An open mind is a prerequisite to an open heart. -Robert M. Sapolsky, neuroscientist and author (1957- )
It might be a good idea if the various countries of the world would occasionally swap history books, just to see what other people are doing with the same set of facts. -Bill Vaughan, journalist (1915-1977)
…we have a lot of opinions, and we tend to take them as truth. Pema Chodron
Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from that of their social environment. -Albert Einstein (1879-1955)
I thought these bore thinking of again, especially when the quote by Albert Einstein came across my computer. I've admired Einstein since a child and have collected quotes of his for years. I remember someone sending me something about him not being religious or spiritual, and I was able to put that to rest.
Over the years I have started a number of list servs and participated in many others. I think Einstein's quote fits for what is known as flaming on list servs. Many folks are quick to flame (or take on another persona, known as a troll, who will flame or create some havoc, sometimes in argument with the original creator of the troll...) when something is posted that doesn't fit their known parameters. How much better it might be to look out from the experience of others and glean from their experiences. But if our own social construct gets in the way, it makes it more difficult to broaden our own base of knowledge because we can't hear the other.
If I had a choice, I'd much rather learn from the experience of others vs. my own hard knocks. I've had plenty of those and would prefer not to have any more, though I know that is impossible in this life. Life has a way of knocking us up the side of the head when we least expect it. I said to a friend this morning: we know we are alive!
Amen to that!
How hard is it for you to stand against the opinions of others that might be in the majority at that moment, but that you know are not the only possible opinions? I don't always express it, unless it is a necessity. Sometimes I wonder why I didn't express something; and other times I wonder why I did. It's just a Catch-22 at times.
Karin
Originally posted 2007-08-09 09:21:14.
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