It's funny, I was just thinking to myself how funny it is that like three people have written more than one blog each today (probably by accident as a few are blank) but here I am doing it myself. Weirdness.
And the topic of my blog today will be: words.
The past few days I've seen a few arguments flare up in various places and I can't help but wonder if they all could have been avoided if we all had the same idea of what some words mean. Whether it's calling your significant other a "girlfriend/hooker" or saying "SG is porn", I think a lot of problems evolve when people misunderstand others intentions.
I know what you're thinking, "No shit sherlock!" (keep digging watson)
But seriously, most people understand that misunderstanding is the source of almost every argument, but it seems like they do nothing to avoid it. I think it's very important that, before you get angry with someone, you should try and make sure you understand what you're getting angry about. If it's just a word that person used, maybe you should bite your tongue a bit.
For example, if I were to start my blog with the word, "Nigger," I would probably offend many people. Those people might not even read the rest of my blog and chose to go harrass me in the comments. Hell it's possible that some people are doing so right now (I certainly hope not). But the point is that in doing so, you would have no idea what I actually thought about whatever I was writing.
My point in all this is that it is ideas that should be important. To use a recent example that might annoy a certain someone
, I recently wrote in a group that I thought SG was a porn site. I also wrote that I thought it was very empowering, artistic, and has a fantastic community. But by using the word "porn" I offended this person. I'm not trying to revive this argument, but it's the clearest example I can think of at the moment so please excuse me.
Porn is a concept that many people have very strong opinions on. It's almost impossible not to. And I believe that with such a controversial topic it is very important to make sure you are not misunderstanding someone. There are those who would call any secular music pornography. And in some ways you could say they are correct.
According to wikipedia: "Pornography or porn is, in its broadest state, the explicit representation of the human body or sexual activity with the goal of sexual arousal and/or sexual relief." Is anybody seeing the intense subjectivity in that description?
"explicit": just how explicit does it have to be? What is considered explicit?
"human body": do hands or feet count? In some cases yes. What about clothed or nude? It all varies.
"sexual activity": What is sexual to some might be mundane to others. And again there are many degrees here.
"with the goal" How do you judge what the goal of something is? You could ask the creator but that's not always possible or viable. So again, different people can interpret it.
"sexual arousal and/or sexual relief" Some people become aroused by the site of people sneezing, is this pornography?
Not to stay on one word, but my point is that there is so much subjectivity in this definition. Wouldn't a person's actual opinion be more important than their word choice? Sadly no. In nearly all walks of life the only way a person can be understood is through their use of words. Thus it is immensely important to make sure you use your words carefully and try to be understood. Likewise however, it is important to recognize that this is a problem that everybody suffers from (whether consciously or not).
What makes a great writer great is his or her ability to use few words to communicate big ideas. What makes a great reader great is his or her ability to divine the intended meaning of a persons communication. I think everybody (myself most certainly included) should try to be better writers and readers.
And the topic of my blog today will be: words.
The past few days I've seen a few arguments flare up in various places and I can't help but wonder if they all could have been avoided if we all had the same idea of what some words mean. Whether it's calling your significant other a "girlfriend/hooker" or saying "SG is porn", I think a lot of problems evolve when people misunderstand others intentions.
I know what you're thinking, "No shit sherlock!" (keep digging watson)
But seriously, most people understand that misunderstanding is the source of almost every argument, but it seems like they do nothing to avoid it. I think it's very important that, before you get angry with someone, you should try and make sure you understand what you're getting angry about. If it's just a word that person used, maybe you should bite your tongue a bit.
For example, if I were to start my blog with the word, "Nigger," I would probably offend many people. Those people might not even read the rest of my blog and chose to go harrass me in the comments. Hell it's possible that some people are doing so right now (I certainly hope not). But the point is that in doing so, you would have no idea what I actually thought about whatever I was writing.
My point in all this is that it is ideas that should be important. To use a recent example that might annoy a certain someone
, I recently wrote in a group that I thought SG was a porn site. I also wrote that I thought it was very empowering, artistic, and has a fantastic community. But by using the word "porn" I offended this person. I'm not trying to revive this argument, but it's the clearest example I can think of at the moment so please excuse me.
Porn is a concept that many people have very strong opinions on. It's almost impossible not to. And I believe that with such a controversial topic it is very important to make sure you are not misunderstanding someone. There are those who would call any secular music pornography. And in some ways you could say they are correct.
According to wikipedia: "Pornography or porn is, in its broadest state, the explicit representation of the human body or sexual activity with the goal of sexual arousal and/or sexual relief." Is anybody seeing the intense subjectivity in that description?
"explicit": just how explicit does it have to be? What is considered explicit?
"human body": do hands or feet count? In some cases yes. What about clothed or nude? It all varies.
"sexual activity": What is sexual to some might be mundane to others. And again there are many degrees here.
"with the goal" How do you judge what the goal of something is? You could ask the creator but that's not always possible or viable. So again, different people can interpret it.
"sexual arousal and/or sexual relief" Some people become aroused by the site of people sneezing, is this pornography?
Not to stay on one word, but my point is that there is so much subjectivity in this definition. Wouldn't a person's actual opinion be more important than their word choice? Sadly no. In nearly all walks of life the only way a person can be understood is through their use of words. Thus it is immensely important to make sure you use your words carefully and try to be understood. Likewise however, it is important to recognize that this is a problem that everybody suffers from (whether consciously or not).
What makes a great writer great is his or her ability to use few words to communicate big ideas. What makes a great reader great is his or her ability to divine the intended meaning of a persons communication. I think everybody (myself most certainly included) should try to be better writers and readers.
VIEW 12 of 12 COMMENTS
ms_magdalena:
Of COURSE it counts <3
mrsted_stryker:
awwww I was hoping to be able to spend some TIME on line on ONE of my days off but I have been on a lot of pain meds and sleeping a TON! Maybe on my next day off??? I will for sure be on MSN!!!