Information and comments on the essay:
A new idea is like a new cat in the house
From the book: Chum for Thought: Throwing Ideas into Dangerous Waters by David Satterlee
Find out more, including where to buy books and ebooks
Read or download this essay as a PDF file at: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4eNv8KtePyKTHVRRnRtRjBCeG8/edit?usp=sharingA new idea is like a new #cat in the house. People resist change agents
 |
| Chum For Thought: Throwing Ideas into Dangerous Waters |
A new idea is like a new cat in the house
I found a relatively new poster at open.salon.com. She writes
with thoughtful passion about ways that she has had to face and reason about
controversial situations. It turns out that I was the first one to “favorite”
her and we exchanged several messages. She was distressed by the strong anger
that one her articles had provoked and was considering withdrawing from the
site. I encouraged her to carry on:
“Dear Kat, People who write like you do are really
annoying. This is actually a good thing. Don’t worry about it. Keep it up.
Perfect your art. I got a bumper sticker for my wife’s car that said,
"Well behaved women seldom make history." Margaret Mead is quoted as saying, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." As an award-winning elementary school teacher, my wife always kept that quote prominently framed on a wall … at students’ eye level.
"Well behaved women seldom make history." Margaret Mead is quoted as saying, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." As an award-winning elementary school teacher, my wife always kept that quote prominently framed on a wall … at students’ eye level.
“If you read some of my stuff posted at SocioDynamics.org,
[some of which is in this book, as well] you will see that I have been
wrestling with the questions of why some people are persistently fearful,
angry, ignorant, or bigoted. I’ve found many answers in the science of
psychosocial development.
“Unfortunately, the answers point to the fact that, in
sequential developmental stages, there will just be things that many people
can’t understand yet. And, they will dislike you intensely for discussing those
things.
“Introducing a new idea is, for them, like bringing a new
cat into the house. There is no, hello-how-do-you-do. There is just
reflexive hissing, arched backs, and hair on end. But, in time, it (usually)
settles down to shared naps in the sunny spot on the floor. If there is hope
for cats, there is hope for the public discourse of ideas… and maybe even all of
humanity.”
No comments:
Post a Comment