"We pass the word around; we ponder how the case is put by different people, we read the poetry; we meditate over the literature; we play the music; we change our minds; we reach an understanding. Society evolves this way, not by shouting each other down, but by the unique capacity of unique, individual human beings to comprehend each other." - Lewis Thomas



Tuesday, January 12, 2010

An Irritation and a Lack of Ointment

I was sitting in class today, listening to the professor speak about his lecture when he asked the class a question. Now, I have no issue with people attempting to answer this, and no issue with people who may have misunderstand the question and may get the answer wrong. It is when the person speaks and persists that they are correct despite the fact they are obviously wrong. Not only do they speak like an idiot, but they continue to argue with the Professor.


Now this is strictly one example of this, from a classroom setting, I have encounter these same people outside of a classroom setting. These are the people who talk but do not say a god damn thing. I fail to understand this, these people. Is it that they enjoy their own voice? Or are they so dumb they fail to regard the fact that they speak with no substance?


There are people out there who do speak and do have valid arguments and speak with substances, but they are few and far between. It seems that the ones who understand and would offer insight into the problem, question, or simply the conversation stay silent. These people irritate me to a degree indescribable.


A similar issue, that is usually proposed by these same sort of people, is when they make a claim in which they have no bases nor no explanation as to why they hold that particular perception. I do understand a cultural undertaking is involved in this, but what I can not comprehend, is how they can make such a strong claim when they have no opinion?


I was in a bit of an argument with a friend of mine about politics, and political standings. They made a fairly specific claim about policies proposed by a particular set of people. Yet as I continued to defend my point of view and draw out some reasoning as to why this person held that point of view, they proved to have none. In which case they shut down the conversation. I fail to understand this, as human beings we've been given the wonderful phenomena of rational thought, why do people fail to use it? We have the ability to reason and formulate opinions, but no.


Does this irritate anyone else, or is it just me? Maybe it is I who am the problem and not what I have been exposed with. Thank you for reading.






"There exists a place within all of us, void of noise and void of colour. An area of complete tranquility and understanding, here the self we wish to be must be located. As in the world we preoccupy ourselves and cover this screaming silence with un-contemplated noise. Nothing of understandable importance has grown from our preoccupation, except more preoccupation. If we enjoy the silence, find this self, a concept of our nature grows around us. Enjoy the silence as much as the excitement in this life, and perhaps find a meaning that the rest of fail to see." - Authors note 21

1 comment:

  1. As long as you aren't talking about lme I completely agree with you...If on the other hand, I'm your example then I just don't get it :P

    ReplyDelete

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