Let's Stop Being So Thin-Skinned

Sometimes I hear or read things with which I disagree, or, I encounter something which casts groups with whom I am affiliated in a negative light and I find myself thinking, “Hey, what’s going on here? This is not fair. The person(s) responsible for that communication need to apologize. That bothers me!”

But then—when I’m thinking right—this type of realization occurs to me, “Hey, relax. People are allowed to express opinions even if you don’t agree with them. Lighten up. Everyone doesn’t think the same way you do. Everyone doesn’t see the world the same way you do. Don’t be a baby.”

My dear friends, I honestly believe it will be in our own best interests for all of us to stop being so overly sensitive. (Including me.) Also it will help us to stop treating everyone like wimps who cannot handle any type of disagreement with their views and opinions, or any criticism of groups with whom they may be associated.

Please understand, I am not endorsing disrespectful, dishonest, hateful language. I believe it is important for us to be loving, gracious and respectful toward each other. I really do.

Also, I am not writing this post in anger. I would honestly like to be helpful. I am concerned. I write this in an effort to offer some thoughts about the general direction of our culture. It seems we are becoming overly sensitive, unable to confront any type of communication which might challenge our thinking or point-of-view. This inability to hear any challenge to our position on matters will not serve us well.

Of course, this cultural over-sensitivity is only likely to change if people will stop claiming to be victimized by any minor remark with which they disagree. As I admitted earlier, I know the feeling. I don’t like hearing ideas that challenge my positions. It is easy to feel defensive and cry, “You can’t say that! I’m very delicate!” But come on, we can handle some differing opinions once in a while, can’t we?

In the book of Acts there is a story about Paul debating Epicurean and Stoic philosophers while he was in Athens. It also mentions that Paul went out to speak in the public square “daily.” In other words, he was sharing the gospel message with people who had not heard it before. He was using reason, logic and sharing evidence from his own eyewitness testimony. Everyone did not believe him. Everyone did not agree with him. In one passage we are told the philosophers said this about Paul: “What’s this babbler trying to say with these strange ideas he’s picked up?” (Acts 17:18)

Paul did not respond to these comments by crying and trying to create a safe zone in which no one could respond in ways that challenged what he was saying. He did not say, “They called me a babbler. That’s it, I’m going to get a lawyer.”

He kept on going back and talking, listening, reasoning, debating. He realized everyone would not agree with him. Reasonable, mature adults understand this reality.

I acknowledge that some language can be incredibly mean, hurtful, inappropriate, rude, irresponsible, offensive and even destructive. Again, I am not condoning such behavior. But I’m concerned we are becoming too small, too weak, too insular and too willing to be sheltered from differing ideas and opinions.

We need to be bigger than this. I say this with love: Our culture needs to grow up.

Bland Homogeneity, Sameness and Political Correctness

I think it may be possible that political correctness and the attempted thought control that goes with it has contributed significantly to a kind of bland homogeneity in thinking and communicating.  There is a bored sameness I am often encountering these days with books, movies, TV, radio, blog posts, magazines, talk shows and other forms of communication.  In fact, I think, in some ways, political correctness is contributing to our culture losing some of its creative edge.

I listened to a podcast a while ago in which it was suggested that stand-up comedians and radio shock jocks are more cautious about what they say nowadays.  I know this might be an odd point for a minister to be making but hang with me for a minute while I try to explain this a little further.

I’m not trying to defend all the things stand-up comedians and shock jocks say.  I’m quite certain people in both of those fields say lots of things I would find to be rude, offensive, inappropriate and just plain wrong.  However, it was interesting for me to hear people who have been involved for a long time in both of those fields talking about being in a cultural climate in which they understand they must censor some of the things they would say.  We’re talking about people who have historically been precisely the ones who would say all the things people know we’re not supposed to say.  They were the rebels who didn’t give a rip.  They were daring.  They were intentionally outlandish and outrageous.

These are the very people who push the boundaries.  These are the people who say what other people may secretly be thinking but would never in a million years speak out loud.  They find the odd things to poke fun at in all the various areas of life.

Please understand, I am not suggesting that if we simply allow stand-up comics and radio shock jocks to be even more vile, ugly, insulting, demeaning and outlandish the bland homogeneity in thinking and communicating will end and creativity will flourish.  In fact, I wrote this essay several months ago and have been hesitant to post it because I’m concerned I will be misunderstood.  I simply refer to that podcast discussion as an illustration.  It is an illustration of the stifling power of political correctness in our culture.  The point is that even for the people who were among the most likely to push boundaries the thought and speech police are having some effectiveness at shutting down free expression.

Think of it this way, if stand-up comics and shock jocks have some hesitation when it comes to speaking their minds what about the average guy who may have an opinion that doesn’t fall within the carefully defined parameters of the cultural watchdogs?

We talk a lot about being tolerant of different opinions and viewpoints but in some ways it really seems like we are becoming less tolerant.  Certain ideas and positions are correct and other ideas and positions are not correct. If your ideas are not the correct ones, we all know you better keep your mouth shut and be careful.

And my theory (it is just a theory, I’ve been wrong before) is that this has an effect.  I realize this is not the only factor, however, this politically correct censorship is a contributing factor to a bland homogeneity of thinking and expression.  I think it is possible that years and years of political correctness is even having an effect on creativity.

Fortunately, there are still some voices that are fresh, creative, interesting, unique, courageous, authentic and surprising.  Freedom of thinking and freedom of expression still exist.  I find myself searching for those voices, even when I disagree with them.  They challenge my thinking.  And at least, they’re not dull.  They are still out there.  I am more and more thankful for those brave voices.

Don't Talk... Text!

Nadia just texted me from a room that is 12 feet away indicating that she ordered a pizza.  I responded with a text writing, “Okay.”  Now, I’m posting that information here so that you folks can be in the loop regarding this important transaction and provide any feedback that might be critical to a proper understanding of the situation.

Sometime tomorrow, I’m thinking there’s a good possibility that I will communicate with someone using spoken words, but I would not want to guarantee that such a thing could happen because I like to be circumspect regarding any kind of extravagant claims.