Classes and categories are products of human endeavor to simplify the world into understandable pieces.
But in ardently and subconsciously repeating this process of categorization, we have devolved our reasoning mind into stereotyping. I think this is the single biggest flaw of humanity.
We tend to develop preconceived notions the moment we have few basic information about another human being such as age, gender, race/caste/color and this list is endless.
Add to this list a plethora of adjectives. I take an example of the adjective 'young'.
What do you visualize as the typical characteristics of 'young'?
Naive, innocent, inexperienced, fragile, learner, active, unwise etc etc.
As opposed to the adjective, 'Senior'.
Wise, lethargic, adviser, weary, observant, condescending, deep thinker etc etc
We are busy in this process and in building our image of the person in front of us that we fail to see them as they are. 'Seeing them as they are' is akin to watching passing traffic while you yourself are moving.
If you respect someone adequately then you will move along at their speed and enjoy travelling with them without the pressure of having to categorize them because they are not yet dead. They are changing right in front of you in the time you take to typify them.
Only a fool will prefer to interact with images when he has the opportunity to commune with a real being.
Catch up with your loved ones this new year and stop profiling them. You want something from them, be prepared to give something in return. The least of which is your complete attention.
But in ardently and subconsciously repeating this process of categorization, we have devolved our reasoning mind into stereotyping. I think this is the single biggest flaw of humanity.
We tend to develop preconceived notions the moment we have few basic information about another human being such as age, gender, race/caste/color and this list is endless.
Add to this list a plethora of adjectives. I take an example of the adjective 'young'.
What do you visualize as the typical characteristics of 'young'?
Naive, innocent, inexperienced, fragile, learner, active, unwise etc etc.
As opposed to the adjective, 'Senior'.
Wise, lethargic, adviser, weary, observant, condescending, deep thinker etc etc
We are busy in this process and in building our image of the person in front of us that we fail to see them as they are. 'Seeing them as they are' is akin to watching passing traffic while you yourself are moving.
If you respect someone adequately then you will move along at their speed and enjoy travelling with them without the pressure of having to categorize them because they are not yet dead. They are changing right in front of you in the time you take to typify them.
Only a fool will prefer to interact with images when he has the opportunity to commune with a real being.
Catch up with your loved ones this new year and stop profiling them. You want something from them, be prepared to give something in return. The least of which is your complete attention.
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