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How to ThinkIn the Age of AI
Anti-patternv1AP-030

All-values-equal anti-pattern

refusing to rank values because "all my values matter equally," which feels virtuous but produces paralysis at every decision point where values conflict because no tiebreaker exists

Why This Is an Anti-Pattern

Inverts stated-vs-revealed-values (Stated-vs-revealed-values pattern). Violates hierarchy necessity. Recurs in decision paralysis, people-pleasing, commitment overload.

Source Lessons

The values hierarchy

When values conflict, you need a hierarchy — a clear ordering that tells you which value takes precedence when they cannot both be satisfied simultaneously.

Connections

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