Ever wonder about a world where everyone told the truth, all the time? And no one would ever get offended by it?
Take the classic, "Honey, am I fat?" question. If you reply yes, the message sent is not "Yes, you are fat," but "Yes, you are and I despise you for it." You didn't say it; but the other person assumes it anyways. Why? Because it's usually the truth. Even in the case of "Yes, but I still love you," it's implied "you owe me for that."
There just isn't enough love in the world. It's certainly possible to tell the truth and be loving at the same time. Surely "Yes, but I love you enough to overlook that. And no, you don't owe me anything." would be an ideal answer.
So why can't we start today? Because you can't unilaterally start telling the truth with love, because people would misunderstand you. Unless the hearer knows you are telling the truth with love, they will assume you're insulting them, because that's what it amounts to without love; and people are generally pessimistic these days, so they assume the worst. And in communication it is a requirement that you speak to people who don't know you very well. As such, unilaterally effecting social change of that order might not be the greatest of ideas.
Therefore, we must remain in this lower form of implied battles and insults. Humanity disturbs me.
"Be the change you want to see in the world." (Mahatma Gandhi)
5 comments:
So, when you say things to me, can I safely assume that you're being loving? :D
It's actually quite fun insulting people, safe in the knowledge that they know you don't mean it.
Perhaps these people you speak of don't actually realize that you don't mean it. Think that's possible? :D
That actually did happen, in the past, with fairly bad results. These days, I try to be careful only to do it to people who know (i.e. friends).
Yeah... One can get into extensive trouble with people one doesn't know. And even with people one does know, apparently. :'(
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