Lacking In Deference and Demeanor
Naked Capitalism has an older must read missive Is Thinking Going Out Of Fashion?
Everyone wants sound bytes, the elevator pitch and the fast easy way out; parents, teachers, coach's, judges, legislators, and executives, public and private.
Heres a taste: "A rule of conduct may be defined as a guide for action, recommended not because it is pleasant, cheap, or effective, but because it is suitable or just.
Infractions characteristically lead to feelings of uneasiness and to negative social sanctions. Rules of conduct infuse all areas of activity and are upheld in the name and honor of almost everything.
Always, however, a grouping of adherents will be involved--if not a corporate social life-providing through this a common sociological theme.
Attachment to rules leads to a constancy, and patterning of behavior; while this is not the only source of regularity in human affairs it is certainly an important one.
Of course, approved guides to conduct tend to be covertly broken, side-stepped, or followed for unapproved reasons, but these alternatives merely add to the occasions in which rules constrain at least the surface of conduct."
Try "The Nature of Deference and Demeanor" by Erving Goffman, that is if you can find the time, muster the brain power, and find a copy.
Those who are successful in the above endeavour will agree that Goffman should still be required reading. But alas, that will never happen, as most of today's high school grads can only read or write at 5th grade level; even sadder, most college graduates can barely read or write at 9th grade level.
Updated from 05/12/2007
"I am beginning to suspect that many are reacting to the overstimulation of the modern world - the accelerating pace of change, data overload, time pressure, work and relationship instability - by turning off their brains.
The rise of fundamentalism and the "family values" push, both efforts to turn back the clock, is one set of responses. Another is the rise of sound-biting, of using pithy communications to cut through the clutter of the daily information assault. But sound biting is inherently reductionist.
Sound biting polarizes people, and makes it hard to find common ground. So I get worried when I see smart people embracing the logic of sound biting and seeing it as a more general prescription, particularly when they want to use it to run organizations."The Naked Capitalist goes on to find that the idea of distilling things down to the "core" fails... "due to another important construct, obliquity that isn't summarized in a tag line." And concludes...
"A magic incantation, a talisman, a battle cry is terribly appealing. But those who can resist the temptation of relying on a simple playbook and face the complexity and uncertainty of their environment are likely to steer a better path. ...understanding risk and adapting also demands far more courage that trusting simple ideas"Bravissimo, well put and it brings to mind...
"Three minutes thought would suffice to find this out; but thought is irksome and three minutes is a long time." - A.E. HousemanThe Nattering One has had similar musings in The Dichotomy ...
"one of the products of a brainwashed and desensitized sound bite society... (click desensitized for Dr. James Hamilton's post at Econbrowser: Idle Hands Are the Devil's Workshop.) occurs when organizational entities and individuals have been "conditioned" to avoid taking ownership and accountability... comes from the well demonstrated tendency of humans to accede to "authority" or "group think" even to the point of performing acts which they themselves consider unethical or immoral." - TNN
"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing". - Albert EinsteinWhich logically follows some of the premises we nattered about in It's Getting Better Part IV:
"What can be worse than the living proof that, the end justifies the means?And comes back full circle to our rantings in The Circus Is In Town:
Its a sound byte, stressed out, medicated, quick fix society, with little time for the intimacy, communication, attention to detail and care that used to be a part of today's so called "family values". This has led to some genuinely poor role models and horrible parenting." - TNN
"Stupid is as stupid does... When it comes to important, detail oriented information, the majority is so mentally poor, bewildered and confused they can't even pay attention. They would rather be entertained than informed, titillation over education." - TNN
Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity. - Martin Luther KingThe devil is in the details... The dumbed down, frenetic paced society in which we live engenders adult ADD.
Everyone wants sound bytes, the elevator pitch and the fast easy way out; parents, teachers, coach's, judges, legislators, and executives, public and private.
"Unfortunately, the world by its nature, doesn't work that way. Abrogation by avoidance and ignorance by apathy are not the answer." - TNNIn my day, sound bites were how mentally challenged individuals communicated, debate and attention to detail were encouraged; and Goffman was required reading. Today, few literary or psychology professors even know who Erving Goffman is, let alone have the mental capacity to read or understand his works.
Heres a taste: "A rule of conduct may be defined as a guide for action, recommended not because it is pleasant, cheap, or effective, but because it is suitable or just.
Infractions characteristically lead to feelings of uneasiness and to negative social sanctions. Rules of conduct infuse all areas of activity and are upheld in the name and honor of almost everything.
Always, however, a grouping of adherents will be involved--if not a corporate social life-providing through this a common sociological theme.
Attachment to rules leads to a constancy, and patterning of behavior; while this is not the only source of regularity in human affairs it is certainly an important one.
Of course, approved guides to conduct tend to be covertly broken, side-stepped, or followed for unapproved reasons, but these alternatives merely add to the occasions in which rules constrain at least the surface of conduct."
Try "The Nature of Deference and Demeanor" by Erving Goffman, that is if you can find the time, muster the brain power, and find a copy.
Those who are successful in the above endeavour will agree that Goffman should still be required reading. But alas, that will never happen, as most of today's high school grads can only read or write at 5th grade level; even sadder, most college graduates can barely read or write at 9th grade level.
"Whosoever wishes to know about the world must learn about it in its particular details. Knowledge is not intelligence. In searching for the truth be ready for the unexpected. Change alone is unchanging. The same road goes both up and down. The beginning of a circle is also its end. Not I, but the world says it: all is one. And yet everything comes in season." - Heraklietos of Ephesus
Updated from 05/12/2007
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