We have all heard the saying familiarity breeds contempt. We learned that from Aeosp with one of his fables. Have you ever thought about what he was saying there ? I mean, what is contempt. Other words come to mind like disdain, disrespect and unlawful. If you are contemptuous of others you disregard their opinions and feelings. I believe in examining these sayings we have taken at face value a little more deeply. Does familiarity really breed contempt ? I think it does when one feels they are in a position of superiority or safety. It also occurs when the opposite is true. The area we try to live in is somewhere in the middle.
I was thinking about this after reading some postings on social media. There is certainly a lot of contempt and hate being shown there. We have also heard the expression it's a small world. All this social media has certainly made the world a much smaller place. With that " closeness " comes familiarity. We are becoming all too familiar with each other ! Contempt is rearing its' ugly head as a result. Where once learning about others, their traditions and heritage was exciting and new, now it is being questioned. It isn't new to us, it is all too familiar. On social media you can feel superior and safe. No one can physically attack you through an internet connection. Discretion truly is the better part of valor and on social media you don't need to use discretion at all, just type away. Well, the only discretion you need be concerned with is the law or maybe one of your close friends might read your posting. For those that have feelings of inferiority, or that they are somehow being marginalized in society, social media is an outlet for their contempt. That is the primary source of anger today. Social media is becoming a breeding ground for hate. We are getting to feel like we know each other and that couldn't be farther from the truth. You can't really form a personal relationship without meeting someone, well, in person.
We all say that we have formed friendships online. What we would have called a pen-pal back in the day when text messages where called letters. I know I have met a few and become somewhat familiar with them and their opinions. Those are the people we share similar experiences with. Those we have something in common with. We didn't have to search for those commonalities, they were right there on the surface. It is only later on, when we get below the surface that we determine the depth of that commonality. All that glitters ain't Gold ! Familiarity can breed contempt when we discover what we initially saw just wasn't the truth. I'm not saying the other person is fake, quite the contrary, you find what is real. It is at that point contempt may begin.
It is for that reason I say that social media is the breeding ground for hate. Very few really know one another. At first we are interested in what others have to say. We want to see and share. But then we share something that " offends " another's' sensibilities. That person may react to that and the comments fly. Discretion is abandoned. The reason for that is a simple one, social media is not polite company. Isn't discretion what was exercised in polite conversation ? Yes, I believe it was. Personal interaction that may include a certain level of physicality. I'm not condoning the use of force just pointing out that possibility exists and is accounted for in those situations.
In summary I think we have all become familiar with one another. The world is a small place and little is new or exciting anymore. What discoveries remain ? I think there are no discoveries to be made. The next big thing for humanity is accepting a moral absolute. Yes, I do believe in a moral absolute. That absolute has been taught in many ways, by many philosophers and scholars, practiced in many forms and gone by many names. It doesn't matter what you label it, it is an absolute.
" Moral absolutism is the philosophy that mankind is subject to absolute standards of conduct that do not change with circumstances, the intent of the acting agent, or the result of the act. These standards are universal to all humanity despite culture or era, and they maintain their relevance whether or not an individual or a culture values them. It is never appropriate to break a law that is based on one of these absolutes. Moral absolutism does not dictate which acts are moral or immoral, however, merely that absolute morality does exist. "
I took that explanation from an Internet source. I take no credit for the composition of that text. I just felt it was explained there a whole lot better than I am capable of. There are several forms of moral absolutism and I subscribe to one of them. I believe all humans are born with an intrinsic sense of right and wrong. Yes, they are those unalienable rights the founders spoke of as well. When all mankind accepts those moral absolutes as absolute truth peace on Earth will be achieved. My feeling is, we'll all kill each other first. Without actual human interaction, in person, on a personal level, we'll never get past being familiar with one another. On either side of familiar resides indifference and love. At first we were curious, then we became familiar, and what we strive for is acceptance. And that moral absolute, Love
I was thinking about this after reading some postings on social media. There is certainly a lot of contempt and hate being shown there. We have also heard the expression it's a small world. All this social media has certainly made the world a much smaller place. With that " closeness " comes familiarity. We are becoming all too familiar with each other ! Contempt is rearing its' ugly head as a result. Where once learning about others, their traditions and heritage was exciting and new, now it is being questioned. It isn't new to us, it is all too familiar. On social media you can feel superior and safe. No one can physically attack you through an internet connection. Discretion truly is the better part of valor and on social media you don't need to use discretion at all, just type away. Well, the only discretion you need be concerned with is the law or maybe one of your close friends might read your posting. For those that have feelings of inferiority, or that they are somehow being marginalized in society, social media is an outlet for their contempt. That is the primary source of anger today. Social media is becoming a breeding ground for hate. We are getting to feel like we know each other and that couldn't be farther from the truth. You can't really form a personal relationship without meeting someone, well, in person.
We all say that we have formed friendships online. What we would have called a pen-pal back in the day when text messages where called letters. I know I have met a few and become somewhat familiar with them and their opinions. Those are the people we share similar experiences with. Those we have something in common with. We didn't have to search for those commonalities, they were right there on the surface. It is only later on, when we get below the surface that we determine the depth of that commonality. All that glitters ain't Gold ! Familiarity can breed contempt when we discover what we initially saw just wasn't the truth. I'm not saying the other person is fake, quite the contrary, you find what is real. It is at that point contempt may begin.
It is for that reason I say that social media is the breeding ground for hate. Very few really know one another. At first we are interested in what others have to say. We want to see and share. But then we share something that " offends " another's' sensibilities. That person may react to that and the comments fly. Discretion is abandoned. The reason for that is a simple one, social media is not polite company. Isn't discretion what was exercised in polite conversation ? Yes, I believe it was. Personal interaction that may include a certain level of physicality. I'm not condoning the use of force just pointing out that possibility exists and is accounted for in those situations.
In summary I think we have all become familiar with one another. The world is a small place and little is new or exciting anymore. What discoveries remain ? I think there are no discoveries to be made. The next big thing for humanity is accepting a moral absolute. Yes, I do believe in a moral absolute. That absolute has been taught in many ways, by many philosophers and scholars, practiced in many forms and gone by many names. It doesn't matter what you label it, it is an absolute.
" Moral absolutism is the philosophy that mankind is subject to absolute standards of conduct that do not change with circumstances, the intent of the acting agent, or the result of the act. These standards are universal to all humanity despite culture or era, and they maintain their relevance whether or not an individual or a culture values them. It is never appropriate to break a law that is based on one of these absolutes. Moral absolutism does not dictate which acts are moral or immoral, however, merely that absolute morality does exist. "
I took that explanation from an Internet source. I take no credit for the composition of that text. I just felt it was explained there a whole lot better than I am capable of. There are several forms of moral absolutism and I subscribe to one of them. I believe all humans are born with an intrinsic sense of right and wrong. Yes, they are those unalienable rights the founders spoke of as well. When all mankind accepts those moral absolutes as absolute truth peace on Earth will be achieved. My feeling is, we'll all kill each other first. Without actual human interaction, in person, on a personal level, we'll never get past being familiar with one another. On either side of familiar resides indifference and love. At first we were curious, then we became familiar, and what we strive for is acceptance. And that moral absolute, Love
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