Over the last few months, I've watched in horror as the Brewery has become a battleground of ideologies. Within the last week my heart has hurt even more as I've seen posts where users—some of which have been here far longer than I and have contributed more, still—have bid the forum adieu for the express reason of avoiding the negativity. Months ago I attempted to make my feelings known in hopes that perhaps it just might hold a light to the way folks divested of the need for political talk on an audio electronics forum actually feel when they read these posts. Doing so required understanding that there would be at least two given outcomes: a response best summarized as, "you don't have to read it if you don't like it," or the plea being ignored. I was fine with both, so I set about writing the post.
One poster responded with a now-deleted apology—I was never looking for one, but the thought meant quite a bit to me at the time. That's stuck with me ever since. In the midst of so much heartache and anger, being able to take into account another's feelings or aspirations seems like an insurmountable task—unless they are of your tribe. (N.B. Thank you to that poster) I can't help but wonder if a part of this comes from the current trend of unchecked generalization.
About a year and half ago I heard Tchad Blake utter a Pat Parelli quote in a seminar to the effect of, "Never say never, don’t always say always, usually say usually." My first reaction was obviously to laugh, but I wrote it down and found myself coming back to it. I was eventually reminded of notes from professors in the margins about generalizations. In one instance, a professor wrote something along the lines of, "laziness shows up in the form of generalizations." I believe it was the same professor that had also said something in a lecture about generalizations only leading to distrust from the reader.
While I don't know how true that second statement really is, I do believe that generalization should be avoided at all costs when discussing human beings. There are so many users on this forum that astound me with their intelligence and their willingness to share, yet I can't help but be puzzled by such a pervasive willingness to generalize groups of people. I'm gobsmacked when I read some of the ways people are described. I have conservative friends and family, liberal friends and family; gay, straight; believers, non-believers; affluent, struggling; myriad permutations of individuality manifest in humanity for whom I care deeply. It just seems intellectually dishonest that anyone could so easily dismiss any cross-section for any number of reasons, let alone unconscionable.
I recently did something of which I must admit I am ashamed. I referred to the Brewery as a cesspool—where ideas like civility and restraint sink to the bottom because they're too heavy to be handled. That was a knee-jerk reaction that, when coupled with a little of that aforementioned restraint, would've been jettisoned before it ever made it onto the screen. Moreover, that pithy bit of venom was a generalization we all could've done without, and I recognize that now. I say all this to say, I understand why we make generalizations—but I do not and cannot understand how we can become okay with them.
As in the past, I'm not writing all this to garner sympathy or receive an apology. I know I've had my share of screw-ups and will surely make a mistake again very soon. I only write this as a plea to those that take their ideologies so seriously—if you truly believe in your heart that you want to make the world a better place, there is no room for generalization, especially that which allows for the exclusion of anyone from your better world. In the meantime, I'd sure love to plan on having a beer with any of you some day—even if you don't care for the majority of whatever tribe you might've placed me in. It's on me.
One poster responded with a now-deleted apology—I was never looking for one, but the thought meant quite a bit to me at the time. That's stuck with me ever since. In the midst of so much heartache and anger, being able to take into account another's feelings or aspirations seems like an insurmountable task—unless they are of your tribe. (N.B. Thank you to that poster) I can't help but wonder if a part of this comes from the current trend of unchecked generalization.
About a year and half ago I heard Tchad Blake utter a Pat Parelli quote in a seminar to the effect of, "Never say never, don’t always say always, usually say usually." My first reaction was obviously to laugh, but I wrote it down and found myself coming back to it. I was eventually reminded of notes from professors in the margins about generalizations. In one instance, a professor wrote something along the lines of, "laziness shows up in the form of generalizations." I believe it was the same professor that had also said something in a lecture about generalizations only leading to distrust from the reader.
While I don't know how true that second statement really is, I do believe that generalization should be avoided at all costs when discussing human beings. There are so many users on this forum that astound me with their intelligence and their willingness to share, yet I can't help but be puzzled by such a pervasive willingness to generalize groups of people. I'm gobsmacked when I read some of the ways people are described. I have conservative friends and family, liberal friends and family; gay, straight; believers, non-believers; affluent, struggling; myriad permutations of individuality manifest in humanity for whom I care deeply. It just seems intellectually dishonest that anyone could so easily dismiss any cross-section for any number of reasons, let alone unconscionable.
I recently did something of which I must admit I am ashamed. I referred to the Brewery as a cesspool—where ideas like civility and restraint sink to the bottom because they're too heavy to be handled. That was a knee-jerk reaction that, when coupled with a little of that aforementioned restraint, would've been jettisoned before it ever made it onto the screen. Moreover, that pithy bit of venom was a generalization we all could've done without, and I recognize that now. I say all this to say, I understand why we make generalizations—but I do not and cannot understand how we can become okay with them.
As in the past, I'm not writing all this to garner sympathy or receive an apology. I know I've had my share of screw-ups and will surely make a mistake again very soon. I only write this as a plea to those that take their ideologies so seriously—if you truly believe in your heart that you want to make the world a better place, there is no room for generalization, especially that which allows for the exclusion of anyone from your better world. In the meantime, I'd sure love to plan on having a beer with any of you some day—even if you don't care for the majority of whatever tribe you might've placed me in. It's on me.
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