Interpretation
MB recently posted a great quote. In true MB fashion it elicited quite a response.
One of those responses brought up the point that the individual attributed to the quote rings false. The responder said that what Wade Davis stands for seems to lend itself to questioning. At the end, the comment implied it was not worthy of being on the side of a monitor.
It made me wonder - is it right to discount a quote simply because we don't like the person who said it? Is it fair to discredit what someone says simply because we don't agree with what they stand for? Or what others will use the quote for? Or how others will take it out of context and twist it to fit their needs? Does that make the quote any less true or valid? Does it negate what the quote really says?
I guess I don't know, but it sure makes me think.
This pensive moment was brought to you by the letter M and the number 20.
posted by BH @ 7:36 PM
5 comments
5 Comments:
In my defence, or explanation rather, I have to admit that I thought the quote was profound and effective.
Until I saw who wrote it.
Had it been an anonymous quote I probably would have had the same response to it that you had.
However, it was written by WD, thus negating any effect it may have previously had. By no means was I trying to sway MB, or tell him that his quote was shit, I was just trying to express my opinion on the author.
So I guess to answer your question, yes, I believe that the author has a lot to do with how I feel about a certain saying.
I mean, John Rocker might have some very sound opinions about pitching and baseball, but it gets lost in the fact that he's a biggot and a dick...
Hope that clarifies where I'm coming from.
Buzz
Wasn't it John Rocker who once said............
Oh, nevermind.
I have to side with BH on this one. You are throwing out the "baby with the bath water" if you dismiss what someone has to say based solely on "who" they are. I think the mumbling of a complete madman can, once in a while, produce something thought provoking.
Well, I really, really hope that is the case anyway.
Now, by no means am I saying that I'm right and everyone else is wrong.
The fact that I'm judgemental about what someone says based on how I feel about them is more than likely a major flaw in my character. Had that quote been from John Muir, or John Krakauer, or hell, even John Denver I would have been more receptive.
But this Wade Davis has an air of both superiority and arrogance which I dislike very much. Making it hard for me to drop my dukes and admit to his quote being sincere and originating for the right reasons.
Now, for the quote, even in my first comment at the very end I said "anyway, nice quote.." which I feel is complimentary enough.
And MB, allow me to pose this question to you. Should one of the slacking, luncheon organizing, non-spanish speaking ninny's in your office come up to you and say something like "I believe the children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way... show them all the beauty they possess inside.."
Would you say: "Wow Helen, what great insight you have" or would you say: "Cripes Helen would you just shut the fuck up already??"
Just a hypothetical...
Buzz
I would say, "Wow Helen, your taste in music is really shite!"
Well Buzz I probably wouldn't put as much weight into what they were saying because it isn't a social issue that is as important to me.
If the quote I had posted had been written by Adolf Hitler I may have still posted it because I think it is "what" the quote said, and not "who" said it that carries precedence here.
(o.k. the Adolf Hitler thing is a stretch....sorry)
I wholeheartedly see your point about having a pre-conceived bias about who saying it. It is extremely hard to see past the negative aspects of a person, as you interpret them, to find something intelligent. I think is where the contradiction exists. By admitting someone we dislike has favorable traits, we hurt the argument we have used against them. Directly contradicting our argument isn't easy and more people don't do it.
This is why when we fight with significant others it's hard for us to go "Yeah, I see your point" even though we are thinking it. Lucky for me, I'm never wrong so it works out well.
So, to answer your question, I would say out loud "Wow Helen, what great insight you have," and then blog about telling her to STFU already.
Hope your feeling better.
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