Life
I see a lot of blogs nowadays that attempt to deal with major topics and hot button issues like immigration, abortion, and terrorism.
I understand the appeal of such decisions, but I rarely go down that path on this blog.
The faithful few to visit this site know that I've posted rarely on such subjects, and that most of this blog concerns random events, poems I've written, and autobiographical cannon fodder.
Most of the big issues in life we choose for one reason or another and never change our beliefs. They're instilled and crystallized over years and years of pattern and acceptance. If we're lucky, we've chosen correctly. If not, no matter, the belief is still as real as if it were.
I've never really known anyone to change their opinion regarding abortion, immigration (legal or otherwise) or terrorism. I'm sure there are people who change, but such changes only come about through sheer acts of history or internal dialogue. Discussions on the internet won't really effect a major shift in perception- our very nature defies it.
Take abortion for instance. Some people think one way- others think differently. Let's assume, for discussion's sake, that the split is fairly even. Is one side totally crazy and the other side completely right? I refuse to take such little stock in humanity. Perhaps both sides are "right", simply right in a different way.
It's hard to see the other side because we can't truly step outside ourselves, even if we wanted to. Half the time we can't even see the things that cripple our perspective, much less know how to push them out of the way. Put it this way- how often do you think about your eyes? Most times, you don't. But you constantly use them. Often, if your eyesight fails bit by bit over time, you don't notice it until it's quite far gone- having no clear vision to compare it with, you don't know your vision has deteriorated. It's the same thing with cultural, psychological, and emotional fuzziness.
Even Jesus couldn't convince us He were Jesus unless we really wanted to believe it. Even after witnessing countless miracles with his own eyes, Judas still betrayed him. We are the same way, regardless of what the subject matter is. Same with Buddha or Confucious or any other deity you care to name. Faith in what we believe in comes from within- neither parting seas or falling towers can change that for more than a passing moment.
Most people of even limited intelligence like to tell themselves that they are a genius- that within their undiscovered mind lay vast and storied truths, simply waiting to be divulged. Our faded memories of Socrates tell us that yes, we can change people if we can only get within- few people have ever breached that Minoan circuit at all, much less manipulated it with any sort of effectiveness. Most of us, whether we want to admit it or not, fall far short of the genius we suspect we are. Our minds are facile and sharp, but lack the preeminent strength of thought that falls on genius- that tearing of the intellectual curtain, so to speak.
So persuasion is largely futile. People believe what they believe, vote what they vote, and determine their lifes as they see them fit to be determined.
Voice your beliefs, and if they are true enough people will accept them over time. But no part of cajoling or forcing or pontificating will do otherwise.
Talk of light things- lemonade, lazy days, fishing, friends, and slow stretches of time.
Life is too short to speak too often of things that cannot or will not change.
At least on a blog.
I understand the appeal of such decisions, but I rarely go down that path on this blog.
The faithful few to visit this site know that I've posted rarely on such subjects, and that most of this blog concerns random events, poems I've written, and autobiographical cannon fodder.
Most of the big issues in life we choose for one reason or another and never change our beliefs. They're instilled and crystallized over years and years of pattern and acceptance. If we're lucky, we've chosen correctly. If not, no matter, the belief is still as real as if it were.
I've never really known anyone to change their opinion regarding abortion, immigration (legal or otherwise) or terrorism. I'm sure there are people who change, but such changes only come about through sheer acts of history or internal dialogue. Discussions on the internet won't really effect a major shift in perception- our very nature defies it.
Take abortion for instance. Some people think one way- others think differently. Let's assume, for discussion's sake, that the split is fairly even. Is one side totally crazy and the other side completely right? I refuse to take such little stock in humanity. Perhaps both sides are "right", simply right in a different way.
It's hard to see the other side because we can't truly step outside ourselves, even if we wanted to. Half the time we can't even see the things that cripple our perspective, much less know how to push them out of the way. Put it this way- how often do you think about your eyes? Most times, you don't. But you constantly use them. Often, if your eyesight fails bit by bit over time, you don't notice it until it's quite far gone- having no clear vision to compare it with, you don't know your vision has deteriorated. It's the same thing with cultural, psychological, and emotional fuzziness.
Even Jesus couldn't convince us He were Jesus unless we really wanted to believe it. Even after witnessing countless miracles with his own eyes, Judas still betrayed him. We are the same way, regardless of what the subject matter is. Same with Buddha or Confucious or any other deity you care to name. Faith in what we believe in comes from within- neither parting seas or falling towers can change that for more than a passing moment.
Most people of even limited intelligence like to tell themselves that they are a genius- that within their undiscovered mind lay vast and storied truths, simply waiting to be divulged. Our faded memories of Socrates tell us that yes, we can change people if we can only get within- few people have ever breached that Minoan circuit at all, much less manipulated it with any sort of effectiveness. Most of us, whether we want to admit it or not, fall far short of the genius we suspect we are. Our minds are facile and sharp, but lack the preeminent strength of thought that falls on genius- that tearing of the intellectual curtain, so to speak.
So persuasion is largely futile. People believe what they believe, vote what they vote, and determine their lifes as they see them fit to be determined.
Voice your beliefs, and if they are true enough people will accept them over time. But no part of cajoling or forcing or pontificating will do otherwise.
Talk of light things- lemonade, lazy days, fishing, friends, and slow stretches of time.
Life is too short to speak too often of things that cannot or will not change.
At least on a blog.
posted by Yorick at 6:39 PM
2 Comments:
this is a funny post. for a few reasons. 1) your declarations of "genius" have been frequent. 2) you are sharing your refusal to consider other views - and imposing it upon others. there are SOME frames of mind which are less likely to consider other points of view. Your argument that we can't step outside ourselves applies to YOU, b/c YOU can't truly step outside yourself. If you did, you would find people with open minds, and a willingness to consider all sides of an issue. Sure, there's an initial period of retractability, but when a person walks away from the computer - they ponder. THAT, in my opinion, is our nature. While taking a shower, while going for a run, while riding a train - we ponder. We don't think about lemonade.
I for one have had two points of view on both abortion and illegal immigration. there have been other subjects of limited import (but what felt like HUGE import at the time) that actually were changed by internet debates.
Furthermore, your assumption that people who enjoy playing with the ideas of the "hot button" issues are only looking to persuade is, I believe, faulty. Some people enjoy exercising their minds. Others find the process of putting the process in writing an aide to the thought process.
I refuse to debate this point because to do so would be to fall into the trap I so carefully warned against people falling into- any discussion over this point would be a useless waste of time for the both of us. Here's what would happen:
1) I'd say something clever.
2) You'd say something clever.
3) I'd rebut what you said with something clever, and perhaps an ounce of cruelty.
4) You'd respond in kind, nothing would get accomplished, and feelings would be hurt.
5) I would have wasted thirty minutes of my life discussing a point that would leave neither one of use different than we were before, while the whole time I would have wished I had made some lemonade instead and enjoyed it.
This is why I dislike Internet "debates" so to speak- the lack of personal connection quickly devolves the affair into whoever ends up with the last word. It's futile.
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