Listening Leads to Thinking

Listening is a lost art, no question.  When I watch “The View” it is very clear to me that Meghan McCain does not listen very well. She already has an agenda whenever there is a “liberal” as a guest and she will scan her notes and ask a question that clearly is contrary to what the guest just said.  July 10 Alan Dershowitz was on the show talking about his new book “The Case against Not Impeaching Trump”.  McCain had not done her homework, thought he was a Trump supporter and then got confused because he campaigned for Clinton.  She clearly had not read the book either nor listened to the discussion the others were having about the content of the book and his analysis on the legal system, etc.  I mention her specifically because she is a host on the show, a self-described political analyst and yet she doesn’t seem to hear anything but what she wants to hear.  This girl pounces on a liberal like a duck on a June bug.

The cellphone / social media epidemic is probably the worst thing to happen to “listening”.  How many times, I wonder, has someone responded to a Facebook note and regretted it?  How many tweets have been a mistake?  One of my firmest policies while I was working was NOT to respond to an aggravating email right away.  I would walk away from my desk, think about what was said and more often than not I would go to the sender to find out how we could come to a meeting of the minds.  If I did respond it would always be measured and styled so as not to fan any flames.  Who needs aggravation at work? 

I am blessed (and cursed) with the sort of face that invites confidences and linked with this is a pair of very willing ears that will listen to anyone (well, within reason of course).  Listening to people is interesting and worthwhile.  It will cause me to think after the person is gone, whether I agree with any part of the discussion or not I find myself still reflecting on what was said.  I don’t buy things hook, line and sinker but I like to think that I have an open mind on most subjects.

As we mature we have values, principles, ideas and goals that may be immutable but the goal in life is not to start out with those things from the beginning.   One should understand why one believes or thinks a certain way.  Naturally one would assume that “being good and kind” is a given that doesn’t need too much analysis.  But being Baptist, Catholic, atheist, conservative or socialist does require a little more thinking.

Listening to other opinions is a good way to start that process of understanding why you hold the position you have.  And please, please do not use the phrase “I never heard of that” and dismiss it out of hand.  Isn’t that why they invented Google? Search and find out what the “facts” are.  And don’t go down just one rabbit hole.  Discern which ones you are being led to because Google does track your preferences.  So if you are Conservative you need to make sure you find some true liberal sites and not ones that simply bash them.

“The unexamined life is not worth living.”  Socrates