Slice of Pisces
Rookie
- Oct 4, 2014
- 30
- 3
Listening allows one to hear the perspective of another. If one listens without empathy, then one is not actually listening, but rather waiting for their turn for rebuttal. A rebuttal without having truly heard the other person's point of view is not truly a rebuttal, but rather a self-satisfying temper tantrum. Without understanding someone else's perspective, one is left with only their own perspective. If that perspective is already biased culturally, ethnically, ideologically, etc., and no active listening is attempted, then no progress will be made. In order for positive progress to be made, active listening and understanding must be enacted.
Ways to know you are not listening: Instant defensiveness about one's own beliefs; References to tangential matters that do not connect to what the speaker is actually saying; Using one's personal identity and experiences as a reason to demean, distrust, or deconstruct the opinion of another, especially when that person's perspective is not connected to such past experiences.
In reading through many of these posts, there is not a doubt that race is still a matter in America that needs improvement. There is way too much ignorance, stereotyping, and political ideology related to the concept of race on here for any true progress to be made. This makes me concerned that many people on this message board, especially those who identify as white people, do not want positive race relations, which only begets more prejudice, inequality, and problems. If one's beliefs are ethnocentric, then there is a problem. If one constantly feels the need to defend 'white people,' as though all white people are being attacked, one may very well be a White Supremacist:
white su·prem·a·cy
noun
noun: white supremacy; plural noun: white supremacies
The current system is born from White Supremacy and cannot grow beyond that until such truth is admitted. So ask yourself, do you want race to be a continual issue for future generations and only fight for the sake of your own ethnicity, or do you believe peaceful race relations are possible, and thus seek ways to find communication and peaceful progress? If you answered the former, you are currently part of the problem, and that can be changed by you starting at any moment to begin active, empathic listening. If you answered the latter, then you may be working towards a better way of life for everyone, including yourself and future generations.
Try being less selfish and egocentric and really listen to what someone else is saying beyond your own prejudices and biases. If you are comfortable with your prejudices and biases, realize you are part of the problem that holds humanity back from a peaceful evolution.
This does not just mean you that is currently reading this. It means everyone. If it is you that is contributing to the problem, admit that and attempt to change that.
If anyone would like to respond to this, I hope that they may present their perspective in an educated and civilized manner. Cursing, belittling, and outright bigotry are signs of ignorance and a lack of a fully formed progression of thought. The following steps may help you in communication after listening:
1.Take a minute to process the emotion you may feel beyond the initial reaction of anger or disgust. The first thing you say may be defensiveness or may be derived from a lifetime of bigotry.
2.Think of alternate ways of phrasing that may avoid negative progression, and that may transcend the bigotry you may hold within yourself and could lead to positive discussion that could improve the situation.
3. If you still feel the need to respond with anger and/or bigotry, realize you are nullifying any positive contribution and proving the opposite of what you think you are trying to prove.
Ways to know you are not listening: Instant defensiveness about one's own beliefs; References to tangential matters that do not connect to what the speaker is actually saying; Using one's personal identity and experiences as a reason to demean, distrust, or deconstruct the opinion of another, especially when that person's perspective is not connected to such past experiences.
In reading through many of these posts, there is not a doubt that race is still a matter in America that needs improvement. There is way too much ignorance, stereotyping, and political ideology related to the concept of race on here for any true progress to be made. This makes me concerned that many people on this message board, especially those who identify as white people, do not want positive race relations, which only begets more prejudice, inequality, and problems. If one's beliefs are ethnocentric, then there is a problem. If one constantly feels the need to defend 'white people,' as though all white people are being attacked, one may very well be a White Supremacist:
white su·prem·a·cy
noun
noun: white supremacy; plural noun: white supremacies
- the belief that white people are superior to those of all other races, especially the black race, and should therefore dominate society.
The current system is born from White Supremacy and cannot grow beyond that until such truth is admitted. So ask yourself, do you want race to be a continual issue for future generations and only fight for the sake of your own ethnicity, or do you believe peaceful race relations are possible, and thus seek ways to find communication and peaceful progress? If you answered the former, you are currently part of the problem, and that can be changed by you starting at any moment to begin active, empathic listening. If you answered the latter, then you may be working towards a better way of life for everyone, including yourself and future generations.
Try being less selfish and egocentric and really listen to what someone else is saying beyond your own prejudices and biases. If you are comfortable with your prejudices and biases, realize you are part of the problem that holds humanity back from a peaceful evolution.
This does not just mean you that is currently reading this. It means everyone. If it is you that is contributing to the problem, admit that and attempt to change that.
If anyone would like to respond to this, I hope that they may present their perspective in an educated and civilized manner. Cursing, belittling, and outright bigotry are signs of ignorance and a lack of a fully formed progression of thought. The following steps may help you in communication after listening:
1.Take a minute to process the emotion you may feel beyond the initial reaction of anger or disgust. The first thing you say may be defensiveness or may be derived from a lifetime of bigotry.
2.Think of alternate ways of phrasing that may avoid negative progression, and that may transcend the bigotry you may hold within yourself and could lead to positive discussion that could improve the situation.
3. If you still feel the need to respond with anger and/or bigotry, realize you are nullifying any positive contribution and proving the opposite of what you think you are trying to prove.