I don't like politics. By I don't like politics, what I really mean, is I don't like the way people treat each other in the political sphere. One man or woman attacking another just so they can appear better. It detracts from the purpose of why politicians are there in the first place. It's not to be a good liar, though, granted, things that wouldn't get done with an honest person can get done with a liar. It's not to be seen as a great leader, though, again, great leaders can unify people and really get things done. It's to be seen as a willing servant for the greater good. A politician should speak to how he or she has and would spend their time helping the community and prove it with what they have already done. Arguments between two ideologies will happen but there's a reasonable and responsible way to have a conversation. A brawl of words should never appear on a political stage.
Unfortunately, that's too idealistic. Most people don't want to talk about what needs to happen or how we'll get there. Oh, no. They want to see politicians squirm and fight like a herd of demon-possessed pigs. They don't want facts, they want hyperbole and anecdotes.
This is true in a number of settings. Whenever I hear a sales pitch for a new product that my company is thinking about investing in or a company that we could be partnering with, it's the same thing. I'm given a handful of shallow facts while being whisked on a grand tour of "our product is so much better than the other guy's" and "how much better would your company be if you had this". Sadly, I know no other way that sales could work because the people making the decisions want to hear that they're going to make the right decision by using the widget because it's going to save the company so much money and the other guys' widget isn't nearly as shiny. Really? This is how we think?
What about when it comes to philosophy or theology?
I'm a fan of Socrates. The Socratic method is a wonderful tool that I believe many people could benefit from if they took the time to hold real conversations with other people about what things mean. However, as good old Uncle Ben says, with great power comes great responsibility. As the Apostle Paul wrote about numerous times in the New Testament, it's difficult to pull people away from arguing at length about the smallest of matters and, often times, becoming divisive over it. I mean, how many Christian denominations are there? How many of those denominations were formed because people couldn't agree on a theological matter that bore no significance on how people lived their life?
Here's what I'm getting at. I like to talk at the thousand foot level. I like to talk about random stories because they're quirky and, hopefully, interesting. There comes a point in time that we need to get down to brass tacks (whatever that means). I would describe myself first and foremost as a thinker. Only later, do I realize, I must also be a doer and that that which I think about, must have some relevance to what I do. Otherwise, what else is it other than empty talk.
I closed out the last post of my assumptions series last time and, while it began as a something that was highly abstract (I assume that reality exists), I tried to bring it to a logical conclusion that's practical and, I hope, motivational. I would strongly advise others out there to do the same. I know I don't have a lot of followers and I doubt that any one person has read all of my posts (other than me, of course) but I know for a fact that reading about how much some person deals with a specific situation has a narrow scope to which my life is effected. On the other hand, if someone posts about interesting stories and/or speaks in an abstract manner, I find it very difficult to have any real impact on my life.
In summary, we need facts to ground ourselves in our doing and hyperbole/anecdotes to help us move forward in our thinking. That, my friends, is substance.
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