By this standard it would be rare that we could talk about anything.

This morning there was a question on /r/AskHistorians:

"How did the writers of the Declaration of Independence write in such straight lines on line-less paper?"

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/74sfhn/how_d...

Someone with my political inclinations might reply, "How can you even ask such a question? Sure, the signers of the Declaration had good intentions, but you know what road is paved with those: look where it got us! [Insert my list of the terrible things the United States Government has done not only to the rest of the world but to its own citizens.] And you're asking whether the lines were straight?"

But can't a question be interesting all on its own? How the heck did they get those lines so straight? And was every document in those days like that? (Read the thread to find out.)

At the height of the Cold War, I was into ham radio, and I had friends in the Soviet Union who I would have Morse code QSOs (chats) with. It being ham radio, we couldn't talk freely about everything, but at least we could compare notes on our radio gear, find out the weather, and ask how the family is doing. It wasn't perfect, but it was something. And I always signed off with:

  _ _   . .   . _ .

  (MIR) [Peace]

I won't dare compare my situation with someone living under the DPRK, but I'm fairly confident that the graphics designers who live there are not murderous dictators. Maybe we can grab whatever little chances we have to get to know each other as people?