Paradoxical Perspectives: Part I

Guise, guess what?

I had a day off today... *gasp* crazy, right?!

After goodness knows how long, I did this thing called "relax". It was incredible. It felt like...

This.

This also gave me time to think about this week's topic.

Over the last few weeks, I've done odes, poetry, impromptu interviewing and inspirational writing. This week I wanted to write about something that's been on my mind for a while now. A topic that sparks a debate and usually gets my mind thinking...well into overdrive.

There is no pre-planned script to this. I'm simply putting pen to paper (read: fingers to keyboard), and saying what comes to mind. Y'all get first dibs on my thoughts!

Before I begin, I'm putting out a disclaimer: these are all my personal opinions. While you are all completely entitled to call me crazy coo-coo, please remember that I am not voicing the masses, trying to offend anyone, or promoting anything. Basically, don't sue meh!

Let me pose a question: How does one tell the difference between right and wrong?

Of course I can't stop here. Let's delve further...

What is right and wrong? What is the difference between something easy and difficult? How do you determine what is so? How can one deem an action morally correct or ethically incorrect?

Right, wrong, correct, incorrect, easy, difficult, morals; it astounds me that these words have set definitions to begin with. Isn't every one of these words is incredibly subjective and dependent on an individual's point of view?

Why then do we have such strong opinions about right and wrong, easy and difficult, and so on?

In no way do I claim that I know the answer to any of these questions, but these questions really make me think about how we make decisions in our lives. These words, these notions.. they hold so much power over our minds. They constantly influence our mannerisms and shape societal norms. It boggles my mind that these words sometimes even lay down the foundation of the world we live in.

Bronislaw Malinowski was a famous anthropologist who first concocted the phenomenon known as the "imponderabilia of everyday life". He defined these as objects that defy understanding simply by existing. The questions I've posed above are my imponderabilia.

So then, how do you determine what is right and what is wrong? Is "right" simply a synonymous term for content while "wrong" being another word for inconvenient?

Think about it.

When something is done "right" according to a person, they are satisfied, happy and accepting of a situation. Whereas I've observed that if something is done "wrong", a person will do anything and everything in their power to ensure that things get done their way, and only then will they be absolutely comfortable.

Exactly.

So then if everyone has a different perception of right and wrong, do these terms even really mean anything? Regardless or how good an intention, an idea, an action may be, it's bound to be right in some people's books and wrong in others'. There simply is no satisfying everyone.

I think this is where societal acceptance plays a huge role. If an idea or moral or action is deemed socially beneficial, it's coined as "right". However, if something is severely frowned upon, society forbids it by labeling the same "wrong".

While I'm not going to suggest taking on the world alone and setting out to change everyone's perspectives, I will say this: know your triggers. Understand that there is a difference between viewpoints. Will a billion people on this planet, there are bound to be a billion different viewpoints.

Accepting and respecting that in itself will eliminate many kerfuffles.

I think there is much more I'm going to add this post, because there is lots more I have to say. What are triggers? How does knowing this difference help answer any of these questions? What do I find right and wrong? Some debate-worthy questions still remain unanswered.

But for now, this is plenty to get your brain buzzing. And since I am certain I will be revisiting this topic, I'm naming this post Part I.

Until next time, dosts!

Hasta la-buh bye!