By now you should know that there is no right or wrong, only your perception of the world and things around you. In communication it is essential that you understand the perceptions of others to even begin to develop a dialogue, much less teach, understand or persuade.
Name calling, closed minds and fixed inflexible beliefs may have their place, but not if communication and understanding is your goal.
To the Romans morality was vital to their society, but not the same moral system of understanding we have today. The value of life and meaning of death change. Perceptions of age as wisdom may give way to age as an obstacle that need to be pushed aside for youth to advance. Social values such as public responsibility for education or health care or public safety may shift over time, between groups, between individuals and according to the greater needs of a society.
To communicate we need to understand these changes, the variety and diversity of opinions and perceptions in our audience, and how to have whatever we are saying understood and accepted.
There are many ways to do so. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is only one of these social models for understanding an individual, group, audience, market or society. Demographics are a tool, if properly applied. Understanding the codes and proofs help as well. But the real mastery comes from critical and understanding thought and exploration.
This does not mean attack and criticism.
"Seek first to understand, then be understood"
(Stephen Covey, 7 Habits of Effective Living")
To defeat an enemy, or befriend a stranger, the formula is the same.
You must first understand them.
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WriteNOWMom
ohsillyme
Kerry Lauerman
Joan Walsh
Salon.com
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