Re: Communication

This is a post in response a blog post from a friend of mine.  Check his blog out here: wefearthefuture.blogspot.com

Please, read his post first, before you read mine!

Hey there Wayne,

First off, let me begin by saying that it’s awesome to see somebody I know getting into blogging.  I think it’s a great way to learn and grow intellectually, as well as foster debate in a friendly and well-thought out manner.  So, keep it up, I’ve enjoyed reading your posts!  I hope you don’t mind me playing devil’s advocate a bit, and feel free to do the same on my blog as well!

I’d like to talk about your second post mainly, the one I’m commenting on.  I answered your question in typical law-school fashion in the beginning of your post.  In response to, “Are people smart?” I said: it depends.  I know you said you didn’t want to spend too much time on whether people are smart or not, but I think not to do so is leaving out a big part of what you’re talking about.

I understand your assumption “Being smart doesn’t exist”, but I also disagree in part.  I think maybe the concept of “smart” versus “not smart” is a bit lacking.  You touched on this when you mentioned that some people are simply better at certain things than others.  I think this is really important, because in a way this can be interpreted that everybody is smart at something.  It essentially means that, if one plays to one’s strengths, others will regard that person a “smart”.  Take me for example, I know I enjoy the law (even while I’m writing this on my half-hour break from work between classes) and therefore I focus intently on it and do my best to excel. 

However, throw me in an operating room, or even an artistic studio, and I quickly look like the dunce.  I think the most important takeaway is that in each of these situations, other peoples’ perception of me is vastly different.  On the one hand, I come across as intently focused on my goals, and on the other, as someone who clearly does not belong.  Does that effect whether I am smart or not?  I don’t think so.  I simply believe that all people have a “place” in life, and we , as humans, need to realize and accept that.

I think this also ties into your clean slate statement.  It’s a very popular philosophical ideology, and one that is firmly tied to the American perception of justice and democracy (in brief, in one is a clean slate then one is responsible for one’s actions, good or bad.  Therefore, we can justify capitalistic economies and prisons with individual freedoms and rights).  I think you may, however, be giving a little too much weight to effect of parents.  I think parents have a huge impact on mental, physical, and social development, but what about friends, school, teachers, mentors, and role models?  All of these factors (and more of course) effect who we are and change what we believe. 

                I do agree with your assessment of determination and will though.  I think you’ve pretty much got the nail-on-the-head.  Humans are capable of accomplishing amazing deeds when we set our minds to it, and this is something that is so often ignored in today’s busy electronic notification life.

As per your examples:

Example 1: If any non-German speaking person were placed into Germany, that person would begin to pick up on the language.  They would not starve to death as you suggest, communication is only very slightly words, and much more tone of voice, inflections, and body language.  You would actually become quite proficient in German once you spent enough time there, after all, that is how you learned English.

Example 2:  I’m not sure exactly how this would play out, and as you say, a lot of factors are omitted (what level of business are said employees engaged in, are they managers? Mid level managers? CEOs?).  However, I think that this example is more of a description of the volatility of human emotions, rather than the inability to communicate.  In fact, they’re communicating quite well that they’re extremely upset, so obviously (hopefully) whatever they’re arguing about is actually quite important.

I happen to agree with your youtube comment assessment. I try to avoid reading those comments like the plague.

Finally, I was surprised by your ultimate conclusion to simply read.  I very much support that.  If more people read, minds would expand and viewpoints would shift.  It’s so hard to convince people to read when they can check out and watch TV or sit on facebook.  I find myself guilty of exactly that type of mental check-out when I’m super tired from working all day.  I don’t want to sit down and read, I just want to “veg out”.  I’m not sure how we address this as a society though, and it’s an interesting topic for future discussion.

I have to run to class now though, so hopefully you enjoy/appreciate my comment!  Have a good one,

Tim