Life is a Definition
How can we agree on anything if we're not in the same library, let alone on the same page?
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When I've been writing from sun up to sun down, there are times when I become overly sensitive to the words I use to entertain others.
There’s something I believe we should teach our kids, so here it goes…
Lately I have found myself cringing during conversations. Literally having my stomach heave and the skin of my body flinch as people express themselves to me personally. I'm not trying to be rude, but I sit here, writing this at 4:30am after tossing and turning all night, afflicted with nightmares unequaled in my recent past. Time and again I woke up in the night, my back cramped and mind racing, thinking: How could I solve the horrible problems I was experiencing?
The answer was always better communication.
But it wasn't as simple as listening, giving someone the benefit of the doubt or even body language. I kept falling asleep and reliving real-life events and I did just that. That's not the problem in my own life, though I certainly know I can do better. After five or six times waking up, it hit me:Â
It comes down to definition.
Now, this isn't much more than a working theory here, so before anyone goes ape-crap on me, let me try and express what I'm trying to say here.
Do you notice conflict in your own life?
In conversations with friends and family, meetings at church, work, how government leaders uses their podiums or users of In-Yer-Facebook interact one with another online? Maybe they're not fights or full-blow ups, but how about constant irritations? People easily offended on a regular basis?
Why is that?
I personally don't think people are afraid to express themselves anymore. Social networks are proof of that. Frankly I'd like to see more of us shut our traps and stop vomiting emotional garbage for the world to sift through. Yes, me included.
People are all too willing to speak their minds, whether you want them to or not.
So we're interacting, but for some reason, there seems to be more hostility, more arguing, more accusations, more assumptions than I can remember up until now. That's when I went to my Facebook page, which I have almost completely withdrawn from, to read "conversations" form my news feeds. You know what I found?
People arguing about definitions.
I don't know why, yet, but this has me worried. There's such power in a definition. It can unite or separate people.
Using the wrong legal word, because of its definition, can send you to jail or set you free. But our society has become a community where people "have their own individual reality."
It's…well, horse sh-t, but it’s also true. He/she who controls that definition is the one in charge.
Maybe I'm worried because I don't have much trust, hope or confidence in a selfish society. When Ron Paul's movement was spreading, the focus was to free people's minds by educating them about Liberty. But in every single case I personally witnessed, it turned my stomach.
Everyone wanted the right to chose for themselves, felt it was wrong for the government to encroach upon their freedoms. That’s a good thing. But not one of them felt that same right should be extended to their neighbor.
Seriously? You want freedom, but enslave and burden the other guy?
What the freaking hell is wrong with you people?!? Seriously, makes me so damn mad I could spit. Yet I see the same thing happening in definitions.
Think about all the horrible shootings in schools. Mark my words...definitions are going to change through the government. The ‘mentally unstable’, ‘crazy’...or whatever politically correct term they decide to use, will broaden, until it encompasses enough regular - every day folks. Then those who piss off authorities will be locked up as needed.
The noose is getting tighter and tighter and people will hold you to their own interpretation of what they heard. Hmmm, I'm starting to see the importance of contracts. Not to bind people, but to help both parties remember the exact same thing. I'm rambling now and I'm so very tired from lack of sleep, but I hope this makes some sense to you.
Definitions are so very important in all of our interactions, in the very fabric of our society and essential to our future. How much heartache could be alleviated if we could simply be understood?
Think about it.
And if you have a perspective on this, I'd sure appreciate another point of view.
Please leave a comment and share your thoughts...and I promise to do my best to hear what you actually mean...=D
NEXT TIME: Introduction to Parenting
kidCLANS subscriptions are 100% free, including our archives. This is made possible by generous individuals purchasing paid memberships for $5/mo. If you enjoy this material, consider telling someone you know about kidCLANS.
We rely on word-of-mouth to grow. Use the share button below to spread the word. =)
If you prefer to give a one-time donation, consider buying us coffee through our ko-fi page. Thank you!
I love everything about this. Words are power. And when words lose the ability to communicate or share meaning, life suddenly becomes much harder.