Perceptions
Me and a working colleague today discovered that our points of view regarding some topics are quite oppositional. Digging deeper I figured that the difference is to be found at the very base of his beliefs. He actually thinks the world can be viewed as “good vs. evil”. I told him that this is plain ridiculous but he didn’t budge. Anyway, that explains quite a lot I didn’t understand before.
This view of life certainly has its merits, I grant him that. But it sucks if you crave for a better understanding of things like he says he does. Good forces versus bad forces. Just think about it. It’s such an intriguing concept, understandable for everyone. It’s so simple and efficient that “the players” still employ it as a means of manipulation. Isn’t it a pity that so many people fall for this “We’re the good guys” bullshit? As a fact, nobody can be absolutely good or evil. We define what’s good and what’s evil, what we like and what we don’t. We categorize things and so it seems unlikely that evil guys can do good and vice versa.
We had quite an argument about that until he finally gave in. As usual, some things can’t stand before the harsh facts. Strangely, I don’t feel good about that. Have I utterly destroyed his point of view? Isn’t it way easier to believe in an illusion, if you know that things actually are worse? I certainly have the impression that people don’t really want to know. That they don’t really look because they want to let themselves get fooled. That’s something to think about …
I believe in good and evil, but most things are not so clear cut, especially when dealing with one country versus another. Then it becomes more propoganda.
propaganda, that is!
I don’t believe in breaking up people ‘s illusions about things; it’s what keeps many sane.
As far as good and evil goes, there are those who sit on both ends of the spectrum, but most are in the middle.
Hitler for example was flat out evil, but I’m sure he had private moments of being decent.
On the other end, Mother Theresa was very good, except I heard she had an addiction to Keno.
jlee: More often than not there are so many shades of gray that you just don’t know what’s really going on. I hate the feeling of being left in the dark.
evil spock: I don’t believe in it too but sometimes it just happens in the heat of an argument. Some people are even thankful for being woken.
Sounds like a reasonable approach to me. If we would know everything there is to know about certain people, we surely wouldn’t be so fast in judging them.
I remember having this sort of argument with a close friend about religion. We were both atheists at the time (I’m agnostic now), and we were arguing about telling people “the truth” about god.
I always sided with ignorance is bliss, and why make people as unhappy as us?
By the way, are you interested in doing a link exchange?
Well, religion is quite a different topic since everything is about beliefs. I’m agnostic myself, so there’s no way I could tell the “truth” about God. I did catch your meaning, though.
Most people I know like to think things over instead of accepting everything as the one and only truth. However, I don’t think that ignorance is bliss because I don’t like that nagging feeling that there’s more to it than meets the eye. Maybe I’m just too curious for my own damn good
Sure, bring it on. I’ve already added you.
gotcha back. Welcome to The Few!
I see Evil Spock has sucked you into the Few! haha
It’s not so bad…
Yeah, well … some things just happen
jlee, thanks for the “ringing endorsement”.
My blog needed more indie cred. Scary monks were a good complement to saucy cowgirls.