ObviousStuff.com“Facts → Common Knowledge → Truth”
About Obvious Stuff
Purpose
Make rigorous thinking accessible, social, and useful
Method
CODE + ATLAS frameworks, Agent Network, transparent sources
Focus
Civic questions, systems thinking, practical decisions
Version
About v1.0 • Updated Nov 9, 2025
1) Why we exist
We believe better conversations start with better scaffolding. Our aim is to help people move from scattered claims to shared understanding, then onward to decisions that respect both facts and values.
Problem
Misinformation, tribal incentives, and shallow debate waste time and erode trust.
Approach
Small, repeatable methods (CODE & ATLAS) + visible sourcing + community guardrails.
Outcome
Actionable clarity. You can verify claims, weigh trade-offs, and pick next steps.
2) What we publish
Facts
Verifiable statements with citations. We separate data from interpretation.
Common Knowledge
What many people know and know that others know—useful baselines for dialogue.
Truth (Working)
Best current synthesis given evidence and context; always open to revision.
Formats
| Format | What it is | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| CODE Reviews | Tight, sourced evaluations of an article/claim. | To clarify terms, organize claims, probe gaps, and evaluate strength. |
| ATLAS Analyses | Systems view across Archetypal, Technical, Liminal, Axiological, Social spheres. | To design policy/process changes or weigh complex trade-offs. |
| Book Ends | Balanced Good-Faith cases from multiple sides. | To survey strong arguments before choosing a path. |
| Tools & Templates | Reusable checklists, tables, and workflows. | To run your own analysis consistently. |
3) How we think (CODE & ATLAS)
CODE
| Clarify | Define the exact claim; separate fact vs. opinion; specify terms. |
|---|---|
| Organize | Lay out claims, evidence, assumptions, uncertainties in a table. |
| Discover | Probe counter-evidence, blind spots, incentives, missing data. |
| Evaluate | Proportion your confidence to the stakes; state a working verdict. |
See our CODE library for examples.
ATLAS
| Archetypal | Patterns, metaphors, first principles. |
|---|---|
| Technical | Systems, metrics, constraints, processes. |
| Liminal | Readiness, resistance, pacing for change. |
| Axiological | Values, ethics, purpose alignment. |
| Social | Stakeholders, culture, communication loops. |
See our ATLAS cases for end-to-end transformations.
How an article flows here
| Step | What we do | Output |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Intake | Capture the exact claim and link to source(s). | Claim statement + source list |
| 2. CODE | Run Clarify → Organize → Discover → Evaluate. | CODE review block |
| 3. Synthesis | Promote findings to Common Knowledge when warranted. | Tagged summary |
| 4. ATLAS (optional) | Design options, surface trade-offs, recommend steps. | ATLAS plan |
| 5. Update | Revise when evidence changes; log the change. | Changelog entry |
4) The Agent Network
We use named “agents”—clear mascots with specific jobs—to turn abstract steps into concrete prompts, checklists, and outputs.
Core Team Agents (packaging • structure • judgment)
- Raven — Integrator · synthesizes fragments into a decision-ready brief; highlights trade-offs and next actions.
- Fox — Spark · ignites creativity; reframes, names, and multiplies options into clustered themes.
- Crane (pair) — Connector · choreographs stakeholders; drafts bridge language and coalition paths.
- Chameleon — Mirror · audits assumptions/bias; proposes falsifiers and opposing steelman cases.
- Beaver — Architect · builds repeatable templates, flows, and WordPress blocks for consistent execution.
- Lioness — Guardian · gates quality/ethics; scopes claims, adds caveats, and risk mitigations.
CODE Mascot Agents (analysis core)
- Crow — C: Clarify · pin the exact claim, define terms, scope, and success metrics.
- Octopus — O: Organize · structure claims/evidence; build the for/against table and issue tree.
- Dolphin — D: Discover · scout credible, diverse sources; surface gaps and incentives.
- Elephant — E: Evaluate · weigh quality/uncertainty; render a concise, caveated verdict.
ATLAS Sphere Agents (systems & change lenses)
- Owl — Archetypal · surfaces universal patterns and narrative risks/opportunities.
- Ant — Technical · maps processes, KPIs, constraints, and critical dependencies.
- Butterfly — Liminal · assesses readiness/resistance; proposes paced transition timelines.
- Pelican — Axiological · runs values/ethics stress tests; notes trade-offs and alignment.
- Bee — Social · charts influence/culture; drafts minimal-friction comms and coalition options.
How to use them
Each agent comes with a quick prompt and deliverable. You’ll see these icons across posts, tools, and merch—shortcuts to the step you’re in.
5) Community Standards
Core Principles (non-negotiable)
| Clarity | Write the exact claim; define terms; cite sources. |
|---|---|
| Good Faith | Steelman before critique; avoid mind-reading. |
| Dignity | People are ends, not means; no dehumanization. |
Supporting Rules (operational)
| Transparency | State uncertainties, incentives, and conflicts. |
|---|---|
| Proportionality | Match evidence quality to decision stakes. |
| Common Ground | Surface shared goals before trade-offs. |
| Learning | Update when evidence changes; keep a changelog. |
| Sustainability | Prefer solutions that endure and scale. |
