I find myself contemplating the ideas of compromise and confrontation, and the trappings that come with each, mostly on the fields of political ideologies and religious beliefs.
I have no doubt that most everyone wants to think of ourselves as fairly reasonable people, and it would most unusual for anyone not to be very conflicted unless we have reached some form of conclusion that we are indeed reasonable individually.
Of course, it may and does happen that other people around us do not always agree with that judgement, even if they will not always feel inclined to tell us so directly.
Nor is it automatically a good thing overall to be told directly. Awareness is necessary, but there are dangers of unfair judgements, lack of emotional resilience, and destructive escalations.
Ultimately, to live among others we have little choice but to pursue some form of balance between the competing needs of keeping the peace and voicing our disagreements.
Unfortunately, that means that it may take decades for revisions of expectations that we may personally need very badly to ever happen, if they happen at all.
That may be why we end up on periodic cycles of radicalization and rebellion, as people realize that there will be no peaceful transition towards what they deem necessary during their lifetimes. Our failure to allow for the real needs and possibilities of existing (as opposed to idealized or fictional) people and realities pressures ourselves and others into creating and spreading further pressure.
How can that depressing path be avoided? Is there some form of reliable or safe way of gauging how reasonable we are and how reasonable we can be? Of accurately predicting how much we are expecting from others and how realistic our expectations can be?
What do you think?
I have no doubt that most everyone wants to think of ourselves as fairly reasonable people, and it would most unusual for anyone not to be very conflicted unless we have reached some form of conclusion that we are indeed reasonable individually.
Of course, it may and does happen that other people around us do not always agree with that judgement, even if they will not always feel inclined to tell us so directly.
Nor is it automatically a good thing overall to be told directly. Awareness is necessary, but there are dangers of unfair judgements, lack of emotional resilience, and destructive escalations.
Ultimately, to live among others we have little choice but to pursue some form of balance between the competing needs of keeping the peace and voicing our disagreements.
Unfortunately, that means that it may take decades for revisions of expectations that we may personally need very badly to ever happen, if they happen at all.
That may be why we end up on periodic cycles of radicalization and rebellion, as people realize that there will be no peaceful transition towards what they deem necessary during their lifetimes. Our failure to allow for the real needs and possibilities of existing (as opposed to idealized or fictional) people and realities pressures ourselves and others into creating and spreading further pressure.
How can that depressing path be avoided? Is there some form of reliable or safe way of gauging how reasonable we are and how reasonable we can be? Of accurately predicting how much we are expecting from others and how realistic our expectations can be?
What do you think?
