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we are all more alike than we are different - 10/24/2006 8:49:04 PM

pqwinny

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A past business associate made that remark rather casually upon returning from his first trip to India. Despite the enormous and inummerable differences between America and Americans and India and Indians, he was struck by the similarities. Namely that we (humans) seem to experience some things universally like...humor, joy, sorrow, love etc.

It begs the question why then, if we are more alike than we are different, do we spend so much time focussing on and hating each other for the differences. It is clearly visible on CNN but sadly on these forums as well. We are all members of the same sub community and yet i am continually stunned at the level of disrespect and outright hostility that is dispensed among communal peers.

What's so hard about extending one another common courteousy if not compassion. Was it Thumper's mother who said if you can't say something nice, then don't say anything at all?

Is it just me or what?

_____________________________

I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.
-Albert Einstein

Post #: 1

RE: we are all more alike than we are different - 10/24/2006 8:53:21 PM

MasterFireMaam

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From: Charleston, WV
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Hatred is simply another form of fear. We often fear what we do not understand. There's an awful lot that we don't understand about our fellow humans.

Master Fire

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(in reply to pqwinny)

Post #: 2

RE: we are all more alike than we are different - 10/24/2006 8:54:40 PM

NakedOnMyChain

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From: Indiana
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It's not just you. I agree that in a perfect world we would all get along and see each other for what we are: fellow human beings. However, the world isn't a perfect place. For now, all we can do is lead by example.

I think that it is very hard for any given society, once adapted to their own culture, to develop a truly global view. When we have developed a "What's best for our country, our household, ourselves" viewpoint that doesn't take into account a global perspective is when we run into trouble and forget that other societies and other people suffer much as we would suffer in like circumstances.

_____________________________

"Oh, it's torture, but I'm almost there."
~The Cure

"I ask for so little. Just fear me, love me, do as I say, and I will be your slave."
~The Labyrinth

(in reply to pqwinny)

Post #: 3

RE: we are all more alike than we are different - 10/24/2006 8:56:43 PM

pqwinny

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i agree, but my point is that it is just as easy to focus on the similarities (no fear in what we do understand) than to choose to focus on the differences and nurture fear and all that follows. It's a choice.

_____________________________

I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.
-Albert Einstein

(in reply to MasterFireMaam)

Post #: 4

RE: we are all more alike than we are different - 10/24/2006 9:08:26 PM

ZenrageTheKeeper

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It is human nature to be competitive in everything we do. When we eat, or when we used to before the convenience of markets, we would go out and forage or hunt for our meals and compete with nature. When we either force ourselves to sleep or stay awake, we compete against the limitations of our own physical anatomy. When we play games, we compete against ourselves, other people or against pure chance. When we work, we compete against others who may or may not be doing better in similar careers. When we relax we pit one scenario in competition with a more stressful scenario in hopes of achieving inner tranquility.

Everything is competition. Especially when we debate ideas. Its bad enough in the real world. Competing with ideas, aesthetics, notions and beliefs - especially those that can not be validated because of their supernatural origins - can lead to monstrous results. Criminal behavior, war, murder, bigotry, all levels of irrational hatred (its rational hatred that promotes change) and social chaos. Certain things in society also assist in this, tools like guns make it easier for the emotionally and intellectually inept to create social havoc. Alcohol can easily break down barriers of polite society and create social chaos through lack of inhibition. The internet is actually worse than alcohol, because not only does acting anonymously make you less inhibited when you act, but it takes you out of the physical area so there is far less chance of encountering physical reprocussions of your actions online - where alcohol can help get the living hell kicked out of you.

Civilization, on the other hand, is the ultimate team sport. Civilization is millions of people all competing with each other on the same team instead of against each other. This is one of the reasons why it is so important to adopt critical thinking skills and favor rationalization over irrational and irresponsible thoughts and behaviors.

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If Men never thought with their penises, all you girls would still have cooties.

(in reply to pqwinny)

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RE: we are all more alike than we are different - 10/24/2006 9:14:00 PM

BitaTruble

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It's doesn't have to be about fear and negativity. Common ground is all well and good, but it doesn't help much in the growth department to see eye to eye on everything. Diversity, differing points of view, if we allow them to, can help us expand our own vision.

There much to be said for a good attitude, but even when something is corrosive, we can take that and use it as a learning opportunity .. even if it's just that we learn that being witness to destructive behavior makes us try not to practice it ourselves.

I agree with NOMC.. lead by example, but don't forget there are lessons to be learned even by bad examples.

Celeste

_____________________________

"Oh, so it's just like
Rock, paper, scissors."

He laughed. "You are the wisest woman I know."

(in reply to pqwinny)

Post #: 6

RE: we are all more alike than we are different - 10/24/2006 11:40:45 PM

meatcleaver

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Money and power. Some people have it and some don't. Those that have it often say 'Why don't we all get along?' simply because it gives them an easy life. Those that are poor usually have no option to get along because they are powerless and when they get lucky and find their garden is full of oil or some other mineral, Mr Rich 'Why don't we all get along?' shoves the face of the poor in the dirt and pinches the oil simply because he can and anyway, he needs it more than the poor guy who can't even afford to own a bike, never mind a car. Mr poor has no power to stop Mr Rich but now he resents him and sees him for what he is, a thief and a bully.

(in reply to pqwinny)

Post #: 7

RE: we are all more alike than we are different - 10/25/2006 4:35:02 AM

swtsouthernsub

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Im a poor white girl with only dead bodies in my garden

but they make the best damn fertilizer.
the world will never get along that is just the way its intended
I agree there is alot of critizizem and hatred that is every where if we all got along police would be out of work guards out of work.

On that same note our military wouldnt be dying off like tick's on a dog in the summer heat just try to understand opinions are like assholes and everyone has one wether we agree or disagree simply just agree to disagree on certain topics and move on

_____________________________

DEBBIE
Messenger Of Truth
Let the words of my mouth and meditations of my heart,
be acceptable in thy sight O Lord my strength and redeemer
Psalms 19:14

Those with a closed mind live a sheltered life.

(in reply to meatcleaver)

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RE: we are all more alike than we are different - 10/25/2006 5:51:45 AM

pqwinny

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i agree with your analysis of what is. Mr. Rich is acting out fear in another form, namely greed, by your example. What if the collective consciousness made a concsious effort to quit being fear driven in it's millions of forms? It's a Ghandi-esque concept but the older i get the more powerful i recognize conscious thought to be. Ultimately far more powerful than force of will in any form.

i'm very interested in your reference to power especially as it relates to the hostility i often see expressed on these boards. Isn't power exchange at the root of WIITWD? Wealth or lack of it is pretty invisible in this realm and yet the jabs fly freely. Is it just the result of displaced frustration over Mr. Rich or maybe the frustration of people who have un-fulfilled power exchange needs? Maybe everyone has un-fulfilled power exchange needs whether they are aware of them or not.

_____________________________

I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.
-Albert Einstein

(in reply to meatcleaver)

Post #: 9

RE: we are all more alike than we are different - 10/25/2006 9:14:38 AM

philosophy

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....i'm not sure i entirely agree with the idea that everything is competition. Although i can see the point being made and sympathise to a degree. As humans we are, as the saying has it, caught between being an angel and devil. We have the ability to choose to co-operate. This essential dichotomy seems to me to go to the root of what it is to be human. As another poster has said on the subject of politics, if on a bridge going one side or the other is dangerous. We would perhaps be best served by placing ourselves inbetween competition and co-operation....choosing which is more appropriate to the situation and occasionally mixing them up a bit.
This isn't easy, but i believe it to be the honourable challenge of all our lives.

(in reply to pqwinny)

Post #: 10

RE: we are all more alike than we are different - 10/25/2006 9:53:57 AM

toservez

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Joined: 9/7/2006
From: All over now in Minnesota
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I grew up in two countries and two quite different cultures. I have found that people are the same everywhere. I go to Taiwan regularly to visit family and a lot of the conversations are gossip and judgement based but just in a different language.

Human beings are very similar but unfortunately some of those similarities are wanting to feel special, better and being afraid of things we do not understand or are different. Throw in the need for power/control and problems happen and will happen probably forever. It is unfortunate but we are a flawed species.

Lin

(in reply to philosophy)

Post #: 11

RE: we are all more alike than we are different - 10/25/2006 9:57:19 AM

sub4hire

Posts: 6775
Joined: 1/1/2004
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quote:

ORIGINAL: pqwinny

It begs the question why then, if we are more alike than we are different, do we spend so much time focussing on and hating each other for the differences. It is clearly visible on CNN but sadly on these forums as well. We are all members of the same sub community and yet i am continually stunned at the level of disrespect and outright hostility that is dispensed among communal peers.

I have noticed over the year's most religions teach hatred toward's those who are not one of them.
Even if a religion as a whole does not you have bad people within the religion that does.
In different area's of the world we have a great many different religions. It is easier to go along with what ignorant people say than to do the research yourself.

Generally we have more issue with people of stronger faith than us ourselves.

(in reply to pqwinny)

Post #: 12

RE: we are all more alike than we are different - 10/25/2006 10:04:57 AM

NorthernGent

Posts: 8730
Joined: 7/10/2006
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quote:

ORIGINAL: pqwinny

A past business associate made that remark rather casually upon returning from his first trip to India. Despite the enormous and inummerable differences between America and Americans and India and Indians, he was struck by the similarities. Namely that we (humans) seem to experience some things universally like...humor, joy, sorrow, love etc.

On the other side of the coin:

To say we are all similar simply because we share humour, joy, sorrow and love is, in my opinion, stretching it a bit. The reason being, these are basic traits of human existence rather than cultural and educational drivers.

The basic human traits are not the factors which prevent us from getting along. Rather, it is the cultural factors.

An example, around India in places like Bhutan, Tibet and in various religions they measure wealth based on morality rather than materialism. In the West, it is blatantly a different kettle of fish.

We can't get on because we live in a cultural world of rampant consumerism and exploitation. For as long as these factors dominate our societies my advice is not to expect us to all get along like a house on fire.

_____________________________

I have the courage to be a coward - but not beyond my limits.

Sooner or later, the man who wins is the man who thinks he can.

(in reply to pqwinny)

Post #: 13

RE: we are all more alike than we are different - 10/25/2006 10:19:36 AM

ToGiveDivine

Posts: 650
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quote:

ORIGINAL: toservez

I grew up in two countries and two quite different cultures. I have found that people are the same everywhere. I go to Taiwan regularly to visit family and a lot of the conversations are gossip and judgement based but just in a different language.

Human beings are very similar but unfortunately some of those similarities are wanting to feel special, better and being afraid of things we do not understand or are different. Throw in the need for power/control and problems happen and will happen probably forever. It is unfortunate but we are a flawed species.

Lin

This made me laugh considering which group of people use this forum ;-)

I know what you meant, but so often people can look at things multiple ways

_____________________________

These are my opinions - which may differ from your opinions. They may be right and just as equally wrong.

Beware, author is often sarcastic in his replies - most often, no sincere offense is intended.

(in reply to toservez)

Post #: 14

RE: we are all more alike than we are different - 10/25/2006 10:30:02 AM

Mercnbeth

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quote:

It begs the question why then, if we are more alike than we are different, do we spend so much time focussing on and hating each other for the differences.

Religion

(in reply to pqwinny)

Post #: 15

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