How to F*king Communicate
F**k.
Ahhh, what a beautiful word right? So simple, so versatile, so provocative! What does it mean? Is it bad, is it good, is it gross, is it cool? Who knows without any context. That’s the thing about the word fuck, it can mean almost anything, refer to almost anyone in any way, it can be verb, noun, adjective, pronoun.
Words
Words are like that, we usually know what they’re referring to, but the context, the subtleties, the details, that’s where things get complex. Everybody in the world has amazing ideas and stories, conveying them properly is the real challenge.
Words are symbols, and symbols do one simple thing, point to something else. The only problem: words and symbols are a poor substitute for the real deal. A word or words can never replace the actual thing and our experience of it. I can tell you all about a banana, you could read books on bananas describing flavor, texture, smell, see thousands of pictures. But until you bite into one, you’ll never know how it tastes.
Yet these words(and other symbols) are the pivot points of communication: the place we meet each other's thoughts and ideas. Generally, the expectation is to have the same definitions for symbols and words as everyone else, but how often is that the case?
Brits call cigarettes fags, various translators have tried to demystify the tao te ching, nazi’s took a symbol representing good and used it for evil, and one word may have a complete change to its general meaning, depending on the time period
Slang, interpretation, reappropriation, and to beat a dead horse*, context. These are just a few ways things get mixed up. Once we start looking into conversation, a whole host of other factors come into play: timing, emphasis, volume, expression. Adding it all, and we can fail to fully communicate with even our closest friends, not to mention people of different cultures and backgrounds.
The Art of Communication
Communication is an art, no matter the medium. Whether it’s written word, spoken word, symbols, or steemit.
That’s why we often have to employ additional means to get our point across clearly: Body language, emojis, abstracts, advanced(for our time period) vocabulary, explanation, pictures… Not only in the telling, but in the listening too. Even then, different people see things differently. Sarcasm, joking, and wording are all open to misinterpretation.
That’s why the best communicators empathize. They put themselves in the other person’s shoes to see how they will view it. Good translators immerse themselves in the language they translate and the best ones, in the culture itself.
So next time you’re getting into a conversation, take a moment. Try to see how the other person will interpret what you’re saying or representing. See if there is some way to be more clear. And try to interpret and empathize with where they are coming from.
Start looking more deeply into our words and the meaning each of us gives them. Approach language and communication with love and respect for the others involved.
*No horses were harmed in the writing of this article
This speaks to the power of connection, to me. (Another reference brought to mind...)
They're artists, nonetheless. They've made an art of what is life. Sad ending to that story, as is so often the case. But I still think this shows so much about the power of connection, with no words at all. It all starts with words and, when that works properly, can grow to become so much (more than works can even convey).
Ya, this video is great, saw it a while back, so many feels
Yeah, there's been some nasty talk about these two, and it seems, between these two as well. But I just like what the video seems to capture. Some find it silly, but I think it's pretty symbolic and meaningful.
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