I am one of those people that hates extraneous noise, I find it very difficult to focus when there are multiple conversations going on or concentrate admits the constant hum of people vehemently engaged in discussion....most of which that regard topics that neither party understand or hold any real interest.....which is a wonderful segue into my miscellaneous musing for the day....
Lately I am realizing more and more how often we talk about things neither understand or really know about. Why is it that human nature insists on having to be an "expert" on everything? It's everywhere! Commercials, the breakroom chatter, the editorials, message boards and yes some times even the professionals among us, like scientists and doctors.
The commercial says that if you buy "such and such" you'll be happier, save money, win the lottery, or whatever! Coworkers claim to have the answer to bring peace to a country and a people that they have never been too and never were. Scientists claim to know for a fact how the world began, doctors think that a petroleum by product is healthier than butter. And I'm sorry but if your comment under a recent political news story is riddled with four letter words and "government" is misspelled, "expert" is definitely not the first word to come to my mind....but I digress.
What is with our fetish for definitive statements? Our paralyzing fear of admitting that we don't know? We need an answer, any answer even if it's wrong? Honestly....I don't know! But here is one thing that I do know: I know that I am guilty of opening my mouth far too many times to say things that are really not worth the energy it takes for my tongue to push them out (let alone for some other poor person to have to listen to them). And If I don't have a good reason or resource for what I am about to say and can't deliver it in a respectful way....that I might as well just stay silent.
Well I hope that by posting that it isn't in direct contradiction to everything thing I just said! And that maybe, just maybe it will cause us all to stop and "roll the r's" Reason, Resource and Respect through our grey matter before opening our mouths too hastily in future.
Well I hope that by posting that it isn't in direct contradiction to everything thing I just said! And that maybe, just maybe it will cause us all to stop and "roll the r's" Reason, Resource and Respect through our grey matter before opening our mouths too hastily in future.
Therefore, my dear brothers, let every person be quick to listen but slow to speak, slow to get angry Ya'akov 1:19
Anyone who
thinks he is religiously observant but does not control his tongue is
deceiving himself, and his observance counts for nothing. Ya'akov 1:26
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise. Proverbs 12:15
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. Proverbs 17:28
A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. Proverbs 18:7
A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards. Proverbs 29:11
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