Introduction
Paraphrasing the overworked “Think outside the box.” cliche.
Today’s key point: Everyone has a box, a box where our thinking, politics, beliefs, biases, etc., live. And fester. Unless we constantly work on getting outside of–and staying outside of–our boxes, we will stay in them, embracing others who are in the same or similar boxes, and dismissing or even hating those in other boxes.
That is the subject of today’s 10-minute episode.
Continuing
Using the word box as the metaphor is useful. A stunning number of us have our thinking and beliefs taped up in a box, a box that is impervious to anything new getting in. But all metaphors break down at some point, this one breaks down because our boxes are made of a magic, one-way material. Nothing new can get in, but all sorts of things can come flying out. And those of us infected with in-box thinking have no idea that we are indeed afflicted with this disease. Quite the opposite; we believe that we have it all together, and the other poor sod is the one who doesn’t get it. With COVID, some people can be asymptomatic, but still have the disease. With the in-box thinking infected, the symptoms are there to be seen, but the infected person will vigorously deny being infected–or even having any symptoms in the first place.
Our thinking boxes start with the boxes where we live, where we work, where we worship and the boxes we go to in the way of who we visit, what we watch and listen to our various electronic boxes. In the absence of differing opinions from a wide variety of disparate sources, people will rely on the opinions of family and friends, co-workers and their selected news sources and social media. Outside of family, all the sources will be selected more for comfort and absence of frustration than political reasoning and diversity of thought. Not surprisingly, all of these sources will pretty much share the same opinions. Similar opinions from apparently different sources reinforce each other and can easily be seen as a valid consensus. And with some exceptions, families tend to lean one way or the other on significant issues, adding to the sameness. And even in the tightest families, those with “wrong” opinions can be ostracized. Over politics.
Remember the story about the blind men learning about their first elephant by feeling different parts of the animal? Those feeling the trunk thought it was a snake. Others feeling a leg thought it was a tree. Holding the ear, a fan; holding a leg, a tree trunk; groping the side, a wall; stroking the tail, a rope, and feeling the tusks, a spear. Each group based their opinions on a partial experience, believing their partial experiences to be the totality of what they were examining. That’s why each one of them got it wrong. The same thing is happening when we rely on people and sources who are focused on the same parts of our political, social and economic “elephant” to the exclusion of facts and opinions outside of our chosen experiences. Like the blind men analysing the elephant, we do not give any credence to the other beliefs, facts and experiences.
The difference is that the blind men were completely satisfied that the part they had represented the whole, while the vast majority of political, financial and social commentators, professional or civilian, on TV or at the dinner table, are aware of the other parts, the other positions and arguments; they simply dismiss them as inferior or hateful. The blind men were not curious enough to feel for other parts to determine if another view of what they were feeling might be valid. People with political opinions are aware of other views, but are still blind to them–they simply dismiss them–often with nothing more than an insult, as wrong or hateful.
And this will snowball. The nucleus of same opinions will attract others with the same views, and, over time, discourage those with different thoughts from speaking up. Like the snowball which when rolled attracts more and more snow, opinions on a roll attract more people with the same opinions. Pretty soon it will begin to appear to those in the expanding snowball that the correct opinions and answers–on even the most controversial subjects–abortion, school choice, foreign involvement, healthcare, etc., are obvious and unanimous. At least among correct-thinking people. Those who disagree just don’t get it.
But sincere, educated and well-intentioned people can have thoughts and conclusions that are completely different from one another. And those thoughts and conclusions are just as obvious and unanimous to them. And it is the other, other folks who just don’t get it.
The opposite of following the box-thinking crowd starts with more curiosity (and less laziness) than the blind men, and more integrity than the vast bulk of politicos. Take your curiosity and integrity and apply them to seeking and implementing helpful results, avoiding cliches and label-driven agendas. For example, single payer healthcare is not an end result. It is a tactic. An end result in this area could be described as allowing reasonable access to healthcare for everyone who wants it. We would then look for facts (facts–not opinions) that pertain to this subject, and apply non-agenda based logic to those facts to come up with the best way to achieve the desired result. Doesn’t this seem painfully clear? But that is not how we do things. Cliches, insults and false accusations rule the day at all levels. “You don’t want single payer? You hate poor people and want them to die!” “You support single payer? You are a leech who wants everything free!”
Memo to both (all) sides: Stop that! Get over yourselves. Get behind your communities and the country. Think. Define agreed-upon common goals. (They do exist!) Look for pertinent facts. Apply non-agenda based reasoning to achieve the results. Results. NOT Agendas.
Conclusion: If the blind men had gotten together, listened to one another, giving credence to what they were hearing and not just practicing their replies and comebacks, they would have gotten the accurate overall picture of the elephant. If we want to understand the financial and political world around us, we must do the same thing. Listen. And listen to understand, not listen simply to have the perfect comeback.
Contact
As we get ready to wrap up, please do respond in the episodes with comments or questions about this episode or anything that comes to mind, or connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. And you can subscribe on your favorite device through Apple, Google, or Stitcher.
If you liked today’s podcast, other podcasts or the revolution2-0.org site itself, comment, subscribe, and encourage others to subscribe with you. Each One Reach One will help spread the word about Revolution 2.0™.
Will Luden, coming to you from 7,200’ in Colorado Springs.
The core, driving principles at Revolution 2.0, are:
1. Personal Responsibility. Take it, teach it.
2. Be Your Brother’s Keeper. Taking care of our brothers and sisters.
If we apply those two core principles simultaneously, we will inevitably be on the right path.
- Ending Gun Violence: Punish The Criminals (EP. 405) - July 15, 2022
- How To Get Good Government: The Formula (EP. 404) - July 1, 2022
- The Candy Bomber Lives: Is It You? (EP. 403) - June 24, 2022
57 Responses
This message hits home Will. I have to admit I am guilty of this to a point. There is an issue here our country desperately needs to get over but I wonder, not if we can, but do we care to. When you go into the hospital, the doctors may not agree on how to treat your issue but they all agree on what the end result should look like. You may leave the hospital with one less arm but you will never leave it with three arms. We use to be able to compromise. This compromise was based on a common goal. Unfortunately our goals are no longer common or even in the same direction. There is no common ground when you are headed in opposite directions.
Terry, what more should we be doing to establish more common goals? Cheers, Will
Hello revolution2-0.org webmaster, Your posts are always well-delivered and engaging.
Hello revolution2-0.org admin, Your posts are always well-cited and reliable.
Hi revolution2-0.org webmaster, Keep up the good work!
Dear revolution2-0.org owner, Your posts are always well thought out.
Dear revolution2-0.org admin, Thanks for the well-written and informative post!
Hello revolution2-0.org webmaster, Your posts are always well-balanced and objective.
To the revolution2-0.org admin, Keep up the great work!
Hello revolution2-0.org owner, Thanks for the well-organized and comprehensive post!
Hi revolution2-0.org administrator, Your posts are always a great source of knowledge.
Hi revolution2-0.org administrator, Your posts are always a great source of knowledge.
Hello revolution2-0.org owner, Keep sharing your knowledge!
Dear revolution2-0.org admin, You always provide great examples and real-world applications.
I am so grateful for your article post.Much thanks again. Really Great.
medicine in mexico pharmacies [url=https://foruspharma.com/#]medication from mexico pharmacy[/url] best online pharmacies in mexico
onlinecanadianpharmacy [url=http://canadapharmast.com/#]best canadian online pharmacy[/url] the canadian drugstore
п»їlegitimate online pharmacies india [url=http://indiapharmast.com/#]mail order pharmacy india[/url] indianpharmacy com
mexican online pharmacies prescription drugs [url=https://mexicandeliverypharma.com/#]mexican rx online[/url] mexico pharmacy
best online pharmacies in mexico [url=http://mexicandeliverypharma.com/#]mexico drug stores pharmacies[/url] mexico drug stores pharmacies
mexican rx online [url=https://mexicandeliverypharma.com/#]mexican mail order pharmacies[/url] mexico pharmacy
mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa [url=https://mexicandeliverypharma.com/#]mexican pharmacy[/url] mexican pharmacy
mexico pharmacies prescription drugs [url=http://mexicandeliverypharma.com/#]mexico drug stores pharmacies[/url] mexican rx online
mexican drugstore online [url=https://mexicandeliverypharma.com/#]mexican mail order pharmacies[/url] purple pharmacy mexico price list
mexican pharmaceuticals online [url=http://mexicandeliverypharma.com/#]mexican online pharmacies prescription drugs[/url] mexican rx online
reputable mexican pharmacies online [url=https://mexicandeliverypharma.com/#]mexican pharmacy[/url] purple pharmacy mexico price list
purple pharmacy mexico price list [url=https://mexicandeliverypharma.com/#]п»їbest mexican online pharmacies[/url] mexican drugstore online
п»їbest mexican online pharmacies [url=https://mexicandeliverypharma.online/#]best online pharmacies in mexico[/url] mexican online pharmacies prescription drugs
mexican pharmacy [url=http://mexicandeliverypharma.com/#]mexican rx online[/url] reputable mexican pharmacies online
pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa [url=https://mexicandeliverypharma.online/#]mexican rx online[/url] reputable mexican pharmacies online
how to lose weight on tamoxifen [url=http://nolvadexbestprice.pro/#]cost of tamoxifen[/url] tamoxifen 20 mg tablet
cost generic propecia pills [url=https://propeciabestprice.pro/#]get propecia without rx[/url] order generic propecia without rx
zithromax online usa [url=http://zithromaxbestprice.pro/#]zithromax 250[/url] zithromax tablets
tamoxifen side effects forum [url=https://tamoxifen.bid/#]Purchase Nolvadex Online[/url] natural alternatives to tamoxifen
pharmacy website india [url=https://easyrxindia.com/#]top 10 online pharmacy in india[/url] india pharmacy mail order
1хбет [url=http://1xbet.contact/#]зеркало 1хбет[/url] 1хбет официальный сайт
legal online pharmacy review [url=https://pharmbig24.com/#]super rx pharmacy[/url] fioricet online pharmacy
pharmacy viagra now eu [url=https://pharmbig24.online/#]levofloxacin online pharmacy[/url] thailand pharmacy viagra
indian pharmacy online [url=https://indianpharmacy.company/#]mail order pharmacy india[/url] india online pharmacy
harris teeter pharmacy [url=https://pharmbig24.com/#]legit online pharmacy klonopin[/url] navarro pharmacy
reputable indian online pharmacy [url=https://indianpharmacy.company/#]indian pharmacy[/url] best india pharmacy
starzbet guncel giris [url=https://starzbet.shop/#]starzbet guvenilir mi[/url] starzbet
farmacia online barcelona [url=http://tadalafilo.bid/#]Cialis generico[/url] farmacias online seguras en espaГ±a
comprar viagra en espaГ±a [url=https://sildenafilo.men/#]sildenafilo cinfa 100 mg precio farmacia[/url] se puede comprar sildenafil sin receta
п»їFarmacia online migliore [url=http://farmaciait.men/#]Farmacia online piГ№ conveniente[/url] farmacie online sicure
comprare farmaci online con ricetta [url=https://brufen.pro/#]Brufen antinfiammatorio[/url] Farmacia online piГ№ conveniente
acquisto farmaci con ricetta [url=https://tadalafilit.com/#]Cialis generico controindicazioni[/url] п»їFarmacia online migliore
migliori farmacie online 2024 [url=https://farmaciait.men/#]Farmacie on line spedizione gratuita[/url] acquistare farmaci senza ricetta
п»їbest mexican online pharmacies [url=https://mexicanpharma.icu/#]mexican pharma[/url] medication from mexico pharmacy
mexican online pharmacies prescription drugs [url=https://mexicanpharma.icu/#]mexican pharmacy[/url] mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa
medicine in mexico pharmacies [url=https://mexicanpharma.icu/#]mexican pharma[/url] mexican drugstore online
Achat mГ©dicament en ligne fiable [url=https://pharmaciepascher.pro/#]pharmacie en ligne sans ordonnance[/url] acheter mГ©dicament en ligne sans ordonnance
semaglutide tablets [url=https://rybelsus.shop/#]semaglutide tablets[/url] semaglutide tablets
ozempic cost [url=https://ozempic.art/#]ozempic[/url] ozempic generic
pin-up casino giris [url=http://pinupaz.bid/#]pin up[/url] pin-up kazino
pin up bet [url=https://pinupturkey.pro/#]pin up casino giris[/url] pin up aviator
пин ап кз [url=http://pinupkz.tech/#]пин ап казахстан[/url] pin up казино