Category: Thoughts

I don’t recall who steered me towards this movie, but I watched it last night. It was a “not bad” flick, well worth the slot in my netflix queue.It contained a quote that sums up well my issue with “Reasoned Discourse, or the lack therof.

“It doesn’t matter whether you’re selling Jesus or Buddha or civil rights or ‘How to Make Money in Real Estate With No Money Down.’ That doesn’t make you a human being; it makes you a marketing rep. If you want to talk to somebody honestly, as a human being, ask him about his kids. Find out what his dreams are – just to find out, for no other reason. Because as soon as you lay your hands on a conversation to steer it, it’s not a conversation anymore; it’s a pitch. And you’re not a human being; you’re a marketing rep.”

Bingo. People are wary, and have grown quite weary, of being sold to. It isn’t that they are interested in your ideas, so much as SELLING theirs.

OK, so it is unedited, and over half an hour long, but well worth the listen.

Here are two grown men, with diametrically opposing viewpoints, having a reasonable discussion. One is an official of the Anglican Church, the other a noted Atheist and author. Note how they allow each other the room to state their viewpoints without interruption of condescension.

Here in America, land of the 1st Amendment, this sort of thing just doesn’t happen on TV. Instead our short attention spans and W-inspired “you’re either with us or against us” mentalities demand shouting matches and near, if not actual, fisticuffs. With everything wrapped up but no real progress made before the next commercial break. Witness the three-ring circus that has become of the 24-hour “news” channels. Sigh.

I wish I could discuss “big issues” with people I know. Unfortunately I can’t, since reasoned discourse is practically dead these days. I prefer to engage in discussion, not argument. I don’t want to raise my voice to be heard, nor be shouted down by those I know, even know and love. Therefore I choose to remain silent and not share my views very much. It is a shame.