Varm fuzzy nice nice.

[mrissa]

Okay, one more time, people:

Sometimes the problem is not that we don't understand each other.

Sometimes the problem is that we understand each other and disagree.

Sometimes the problem is that we understand each other and disagree, and one or more of us is an asshole.

Additional "understanding" is not going to solve that type of problem.

Comments

[ellameena.livejournal.com]

Bravo!

[swan-tower.livejournal.com]

Is this the Hendrix thing, or something else? Or all of the above?

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

That was the most proximate cause, but it seems to come up again and again in my life: pleas for understanding when, really, the problem is not lack of understanding.

[swan-tower.livejournal.com]

I found where you had commented. Indeed, and I've spoken up in support.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

[leahbobet.livejournal.com]

But if we understood them how could we possibly disagree! They are the soul of rightness and correctitude! Any disagreement must be a failure to communicate the awesome.

The universe depends on no one person trying to think all the thoughts

[mouseworks.livejournal.com]

It require that each one of us think different thoughts so that it can be fulfilled in its complexity and not be reduced to something any one of us could understand.

Agreeing with people collapses the wave functions.

Re: The universe depends on no one person trying to think all the thoughts

[leahbobet.livejournal.com]

Just to make sure you know, the above was, well, heavy sarcasm.

Re: The universe depends on no one person trying to think all the thoughts

[mouseworks.livejournal.com]

What I said was something that I used on a guy named Dave Hayes, who believed that perfect cooperation was possible.

[dd-b.livejournal.com]

To understand all is not, in fact, to forgive all? Whoda thunkit?

[arkessian.livejournal.com]

Not sure I understand...

So I haven't solved the problem, huh?

Make that, I haven't solved anyone's problem, huh?

So nothing's changed.

Sounds fair.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

I didn't say there weren't any problems helped by understanding....

[joelrosenberg.livejournal.com]

In fact, you were explicit that some problems are solvable by understanding.

[haddayr.livejournal.com]

exactly.

[cpolk.livejournal.com]

you know, I have been ACTIVELY RESISTING saying, "It's not that I don't get what you're saying/believe that you are who you say you are in your anonymous lj comments. my problem is that YOU ARE A POOPYHEAD!"

and some of them are SO COMMITTED to being poopyheads it takes my breath away.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

Well, you see, Chelsea, being a poopyhead is like any other method of whiling away the hours: you can half-ass it if you want to, but if you want to be a really high-grade poopyhead, there must be commitment. Practice, practice, practice.

[seajules]

Yes. That.

[mamapduck.livejournal.com]

Amen, sista!

Big Adventure

[jymdyer.livejournal.com]

=v= I don't understand.

[dichroic.livejournal.com]

Judith Martin has written much the same thing. I wonder if she's lookig for someone to inherit her column someday? (Of course if you wrote Miss Manners there would be less about what to wear at diplomatic events and more about when it's appropriate to bring hotdish (I know: always) but that might be more useful to most of us anyway,

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

"Dear Miss Manners,
"What do you say when introduced to someone in full Klingon regalia?"
"Gentle Reader,
'How do you do?'"

[dichroic.livejournal.com]

Exactly.

[cakmpls.livejournal.com]

Maybe you're not talking about me, but I did recently post an entry in which I was seeking understanding.

Maybe I wasn't clear. I was not seeking understanding for solving the problem, but for increasing my own knowledge of what makes people tick. This might help me solve some other problem further down the line, but that would be lagniappe.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

I am definitely not talking about you.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

Among other differences between your situation and the one I was referring to, there's a big difference between, "I don't understand, please help," and, "You are being insufficiently understanding of this person who has insulted you! What you need is more understanding!"

[aszanoni.livejournal.com]

Wow.

I don't know of whom you speak. But having had that same problem, I am wishing I could just knock heads for you.

Failing that, it would make me feel better. Doesn't SOLVE it. You're so right, some people are just... dedicated. -grimace-

- Chica