It's interesting to think that there are so many different places on earth that we have not travelled to or seen. So many different cultures we haven't experienced - and will never experience. Some people are so uneducated about different cultures and come to false conclusions based on things that they've heard or seen from their acquaintances or social media. It's crazy to think that there are people who are very uncultured and don't know much about the lives of people who are outside their immediate surroundings.
It's also odd to think that we can never really understand something until we experience it. Like, sure sympathy is strong, but empathy has so much more power. When you can empathize with someone, there is a much deeper level of understanding. It's crazy to think that we also don't know much about people in general. Someone could portray themselves one way and be the complete opposite in actuality.
"A man can smile and smile and be a villain. Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, mindless villain."
Looks can be deceitful. It's super fascinating and daunting that we only ever see what is exposed to us. We only ever see as much as someone want to show you. When you meet someone, you get a first impression but that can be the total opposite of their true character. Is this a good thing or bad thing? I feel as if it could be argued either way.
I think it's bad that we can't know someone's true character unless they express it. But the fact that we incorrectly assume someone's character based on what they present to us is not good or bad; it's just the way it is. We can't really do anything about it. Say we do want to know someone's true character. If we ask them, they will naturally close us off. They will think we are strange for asking. Either way we cannot know someone's true thoughts or character. Besides, even if they do tell us it's their true side, would we really know?
ReplyDeleteWell we wouldn't truly know but we would have to have faith or at least some trust in each person. It wouldn't be right to condemn all of humanity as liars.
DeleteThen we are all lonely as individuals since we can never truly know one another..well unless you have absolute faith, but would that be foolish? And then there's the commonly used phrase of "I know you better than you know yourself. It irritates me but can it be true?
DeleteI don't think it can be true because no one ever truly knows your thoughts with the exception of yourself. And we are all lonely and individuals if we think about it. Would there be any problems being "foolish"?
DeleteIt's like judging a book by its cover. We have to open it up and actually read it and understand it to allow ourselves to judge it. So I agree with daycy, it's definitely a bad thing. Sometimes it takes time for someone to open up to you to show you their true character and not the false one they show you to give a good first impression. So giving someone a judgment before we know anything is not something that we should do.
ReplyDeleteI agree, but that also makes me think: why do we (as humans, like whats the psychological reason) judge others without knowing much about them? I think it's interesting how seeing others interact in a certain manner makes you want to really get to know them or really hate them
DeleteI have the same question too ! I mean could it be because we are simply jealous of the person or because their beliefs don't match with ours.
Delete"It's interesting to think that there are so many different places on earth that we have not travelled to or seen. So many different cultures we haven't experienced - and will never experience. Some people are so uneducated about different cultures and come to false conclusions based on things that they've heard or seen from their acquaintances or social media. It's crazy to think that there are people who are very uncultured and don't know much about the lives of people who are outside their immediate surroundings." This!
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of a text post I've saw on Tumblr last night.
http://eversoclare.tumblr.com/post/116362791303/someone-said-are-you-really-so-stupid-to-think
Someone said “Are you really so stupid to think that Africa has the same technological advances as us? If they did they would probably have clean water and not live in houses made of sticks and mud. Get over yourself and stop being so ignorant.”…..
It really gets me thinking, if you never leave the environment you were raised in or the environment in which you feel comfortable or at ease, are you really living? You're essentially closing yourself off to the world. You're neglecting yourself the opportunity to experience and see different cultures. It's important to be aware and conscious of the different cultures out there because it helps you value yours and it helps you expand as a human being.
DeleteWhen reading the last quote, I thought about how we are constantly hiding our emotions when we are around others. In public we put a smile on our face and people think we are happy, but in reality we are depressed.
ReplyDeleteI think it's because if we show how we truly feel then we are allowing ourselves to be vulnerable and a lot of people are not comfortable letting people know about their emotions
DeleteI really like the example Lupe used about the book. How one need to actually open up the book and read it so that you fully understand everything it has to give you. During freshman year i had the opportunity to take Art History when Blankenship was still around if you guys still remember him. I was so astonished with all the art that surrounds us and we take for granted all the hard work that was put into making it. Then i think on how he would tell the class that it's nothing compared to actually experiencing it in person. He would describe how people that would visit the Vatican were absolutely astonished and in silence of the beauty that surrounded them. That is something i would like to experience as well, fully being able to devote my time and emotion to really acknowledging what all those masterpieces mean in life and what purpose they serve.
ReplyDeleteMy sister actually visited the Vatican and she was breathless. I think that art may not necessarily be about its beauty but about how it makes people feel. Something may not necessarily be beautiful but if it can evoke emotion it's very powerful.
Delete"Someone could portray themselves one way and be the complete opposite in actuality." I totally agree with this because we meet people like this all the time. One could seem like a bookworm and actually be a party animal. Based on what we already know about a person, we set ideas in our minds of what we want to think and possibly being stereotypical.
ReplyDeleteThe thing is, first impressions are said to be super important, but someone can be having a bad idea and cause a bad first impression yet they might be the sweetest person ever. We never truly know a person and that's slightly terrifying.
DeleteI agree with Julia because everywhere we go we are always reminded to give a good first impression because it's what's going to stick in that persons mind but also first impressions can be deceitful and we may never know the true face of a person
DeleteIt reminds me of how the society views the "savages" and how sometimes due to ignorance we can sometimes view other peoples and cultures in a similar manner.
ReplyDeleteStereotypes are so prevalent in our society and so instilled in our minds that it's hard to know whether one should blame oneself or others for some of our thoughts..
DeleteI have a bit of background of other culture. in my culture i am taught not to judge a person by the way they look. There is nothing wrong by not knowing others culture. Some people are not exposed to different cultures.
ReplyDeleteThere are plenty of things wrong with not knowing cultures outside of ones own! It causes many misconceptions and could lead to offending others. If one is ignorant about the rest of the world, one will never take the time to question our own and make our own decisions based on our own experiences.
DeleteYou’re right Julia, in some way, we’re all like Linda. Im not we all use drugs or something on the lines like that, but we all have addictions and the effect our lives sometimes. Our comfort zones with these mammoth addictions is what causes us to show such imagery as Linda being in bed all day pleasuring herself with the soma.
ReplyDeleteWhile it sounds good on paper to lay in bed all day long like Linda, it would be extremely detrimental to our health (mental, psychological and physical!)
DeleteI don't think we as humans can help judging people based on how they look. I read a study once that said just based on seeing someone's physical appearance, it is only a matter of seconds before we have formed an opinion of them. I think this may be an unavoidable truth. However, what is important is to then be willing to alter that image based on other factors, and then educating ourselves to format a completely coherent viewpoint.
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