Lesson learned

Lesson learned

I have come to the conclusion, well it is something I have always known, but perhaps the lesson is finally starting to sink in. What is that lesson? You can’t change someone else’s mind. That each person has reasons and many can give a good argument, well thought out for why they believe, or don’t believe the way they do. It is simply useless to argue, and I feel in most cases to debate, which is really more useless most of the time. Usually when someone is agreed with, it is because they belong to the same choir that the one explaining belongs to. If outside the choir; well seldom is communication achieved, though perhaps a little more understanding is passed on, not a small thing, at least in my opinion. Though for the most part I think those doing the talking, and I include myself in this of course, use stereotypes in dealing with those who hold an opposing point of view. Though each side may think they are the only ones have this injustice done to them, while not seeing it in themselves. Real communication is almost always impossible even among those who agree, so with those who think are believe differently; well anyone can do the math.

I am very poor at debate; I keep thinking it is about learning, when in fact it is simply about convincing others to agree with ones point, in opposition to the other. A valid sport, but not one that leads to real communication, something I am beginning to lose hope in. I think we will become more fragmented as a society, with more and more lines being drawn between opposing groups as time goes on. The web is full of ghettoes where like minded people can gather, a good thing in itself, however it can lead to a false sense of infallibility, because for the most part, everyone agrees with each other. To see my point, simply go to a discussion group that is held by any group that you do not agree with and see what they say about people like you. It can be any group. For instance Catholics can go to an extreme fundie’s sight, or perhaps fundies can go to an extreme catholic site. Atheist can go to a sight dedicated to one particular faith only, or people of faith can go to a sight dedicated to atheism and sees what is written. Usually people feel that they are reduced to a stereotype, yet often do not see it in themselves. So the cycle continues, unending, eternal, I wonder if there is a way out?