Greatest painting? Mona Lisa.

Genius scientist? Einstein.

Composer extraordinare? Mozart.

The first answer to a question isn’t interesting because it’s automatic. It’s usually something we’ve heard said by those around us, which over time become the default.

These default responses are volunteer ideas. They’re thoughts that present themselves when they hear a familiar question, shaped from the voices of other people.

Volunteer ideas are low-quality; crudely shaped by conformity. The more interesting ideas are the ones that come with persistent deliberation – the winners from a chaotic internal debate. To base one’s views on volunteer ideas is to resign one’s capacity for thought.

Beware them.