Do we have too much information available? Or is how to apply that information what any degree of common sense still the real issue? Or perhaps is the agendas of others the biggest threat to common sense?
When too much of the world intrudes on my life… this is my release valve. Thinking, rationalizing, writing, and seasoning with a dose if common sense… or at least my version of it. I start to write with one thought… which goes to another, and another, and ya never know where it will end up… aside from feeling better at the end of it all. Perhaps in reading, you too may have a good sense of wellbeing at the end… or at least I hope so.
Everything in our day to day lives, everything from our past, and everything for our future has two sides… good and bad. This is especially true for information. Everyday people have access to more information then ever before in history. Not just a little more, but almost limitless information. We have with the click of the mouse virtually unlimited information about anything and everything. Amazing when you think about it. The average person today can educate themselves better then the best collage education or learned person from a little as just 30 years ago. Instant and all encompassing information about anything. Too much information? Some would say yes. Too much misinformation, again, certainly yes. Do we get too much partial information… information that only tells part of the story… information that is slanted, intended to elicit support… information intended to create a emotional response… information intended to manipulate public opinion? And the answer to all these is a resounding … Yes!
Information made to appear overwhelming huge, emotionally charged, specifically to elicit an emotional response, slanted to manipulate opinion or support for someone else’s agenda. Definitely! Wow, now there’s a shocker.
Trivial things made to seem larger than life. Vitally important things made to seem irrelevant. So what’s important, and what’s not. What’s truthful, and what’s not. They say there’s some truth even in the most vibrant lie.
So what is to be done with all this information? Good, bad, truth, lies, fact, fiction… how do you sort it all out? Well I’ll tell you… you sort it all out with the least used human ability and mental faculty at our disposal… common sense.
Common sense, defined as "sound judgment derived from experience and study," is one of the most revered qualities in America. It evokes images of early and simpler times in which industrious men and women built our country into what it is today. People with common sense are seen as reasonable, down to earth, reliable, and practical. But here's the catch. Common sense is neither common nor sense. There's not a whole lot of sound judgment going on these days so it's not common. If common sense was common, then most people wouldn't make the kinds of decisions they do every day. People wouldn't buy stuff they can't afford. They wouldn't smoke cigarettes or eat junk food. They wouldn't gamble. In other words, people wouldn't do the multitude of things that are clearly not good for them. The bottom line is that if we can learn to think in more open and rigorous ways, we can draw the most accurate conclusions and make the best decisions possible for the myriad of questions, concerns, and issues we face every day, be they mundane or impactful. And we might just all get along a little better too.
So where does all this leave us. That’s up to the individual. Sometimes, no doubt, we all look at someone else going on and on about something that we find to be extremely trivial… and conclude… they need to get a life. There’s lots of media about things we can not change, like controversial topics on politics and religious beliefs. Some get into heated debates, some dismiss it as I don’t really care… as in, its not worth my time to think about it, or get upset over it. So things we have a passion for, and carry the torch for your cause or beliefs. As you get older, the torch is carried for less and less things, and many for things are dismissed as folly… not worth my time.
Perhaps common sense develops to a more refined state as you get older… and you see that the stuff that you so vividly fought for in your youth just isn’t so important anymore. Or perhaps you changed the world for your convictions, or at least your little part of it.
Either way, common sense, though it has many different perspectives, still seems to be lacking in this troubled world today. As does compromise… or simply the ability to agree to disagree. The ability to simply just get along. Sometimes is seems so easy to think that with a fraction of the effort that we use to disagree or argue, that everyone could just simply get along. So what’s the problem? Simply put… those that want to impose their beliefs upon others. Now just think about that for a moment. The biggest problem in society today is the many factions that want to impose their beliefs upon others. Be it politics or religion, there will always be those that can not, and will not subscribe to the premise to simply get along… they must impose their beliefs that they choose to live by upon others. How do they do this? First by adamant arguments persuade you, intimidation by social condemnation, the by inciting social prejudice, then politics, and when all this fails, laws to force you to conform. Different religions over the centuries has always wanted to convert others to their way of believing… and when this failed they resorted to condemnation and social prejudice… and then to political control. People the world over were put to death in the name of religion, simply because they believed differently. And it still happens today… though in most “civilized” countries, persecution and prejudice, and ultimately control, is achieved via political means.
For a country that professes to have ultimate freedoms… how does the entire concept of simply getting along and the freedom to live your life the way you want, and mine the way I want… how is this concept so diluted?
Why should anyone have to conform to another’s religious beliefs?
Why is the premise of separation of Church and State only words?
Why do we encourage people to work hard, benefit from the rewards of that hard work… just to have the slackers and leaches in society benefit from those that truly work. Take from the rich and give to the leaches.
It certainly seems like a world gone amuck… and it has. When will it stop? Exactly where it has repeatedly stopped in the past… with a total collapse of society. And it’s scary to think that there were cultures and societies that collapsed after 1000 years, and we are at that same abyss just after a mere 200 years.
Common Sense and the ability to simply get along. Yes, we are in the age of access to massive amounts of information and knowledge… but still can not simply get along. I can’t help but feel that the majority of people simply let the minority dictated the current social climate that is headed for failure. History repeats itself… but now at an accelerated rate. Are we racing to the end of the concepts that American was based on? Most would say yes! And for all the access we have for information… all the knowledge and experience of cultures that came before us… we still are heading down the path to a collapse of society. Politics, Congress and government is still operating “business as usual”, just as it has done to the detriment of the country for decades. Religions are still at odds with each other and wanting to force by any means possible, others to conform to their beliefs. You ask how? … one simple example is the abortion issue… why are religious groups trying to force, by politics and laws, force others to conform to their beliefs? (and this is just one of many examples). Where is the morality to all of this?
Information and common sense. One would think that the more knowledge we have, the easier common sense would come into play. It must be true… it certainly isn’t common… and there is no sense to it all.
There are those that quietly go along with, agree with, and support those that would, as a minority, force their beliefs upon the majority. Those that would unwittingly go along with those that would negate the entire concept of simply getting along, agreeing to simply disagree, live and let live, and disregard the rights of others to have the freedom to believe what they want, and live their lives accordingly. I believe that most people of many religion have a live and let live, just get along mentality… but some of the leaders in control have their agendas to manipulate society to achieve their goals… goals to convert or force others to bow to their religious convictions.
This is why cultures and societies in the past have failed and collapsed. Politics, religions, and control… eventually leads to resentment, discontent, and ultimately revolt, and collapse of any given society and culture.
Information and common sense… just something to think about. Agree, disagree, take up a cause, support an agenda, or simply dismiss as falderal… it’s your choice. Just think about it before supporting others that would force their beliefs upon others.
Wouldn’t it be a better world if everyone could just get along. But realistically, historically, and with a high degree of certainly… this will never happen. But it’s nice to have a bit of wishful thinking. From a physiological standpoint… it may let you feel better about your day. Find a bit of comfort and peace.
Myself, I like to get away from everything, take a trip to the beach to clear the mind and give peace to the soul… get my toes in the sand, and let the water wash away your cares… at least for a brief time. Mentally refreshing and rejuvenating. Then I write. Profound words of wisdom… perhaps to some, but it’s not to persuade you, but more to get you to think about things, and perhaps find a little more peace and contentment yourself.
Hope ya all have a great day.
