Morse
To Extinguish
I was skimming through a thread when a few words struck me.
Thread in question: http://www.religiousforums.com/forum/current-events/108616-me-rf-forums-going-down-dark.html
So commenced that rare occasion where I think about something for more than 32.7 seconds, and I decided to post this thread.
Why ARE we so obsessed with being right?
Why do we get such a sense of security out of trampling others and proving ourselves to be "correct" (which is a misconception in any case, more on that soon)? All too often people seem willing to forgo the sense of community and intellectualism that a positive forum could bring in favor of turning the place into a gladiator's arena.
For those of you who subscribe to science as heavily as I do, take it this way. Science isn't about proving yourself to be right, not at all. Science is about observing and theorizing evidence that shows you to be less wrong, for the time being. There is never any boundary or conclusion to science, it is necessary to always keep an open mind to what might be beyond the next corner, or hidden from your eyes. For example, upon our comprehension of the electromagnetic spectrum, waves and particles, etc... It appeared, for a short time, that we knew everything there was to know about science. Some were under the belief that humanity had mastered the natural world's workings. Then along came the theory of relativity, quantum theory, and so on. There is always something you miss, always something you overlooked, or something you didn't comprehend.
So, the point? You aren't right, you're just less wrong for now.
And what does it say about our morality and values that we take such subconscious glee from attacking people and "proving" our intellectual superiority? Is not self-control and restraint a more admirable path? It's almost like an obsession for us.
So what to do about it? I think one should always keep in mind, when posting, to do so in the spirit of intellectual debate. Keep sewage from spilling forth from your mouth, and don't get upset or angry because somebody disagrees with you. One thing I have learned from my spiritual search is that everything has their own path, and that invalidating the one another chooses to follow is nothing but harmful to your karmic well being. It reflects poorly upon yourself.
But does this not make parts of the site, such as the debate forum, pointless? No of course it doesn't. There is a distinct, if often misunderstood, difference between a personal debate and an intellectual debate. The difference is the level of emotional attachment. If one finds oneself angry, irritated, or trying desperately to prove their enemy wrong, then it's probably a personal debate. However, if one puts their ideas out in a thread in the debate section, what they're asking is for somebody to come and critically analyze their notion. THAT does not involve the anger, attachment, or obsession that a personal debate might. It is simply the analysis and critique of an idea, often with you presenting evidence for an opposing or different viewpoint.
Anyway, I think I'm done rambling. I don't believe it to be healthy, the obsession we show here. It is difficult to not become emotionally invested in these topics, but for the sake of a healthy environment, it might be for the best.
Non-attachment is the way. Extinguish yourself!
Thread in question: http://www.religiousforums.com/forum/current-events/108616-me-rf-forums-going-down-dark.html
So commenced that rare occasion where I think about something for more than 32.7 seconds, and I decided to post this thread.
Why ARE we so obsessed with being right?
Why do we get such a sense of security out of trampling others and proving ourselves to be "correct" (which is a misconception in any case, more on that soon)? All too often people seem willing to forgo the sense of community and intellectualism that a positive forum could bring in favor of turning the place into a gladiator's arena.
For those of you who subscribe to science as heavily as I do, take it this way. Science isn't about proving yourself to be right, not at all. Science is about observing and theorizing evidence that shows you to be less wrong, for the time being. There is never any boundary or conclusion to science, it is necessary to always keep an open mind to what might be beyond the next corner, or hidden from your eyes. For example, upon our comprehension of the electromagnetic spectrum, waves and particles, etc... It appeared, for a short time, that we knew everything there was to know about science. Some were under the belief that humanity had mastered the natural world's workings. Then along came the theory of relativity, quantum theory, and so on. There is always something you miss, always something you overlooked, or something you didn't comprehend.
So, the point? You aren't right, you're just less wrong for now.
And what does it say about our morality and values that we take such subconscious glee from attacking people and "proving" our intellectual superiority? Is not self-control and restraint a more admirable path? It's almost like an obsession for us.
So what to do about it? I think one should always keep in mind, when posting, to do so in the spirit of intellectual debate. Keep sewage from spilling forth from your mouth, and don't get upset or angry because somebody disagrees with you. One thing I have learned from my spiritual search is that everything has their own path, and that invalidating the one another chooses to follow is nothing but harmful to your karmic well being. It reflects poorly upon yourself.
But does this not make parts of the site, such as the debate forum, pointless? No of course it doesn't. There is a distinct, if often misunderstood, difference between a personal debate and an intellectual debate. The difference is the level of emotional attachment. If one finds oneself angry, irritated, or trying desperately to prove their enemy wrong, then it's probably a personal debate. However, if one puts their ideas out in a thread in the debate section, what they're asking is for somebody to come and critically analyze their notion. THAT does not involve the anger, attachment, or obsession that a personal debate might. It is simply the analysis and critique of an idea, often with you presenting evidence for an opposing or different viewpoint.
Anyway, I think I'm done rambling. I don't believe it to be healthy, the obsession we show here. It is difficult to not become emotionally invested in these topics, but for the sake of a healthy environment, it might be for the best.
Non-attachment is the way. Extinguish yourself!
