We live in a world where everyone has a voice. Everyone has something to say. Has an opinion. Wants to be heard. Thinks they needs to be heard. Tries as hard as they can to be heard. We live in a world that is full to bursting of loud voices. And much of the time, these voices aren't even audible sounds, but come in the form of posts on social media.
Even now, writing this, I am one of those voices. I think I have something that you need to read, to know, something that I think will make you think about what part you have in this series of loud voices. Maybe it will. Maybe it won't. My articles never get very far anyway, so my voice probably isn't as loud as I think it is.
Is yours? How many posts have you put up in the last week or so, giving your opinion on the passing events? What minds have you tried to change. Who have you tired to scold? Who is your voice even reaching? Do other people who hear what you say even have need of hearing it? Or are they already in line with what you are trying it say?
We're all screaming at each other, and much of the time, we're only screaming at those in the same opinion as us. My social media is primarily filled with things I agree with. This is because most of my friends on that media are of the same beliefs and opinions as I am. So nothing of the opposite ever really come to me in full blast. So I can be assured that what I try to say to the other side probably won't get to those I disagree with either.
So what do our loud voices accomplish then? I would say all they accomplish is chaos. We're all trying to be heard, and so we all get louder and louder. Opinions fly every which way. Disagreements arise and squabbles break out. Offense is taken on every side. People are hurt, but we are all caught up in our own agenda that we never really take the time to notice.
Some voices are louder than others and are better heard. And what they have to say resonates to everyone, but that only starts another slew of opinions and issues that people have taken against that one individual's stance.
Most of the time this is all on social media. Outside of the screen, when we interact with one another in reality, we are quiet. We do not know who thinks what when we can't see the posts and shares. Everyone looks at one another and just sees other people. Isn't that odd? At school, you could be sitting next to a person that is so strongly against something that you believe, and you don't even know it. A person that might engage you in a heated debate if only there are screens between you. Only in that manner are people comfortable enough shoving their thoughts at other people. There's less accountability that way. Less direct contact. We say things on media that we would never say to people in person.
You don't see much of thoughtful discussion anymore. It's only ever, "Here's what I have to say; deal with it." I would go so far to say, discussion is dead. It's only ever opinion now.
If there is a solution to this problem, I am sorry to say, I don't have one. It seems to me the best thing that could happen would be for technology to diminish enough for personal discussions to become comfortable again. We need fewer loud voices and more attentive ears. Fewer strong opinions and more open minds.
And that is where my advice lies: always try to have an open mind before you immediately shut down towards something. Think it over, before you state your final opinion.
