieties against straight, white, cis, male and wealthy.

Balance

Virtually anything is okay in moderation – including moderation. Acknowledge and address sources of imbalance. Ask for help. Now and then, tip the scale to remember the feelings of balance vs. imbalance. 

Practice Center-Centeredness. Resist polarization, echo chambers and bubbles.