I posted this on Facebook:
"That which should not be" is unfortunately 'that which is fairly common.' And non-exclusive for that matter. Any framework in which a person interacts, exists within in it some manifestation of unnecessary suffering that more often than not is marginalized, and ignored. Or perhaps even more common, a purpose for which is conjured. And to compensate for this reality is to emphasize the specks in other people's eyes, so frantically as to knock over people in the way with the massive plank extending from our own.
"That which should not be" is unfortunately 'that which is fairly common.' And non-exclusive for that matter. Any framework in which a person interacts, exists within in it some manifestation of unnecessary suffering that more often than not is marginalized, and ignored. Or perhaps even more common, a purpose for which is conjured. And to compensate for this reality is to emphasize the specks in other people's eyes, so frantically as to knock over people in the way with the massive plank extending from our own.
We attest that 'Our suffering is not unnecessary! It is completely necessary. Now let me quickly think of an excuse as to why!" What a failing on our part! We conjure up reasons in a bid to keep misery, because we cannot acknowledge that our lives are so jaded that we have allowed such unnecessary suffering to exist. What a subtle and cunning way for Pride to exert itself, both individually and communally.
The status quo must be in the process of continual renewal and evaluation. If suffering is presented, then establishing the integrity of it's purpose is paramount. The wooden spoon slaps the rear of a delinquent for a defined and worthy purpose. If the integrity of that purpose could not be ascertained, could not be correctly justified, it is then that the wooden spoon becomes a utensil for the expression of our evils, a mixer of the devil, and a scooper of misery!
Our lives, our communuities, our worlds, are full of suffering. But for what? And that is continuous question.
The greatest indication of human failure is unnecessary suffering.
These were the comments:
These were the comments:
Cory Bill and Josh Jansons like this.
Benjamin Campbell
I thought about something along the same lines the other day. Your not kind of relates to an interesting psychological study which was released the other week: when people are being tortured, if they express more pain and let their suffering be known, the torturer actually responds subconsciously by believing them to be more guilty because they can... Read More't cope with the fact that they may be causing an innocent person suffering.
In much the same way, as human beings who are able to do something about human suffering the world over, we are essentially complicit in a form of torture... to which one natural (read: wrong) response is to assume that a higher power has rationed out his wrath and that this suffering is unavoidable.
What degree of ignorance is worth what measure of personal contentment at the state of the world? Can you justify your own response? Because some days I can't any more
In much the same way, as human beings who are able to do something about human suffering the world over, we are essentially complicit in a form of torture... to which one natural (read: wrong) response is to assume that a higher power has rationed out his wrath and that this suffering is unavoidable.
What degree of ignorance is worth what measure of personal contentment at the state of the world? Can you justify your own response? Because some days I can't any more
November 5 at 10:19am · Delete
Cory Bill
There are some very good points in there. I think that part of the reason needless suffering exists is because we find it difficult to grasp things that are not able to be easily perceived. There is a significant gap between most peoples morals and their actions (I include myself in this).
This might be a defense mechanism to keep us from being ... Read Moreoverwhelmed or to ensure we don't sacrifice our own comfort. Or perhaps it is because of our inability to feel a significant amount of sincere compassion for those people who we don't have a relationship with (i.e. friends and family).
p.s. Did u write this yourself or were u using some other source? If u were I suggest referencing the source before you get done for plagiarism ;).
This might be a defense mechanism to keep us from being ... Read Moreoverwhelmed or to ensure we don't sacrifice our own comfort. Or perhaps it is because of our inability to feel a significant amount of sincere compassion for those people who we don't have a relationship with (i.e. friends and family).
p.s. Did u write this yourself or were u using some other source? If u were I suggest referencing the source before you get done for plagiarism ;).
November 5 at 10:34am · Delete
Michael Thackray
That's a fantasic challenge ben. Thanks for issuing it, even if In Rhetoric.
I actually wrote this. At work of course, because the unnecessary suffering there doesn't change regardless how hard I work :p
I think corys point emphasizes the need for critical and wholisitic thinking. I'd like my actions to be a pure translation of my good intentions, but alack, that is easy to wish for, and really hard to do.
Alack is also a good word
I actually wrote this. At work of course, because the unnecessary suffering there doesn't change regardless how hard I work :p
I think corys point emphasizes the need for critical and wholisitic thinking. I'd like my actions to be a pure translation of my good intentions, but alack, that is easy to wish for, and really hard to do.
Alack is also a good word
November 5 at 11:57am · Delete
Cory Bill
Yea, I agree with that study Ben. I know that when I was younger I worked in a Chicken farm. I saw the very cramped conditions that they lived in and would pick up the numerous dead chooks which would die everyday. Sometimes I would actually have to kill the chooks if they were too sick. I found this quite upsetting as a young boy and it caused me some pain. However, my response to this was to develop quite a keen dislike and even hatred towards the chickens. I perceived them to be the cause of my pain. This caused me to stop caring about their well-being and I would even sometimes lash out at them maliciously.
I think that this reveals something quite deep in the human condition. I could draw some strong parallels between my response towards these chickens and the response the Nazi soldiers towards the Jews.
I don't think these soldiers were especially 'bad' people and I think that most people's 'personal narrative' display themselves as more or less 'good' people. Therefore in order to reconcile their actions with their concept of goodness the German soldier's perception of the Jews had to change. I don't think it would have taken long for the soldiers to start to hate the Jews for the pain which had been created in their conscience through empathy.... Read More
Their identity needed their actions to be justified, so it created an emotion of hatred which allowed them to continue doing what they were doing whilst maintaining their identity as 'good' people.
Of course this is just my speculation and thoughts without alot of research etc. so don't perceive this as having anymore authority than that.
I think that this reveals something quite deep in the human condition. I could draw some strong parallels between my response towards these chickens and the response the Nazi soldiers towards the Jews.
I don't think these soldiers were especially 'bad' people and I think that most people's 'personal narrative' display themselves as more or less 'good' people. Therefore in order to reconcile their actions with their concept of goodness the German soldier's perception of the Jews had to change. I don't think it would have taken long for the soldiers to start to hate the Jews for the pain which had been created in their conscience through empathy.... Read More
Their identity needed their actions to be justified, so it created an emotion of hatred which allowed them to continue doing what they were doing whilst maintaining their identity as 'good' people.
Of course this is just my speculation and thoughts without alot of research etc. so don't perceive this as having anymore authority than that.
November 5 at 5:11pm · Delete
Josh Jansons
Great discussion starter Mike. Love it.
Maybe I'm over-simplifying, or maybe you are talking about a different kind of suffering, but it got me thinking that unnecessary suffering can be attributed to humankind's "natural" desire for self-preservation. The actions that we take to self-preserve very rarely only involve what we need, and instead we ... Read Morestrive for excess as security.
Take for example that fact that lack of clean water kills more people every day then anything else, and then match that up againt the fact that the estimated cost to make clean water available to everyone on earth is $7 billion, whilst the amount of money Australian's spend on Christmas alone is $37 billion. Whilst this example is complicated and there are many more factors involved (politics etc) I think the point is clear: the even distribution of resources would result in less suffering in the world, and it's only the selfishness of billions (including myself) that allows it to continue.
Maybe I'm over-simplifying, or maybe you are talking about a different kind of suffering, but it got me thinking that unnecessary suffering can be attributed to humankind's "natural" desire for self-preservation. The actions that we take to self-preserve very rarely only involve what we need, and instead we ... Read Morestrive for excess as security.
Take for example that fact that lack of clean water kills more people every day then anything else, and then match that up againt the fact that the estimated cost to make clean water available to everyone on earth is $7 billion, whilst the amount of money Australian's spend on Christmas alone is $37 billion. Whilst this example is complicated and there are many more factors involved (politics etc) I think the point is clear: the even distribution of resources would result in less suffering in the world, and it's only the selfishness of billions (including myself) that allows it to continue.
November 5 at 5:55pm · Delete
Michael Thackray
wow i should get rich and fix water.
that's an interesting take, I shall dwell upon it. could you elaborate on 'self-preservation'
that's an interesting take, I shall dwell upon it. could you elaborate on 'self-preservation'
November 5 at 10:09pm · Delete
Giselle Bill
Another interesting idea is that of the "Just World Phenomenon" where individuals believe that in some way people get what they deserve. For example a study got participants to judge a woman based on a story (not a true one), the participants were broken into 2 groups and were given 1 of 2 stories which were identical except for the ending; where ... Read Morethe woman was either proposed to or raped. Participants who read the story about the woman who was raped judged her more harshly, whilst the group who read about the woman who was proposed to judged her positively, despite that there was no difference in the description of the woman, just what happened to her. Which has horrific implications regarding people who have had terrible things happen to them, as people are more likely to believe they deserve it. And you can see this attitude generalising to the real world. E.g. homeless people are there because of bad choices they make (despite that a huge proportion of homeless people have mental illness and I believe there has been a growing number of homeless people since mental asylums have closed down).
I think one of the side affects of the Just World thing is that if we believe that someones suffering is in some way their fault it takes away the need to help them and allows us to rationalise others suffering and also allows us to continue doing what we're doing without caring about anyone else. Furthermore, if we believe that we have money, comfort etc because we have done something to deserve it, then we will not find the need to have to help others.
And this continues on to what Ben and Cory were saying, when you see another being suffer (even when you are causing the pain) there is a tendency to believe that they deserve it, which means you don't have to feel bad about them suffering.
I think one of the side affects of the Just World thing is that if we believe that someones suffering is in some way their fault it takes away the need to help them and allows us to rationalise others suffering and also allows us to continue doing what we're doing without caring about anyone else. Furthermore, if we believe that we have money, comfort etc because we have done something to deserve it, then we will not find the need to have to help others.
And this continues on to what Ben and Cory were saying, when you see another being suffer (even when you are causing the pain) there is a tendency to believe that they deserve it, which means you don't have to feel bad about them suffering.
November 5 at 11:38pm · Delete
Josh Jansons
Hi Giselle - your Just World thing is incredibly interesting, and sad, but yes I can relate to that attitude and I think I am guilty of it in my own life.
Hi Mike - just to elabourate as requested. When I'm talking about self-preservation above, I'm talking about the natural desire to what to live, eg it is one of the underlying desires that ... Read Morecauses us to eat, drink, breath, sleep, not drive in front of a truck etc
And to continue on my point just a little further. It's not just water. Read "Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger", or "Jesus Wants to Save Christians". There is a large belief out there that the suffering of the poor in the world would not happen if resources were distributed evenly.
Hi Mike - just to elabourate as requested. When I'm talking about self-preservation above, I'm talking about the natural desire to what to live, eg it is one of the underlying desires that ... Read Morecauses us to eat, drink, breath, sleep, not drive in front of a truck etc
And to continue on my point just a little further. It's not just water. Read "Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger", or "Jesus Wants to Save Christians". There is a large belief out there that the suffering of the poor in the world would not happen if resources were distributed evenly.
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