A character in my favorite Shakespeare play The Tempest aptly sums up the state of social discourse today:
“You rub the sore
When you should bring the plaster. “
Some readers might imagine plaster to be the precursor to drywall. That conclusion mirrors a primary cause of poor social discourse today–hasty assumptions.
Instead, the plaster the Bard refers to is meant to be medicinal, healing.
Why do we so quickly look for reasons to be angry? Why do we feel so free to spout our assumptions publicly?
Pick the last social media frenzy over what someone said. You won’t have to think hard or look for long.
Did you read someone else’ s analysis of what that person said, or did you look up the full text to determine the meaning of the statement and decide for yourself?
Do you enjoy your disdain of that speaker so much that you refuse to consider motivations that might be more noble than you’re willing to assign to them?
There are many people out there with whom I genuinely disagree and whose motives I do not trust. Even so, when they make seemingly outrageous comments, I should listen to the context before judging and adding venom to the discussion.
A person spouting some outrageous idea may live up to my expectations in which case, I’m free to spout outrage.
But maybe outrage isn’t the best quick response. I’ve been surprised before.
I’m a conservative who once agreed with President Clinton on an issue.
I even once agreed with Barney Frank, the first openly gay member of Congress, on an issue related to foreign policy.
Every so often, a blind squirrel finds a nut.
Maybe when we read supposedly inflammatory comments, we could just take a breath.
Maybe we could remember a scripture or two–Be angry and sin not–or–Don’t be quick to anger.
Maybe we could not always assume the worst. We don’t have to assume that because I already don’t like the speaker, he/she can’t possibly have any good motive or any idea worth considering. I’ll save time, but not stomach acid, by picking up the views of someone who also might be looking for a bone to pick with that person. I can run with their incendiary views like I’m carrying a lit flamethrower. I don’t have to do the mental work myself.
I’ll rub the social sore.
Or maybe, just maybe, I can bring the healing plaster instead.
Our world could use more of that.
Photo Credit: Pexels
