Help: It seems words are not enough!

StrongInTheArm · 12-31-2007, 09:18 AM

I had a thought the other day and its left me reeling. It was that all there was to say had been said.

And then I thought, actions speak louder than words, and suddenly a cascade of doom enveloped my mind. Nothing I say can have meaning and purpose. Its all for nothing. I tried to talk myself out of it, but they were just words, they had no power over me.

All the talking, all the listening, all the trying to understand the words of others ... Its all JUST words! How can we make the world a better place if words do not have the power to change peoples minds and actions. The words are like a gentle breeze, who gives a squashed ant what a breeze is trying to whisper to you?

Help! What are words good for, what can they achieve, can they really play a part in today's world?

**G10** · 12-31-2007, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StrongInTheArm

Nothing I say can have meaning and purpose. Its all for nothing.

Been trying to politely tell you this all along

Seriously though, I would disagree as words are more powerful than we even realise.

Words are the cornerstone to the altering of the thought process that leads to action.

Written or spoken words steer a childs education and this process is constantly carried throughout that persons life, leading them to action in one way or another.

When they say that the pen is mightier than the sword, they weren't joking as it is this process that can lead to love or hate. To peace or war. To understanding or ignorance.

That's my take anyway.

Atom · 12-31-2007, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StrongInTheArm

I had a thought the other day ...

You had a WHAT, yesterday? Shame on you. Whatever it was, pay no attention. Now go fix a sandwich.

Atom · 12-31-2007, 11:01 AM

Here are some words for everyone, may they ring in your ears until you all understand.

The very best things in life are absolutely free.

jdspc · 12-31-2007, 12:45 PM

In the words of one of my favorite poets
John Cooper Clarke
‘Turn out the lights?, but I’m a visual act!’

One issue with words in ‘today’s world’ is…
Some folks don’t take time to listen to a sentence; they just scan for buzz words.
Which can lead to a misunderstanding, and then the whole process begins anew. (which I like to call; ‘confusion incrementation ’)
Paring down a description tends weaken the intent. Willie the Shake may not have fared well today.

But by watching Fox News, I know what the meaning of the word ‘hollow’ is…

Happy - feeling or showing pleasure, contentment, or joy
New - replacing or supplementing something of the same kind that already exists
Year - a period of 365 days (or 366 in a leap year), measured from January 1 to December 31

CoolCopy · 12-31-2007, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdspc

Some folks don’t take time to listen to a sentence; they just scan for buzz words.

And therein lies the rub.

It isn't so much that the words have lost their power,
but that the ears they are falling upon have lost their
ability to hear any more than what they want to hear.

Too busy to stop and really listen to one another, we
end up with a world in which so many are yelling to be
heard, the ones who are whispering get lost in the din.

And sadly, they're usually the ones who actually have
something worth listening to.

Once we realise that we were given two ears and only
one mouth for a reason, perhaps the power of words
will be revitalised once again.

StrongInTheArm · 01-01-2008, 08:33 AM

OK, so its the listening that is the problem not the words themselves. We don't have time to listen and there seems to be an ever increasing amount to listen to. It seems everybody has something to say.

So the question is how do we filter the twittering? The sheer volume that needs be read is daunting how do we decide what is worth the time and effort. And without reading it all how do we know we haven't missed a vital whisper in the storm?

I fear many go astray or, give up and switch their ears off in the onslaught.

jdspc · 01-01-2008, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StrongInTheArm

The sheer volume that needs be read is daunting how do we decide what is worth the time and effort.

Smell...

Zap · 01-01-2008, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoolCopy

Once we realise that we were given two ears and only
one mouth for a reason, perhaps the power of words
will be revitalised once again.

Binaural Hearing (Identifying A Sound's Location) and Redundancy (In Case We Lose One).

SITA: Think about where we'd be without words. Instead of talking to each other and learning from one another, we'd just be hitting each other over the head with sticks.

StrongInTheArm · 01-01-2008, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zap

SITA: Think about where we'd be without words. Instead of talking to each other and learning from one another, we'd just be hitting each other over the head with sticks.

But we still are. Just different kinds of sticks. All the words from thousands of years have had no effect.

Atom · 01-01-2008, 09:02 AM

Fishsticks.

ceefive · 01-01-2008, 09:06 AM

If it weren't for words, there will be no blogs...

Atom · 01-01-2008, 09:14 AM

off topic
I have to go, neighbor just arrived.
/off topic

I'll go back an re-read OP after. Three times probably wasn't enough for me. My comprehension skills suck sometimes.

Zap · 01-01-2008, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StrongInTheArm

But we still are. Just different kinds of sticks. All the words from thousands of years have had no effect.

Some of us are. Some of us aren't. That's the effect.

If not for words, pretty much everyone would be hitting someone else with a stick.

There'd be no sticks left.

Someone cuts you off on the highway, hit 'em with a stick.
Your doctor wants to explain that you need a kidney transplant, he just hits you in the abdomen with a stick.

On your wedding day, no vows, just a stick fight.

(This would actually come in handy during political campaigns. I could learn to like this.)

@Atom: Tartar sauce

Atom · 01-01-2008, 10:16 AM

Ok I think I figured it out..

"I had a thought the other day and its left me reeling. It was that all there was to say had been said. ..."

This is highly unlikely.

jdspc · 01-01-2008, 11:07 AM

Have I mentioned drum circles yet?

(*cartmen can kiss my hippie ass!*)

StrongInTheArm · 01-01-2008, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atom

Fishsticks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zap

@Atom: Tartar sauce

Are you two planing on eating them words

Apparently in some parts of the world there is a guy who can press a button and have a massive great big stick whack anybody else in the world. And that is my point, words are not enough and when they fail, its back to the sticks.

All the glorious words that stir the heart and soul are for nothing when any old fart can turn around and smack you with a stick. Some say the pen is mightier than the sword, but I bet he ain't been in a sword fight lately.

How many wars and violent conflicts have there been in the 21st Century already?

Atom · 01-01-2008, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdspc

Have I mentioned drum circles yet?

(*cartmen can kiss my hippie ass!*)

I don't think so.