We are often surprised when people fail to communicate and understand each other, however we should actually be surprised when this succeeds, when communication is effective. In a dialogue between two people many variables come into play (age, genre, culture, the way of seeing the world, beliefs, prejudice, etc.) that, when trying to communicate, the fact of speaking the same language does not guarantee anything. It is no guarantee of an effective conversation.
Political ideologies, religious beliefs, prejudices, and reductionist views of reality often work as firecrackers in the intent of communicating. They work as insuperable potholes that not only hinder dialogue and the exchange of ideas, but they make them impossible. In social networks, where individuals tend to hide behind the computer screen and act more "freely", it all becomes evident: irrational insults or personal attacks towards public figures burst incessantly; especially if these persons comment about religion. Just see with the immaturity, vulgarity and poverty that some ministers and lawmakers debate on Twitter; when it comes to political ideologies nothing improves. And if the issue has to do with sexuality or the defense of women, prejudices explode like grenades in the midst of any understanding. It's frustrating because it reflects something much more complicated than intolerance. This reflects that as there have been many ways to interact and relate, our barriers of negligence are manifesting, impeding us from reaching any type of agreement. These barriers are immovable pillars rising like those extreme traits of fanaticism that blind humans. Our senses are being blocked and we are not being able to listen each other, to understand what the other is saying, and to respect the opinions of others.
With no intention of trivializing the magnitude of the tragedy nor the ferocity of the attack, the death of the cartoonist and police a couple of days ago in Paris, murdered for daring to laugh at that which others consider untouchable, made me think that we are becoming in a society of humans who are not longer willing to listen. Every day we have more things to share, but we relate less with our peers.
Never before had the world so much access to information, never before had it been so easy to see how others live. Never before had we been so accessible to tools that allow the exchange of ideas. However, never before have we hated each other so much.
Political ideologies, religious beliefs, prejudices, and reductionist views of reality often work as firecrackers in the intent of communicating. They work as insuperable potholes that not only hinder dialogue and the exchange of ideas, but they make them impossible. In social networks, where individuals tend to hide behind the computer screen and act more "freely", it all becomes evident: irrational insults or personal attacks towards public figures burst incessantly; especially if these persons comment about religion. Just see with the immaturity, vulgarity and poverty that some ministers and lawmakers debate on Twitter; when it comes to political ideologies nothing improves. And if the issue has to do with sexuality or the defense of women, prejudices explode like grenades in the midst of any understanding. It's frustrating because it reflects something much more complicated than intolerance. This reflects that as there have been many ways to interact and relate, our barriers of negligence are manifesting, impeding us from reaching any type of agreement. These barriers are immovable pillars rising like those extreme traits of fanaticism that blind humans. Our senses are being blocked and we are not being able to listen each other, to understand what the other is saying, and to respect the opinions of others.
With no intention of trivializing the magnitude of the tragedy nor the ferocity of the attack, the death of the cartoonist and police a couple of days ago in Paris, murdered for daring to laugh at that which others consider untouchable, made me think that we are becoming in a society of humans who are not longer willing to listen. Every day we have more things to share, but we relate less with our peers.
Never before had the world so much access to information, never before had it been so easy to see how others live. Never before had we been so accessible to tools that allow the exchange of ideas. However, never before have we hated each other so much.