Daily Cascade

"What Else Could This Mean?"

Prompt:
“Most misunderstandings in the world could be avoided if people would simply take the time to ask, "What else could this mean?” ― Shannon L. Alder

Do you agree or disagree?

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I agree. Definitely. Most fights happen because we human beings with short fuses jump to immediate conclusions.

This quote, "Most misunderstandings in the world could be avoided if people would simply take the time to ask, 'What else could this mean?'" shows that meaning can be constructed in any way it is heard. Even if the original meaning might be negative, we need to respond to the actual words, and not our, often flawed, interpretation of them.

How we process information, any information, and interpret others' actions--as if they mean the worst--is not good for human relationships. My guess is that this also goes for the interactions and dealings among nations. I bet most of the wars and negative behavior in the past or here in the present are the results of either misunderstandings or reading into the words of the other group or persons.

Our first understanding of what we see as the other side, be it through words or actions, may not be the correct or may not be the only interpretation. For example, a couple of days ago, I was complaining about the yo-yo weather we were having lately and the other person thought I was talking about the present-day governing party of the USA. That was so funny, because I never talk about politics. To me politics should stay as 'to each his own.' Also, because parties and governments change but the altercations and negative feelings among people tend to stay much longer.

This, however, is only a slight example of a misunderstood meaning. Worse yet, another person may interpret a neutral comment as an insult because he or she has been hurt by a similar comment before, and they attach a malicious intent behind an innocent sentence or gesture. The simple act of asking, therefore, "What else could this mean?" has to be taken as an invitation to pause and think twice. This way, we decide to step outside of our instinctive reactions and judgmental natures, as well as searching outside of what we may think is the obvious.

Another thing, this quotes points to the importance of using intellectual humility. By that, I mean accepting the fact that we don't always have all the answers, and that our first understanding or reaction may never be the ultimate truth. Stopping and thinking better about someone's words or even actions could be the better way of keeping good relationships. As the result, therefore, we are less likely to fall into the trap of rigid thinking and prejudice, and causing an existing conflict to grow bigger.