Listening, really listening . . .

St. Benedict in the snow

I took advantage of the "snow day" today to read some of the correspondance from my students, and to work on my revision of a "novel" I wrote 10 years ago. My creativity students have been urging me to get back to it, and finally the moment has arrived!

A student wrote to me:

I found that I learn a lot more about people the more I let them talk uninterrupted. I could almost see the thoughts forming on their faces. I also found that people who I thought were far on the left or far on the right side of the political spectrum surprised me the more they talked, everyone tends to lean one way or another but the more they talked the further to the middle they seemed to get.

The student goes on to wonder whether the failure to listen is at the root of so much polarization and argumentativeness in political discourse and on some of the talk shows. What do you think?

Opinons, Part One of a series (maybe)

We'll keep this simple today, even though I'm probably only saying what you already know. What I really want to say to start off is that opinions are not facts. Just because we think it is so does not mean it is so.
A lot of people don't seem to realize this. And most of us get so sucked into someone else's opinion, that we make it our own without taking a careful look at it and finding out for ourselves. This happens especially when we listen to loud-mouthed pundits, talk show hosts and would-be politicians. Be careful.

OK, this got more complex than I thought it would be. And, of course, these are only my opinions. Make up your own mind about what I'm saying.

Check your facts:

Here's some wisdom from Sherlock Holmes (A Scandal in Bohemia):

It is a capital mistake to theorise before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts.

I sure wish some of our politicians, pundits, talk show hosts or sections of political parties would act on this advice.