On the whole, I am pretty satisfied to be "standing out in left field" as the old saying goes.
The thing that keeps baffling me about the human species is that so often people — and particularly people with "extreme" viewpoints — seem more interested in arguing about the problems of our world than actually solving the problems of our world.
As a lifelong observer of human nature, I still can't shake the uncomfortable idea that people can actually become ADDICTED to being "fired up" over something.
And even if the "thing" they were all worried and fired up over is actually resolved, they immediately move on to something else to be upset and butthurt over.
I have almost always avoided these kinds of pissing contests precisely because there inevitably seems to be lots of noise but very little action results.
As this semi-famous cartoon depicts (sorry, I don't know the original source; it has been in my images folder for YEARS), most people don't actually want change they just want something to complain about.
I surmise this from the fact that I have found myself in many a situation in which I offered actual viable solutions to issues at hand... and found myself all but "escorted from the room" for not wanting to just get in the middle of the brawl with no particular purpose.
I'm glad I studiously avoided some of the Project Management gigs that were dropped into my lap.
Yes, I might have been "highly capable" but the emphasis on internal politicking combined with a broader lack of interest in actual resolution felt pretty soul crushing to me.
So I dropped out and went about becoming a strange semi-hermit, instead!
The Signal vs. Noise Issue
Effectively solving any kind of problem substantially depends on being able to cut through the "noise" surrounding a situation to get to the actual "signal" below.
The signal is always there, if you dig around and look for it.
What I sadly see happening in our day and age is so much effort going into creating noise to obscure virtually any and all signals out there. It doesn't really matter whether you're "right-leaning" or "left-leaning," or religious or atheist, there's just an almost unending ocean of noise out there.
And when you do have a "leaning" in some direction, people will swear that their noise is actually signal, when — in fact — pretty much all of it is noise.
Just spend a day sifting through both conservative and liberal news commentary to try to get to the actual facts below all the hyperbola and opinion! It's almost impossible!
The sad thing is that very few people want to deal with the facts — and note that I said the "facts," not the "truth!" The facts tend to be hard and inflexible; not easy to manipulate to serve one's own agenda. A person is either dead or they are not dead. The temperature is either 50 degrees, or not 50 degrees. You either mailed the check, or you didn't mail the check.
There are lots of reasons why I had no interest in becoming a lawyer, and I had no interest in being on the debate team... just too much noise for my liking!
In the end, I can only surmise that people don't like what they call "making too much sense" because it asks for impeccability with your word and personal accountability.
And who'd want to be stuck with that...?
Thanks for reading, and have a great rest of your week!
How about YOU? Have you ever been told off or excluded for "making too much sense?" Do you get the impression there's a lot more "noise" than there is "signal" in our modern world? Do you ever get the impression the people would rather DEBATE problems than SOLVE them? Comments, feedback and other interaction is invited and welcomed! Because — after all — SOCIAL content is about interacting, right? Leave a comment — share your experiences — be part of the conversation!
Greetings bloggers and social content creators! This article was created via PeakD, a blogging application that's part of the Hive Social Content Experience. If you're a blogger, writer, poet, artist, vlogger, musician or other creative content wizard, come join us! Hive is a little "different" because it's not run by a "company;" it operates via the consensus of its users and your content can't be banned, censored, taken down or demonetized. And that COUNTS for something, in these uncertain times! So if you're ready for the next generation of social content where YOU retain ownership and control, come by and learn about Hive and make an account!
(As usual, all text and images by the author, unless otherwise credited. This is original content, created expressly and uniquely for this platform — NOT cross posted anywhere else!)
Created at 20210927 21:16 PDT
0355/1596
I think that the purpose of debate, at least once, was about getting to the solutions so that we know how to solve the problems. I no longer see this to be the point of the debates I observe. Now it is simply about winning, and because so few people in this world have a logical stance in any regard, winning in a debate has become about exposing your opponents position to be more ridiculous than your own, rather than elaborating upon why your opinion is correct.
It is becoming quite dangerous. I was booted from not one but two debate servers on discord yesterday, for arguing that it is not okay to inject children with poison. Yes, in a debate server, supposedly a place where intelligent people can discuss and pick apart ideas, having the position of an anti-vaxxer is not permitted. This is not even up for debate, it is settled science apparently - which shows a very poor understanding of what science is.
It is unfortunate to behold, but people have become brainwashed agents of government or of corporations and human interaction has become the newest and most effective form of propaganda. If you cannot convince someone through logic or reason to believe what you wish them to believe, then just shame them into believing it, or make them so afraid of being on the side that believes otherwise that they will lie to themselves about what they believe until it is not a lie anymore.
I believe that if you can truly see the core issue underpinning most discussions, which is a talent that in my greatest moments, I seem to be blessed with too; that you step into the noise and be the voice of reason, which in this day in age is always also a voice of treason, and show the world that there are still some people out there who will not submit to comfortable lies. I think there are many out there who are looking for a role model. I have been, for many years, and none have I found. But I am not so cynical as to believe they do not exist. Perhaps they are too busy ignoring the noise. But maybe that is why we now believe practically everyone is an idiot. So for sure, it seems to me, that is time for those with the ability to think for themselves to set an example that others might follow.
I agree with you, you are right.
People are not used to "digging deep", they can talk a lot, discuss, retell, but not get to the heart of the issue or problem. Because it is easy to create and relay "noise", but it takes effort to analyze the facts and see the real solution.
I have become accustomed to being ignored by others for "making too much sense", so I do it only for myself..
You've concisely articulated what I'm constantly telling people around me. A lot of bellyaching but little to no solutions are being offered. And it doesn't matter what your views are politically or religiously. Also, false pride is a huge factor because people will believe speculation because it sounds logical despite the lack of facts. It makes me nuts. I feel like people are being transported to me from some remote village in the world. Instead of assimilating and learning, they'd rather congregate amongst themselves and talk about the evils of the Sun and the Moon.
Your content has been voted as a part of Encouragement program. Keep up the good work!
Use Ecency daily to boost your growth on platform!
Support Ecency
Vote for Proposal
Delegate HP and earn more
I empathize with everything you've said here more than I can describe in words.
This might be of interest to you, link below, in part in explanation of what you've described... as in, why people "seem more interested in arguing about the problems of our world than actually solving the problems of our world."
It wasn't always this way, things have changed. The podcast I link below sheds some light on the changes of the last decade and how they have effected societies across the globe.
I hope you find it beneficial in some way. Thank you for articulating what so many are feeling.
Your Undivided Attention
Sep 21, 2021
The Facebook Files with Tristan Harris, Frank Luntz, and Daniel Schmachtenberger
https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS9yWjBjWWsxMg/episode/MGM0ODBhOWUtMzhjMS00M2EyLTgzN2EtNTVmNGYzZjNhYWYx