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By: Tiffany Syslo |
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| Have you ever wondered why 300 lb. women enjoy thundering around creaky
stages in their bikinis in front of wild crowds on talk shows such as Jerry
Springer, to convince the world that they're sexy?
Although it's difficult for us to believe, the fact is these women probably believe they're hot stuff. Just as you are what you eat, you are what you think ... and if you're not careful, this can lead to trouble. In the following stories, you will find four different examples of instances where, if you're not careful, your own viewpoint might come back to haunt you. Each story is written to expose two sides of the coin in an effort to elevate your thinking to the next level. In essence, to keep you from drowning in your own sea of beliefs. According to Chico State University Philosophy Professor Dr. Greg Tropea, these perceptions of ours are better known as "paradigms." "A paradigm is like a bathtub with the drain stopped up. Yes, it can become satisfyingly full and it sure feels good at first, but after a while, you're sitting in your own dirty lukewarm water," said Tropea. A paradigm is anything resembling a viewpoint, an idea or a strongly-held belief. Paradigms influence our interpretations of things. If you're relationship-centered, you might make decisions based on what your significant other would suggest. If you're money-centered, you might make decisions based on your finances. For instance, glance at the two pictures above. To most people, the pictures appear to be vases, but to some they make up the profiles of two people about to kiss. Based on your paradigm, your interpretation will likely be different. What's really pictured above here is a figure/ground illusion used in psychology known as the "gestalt vase." Akin to seeing a glass "half-full" versus "half-empty," illusions such as these are used to better understand how our sensations influence our perception of reality. Arguments arise when people cannot see the other point of view, even when both sides are staring at the exact same thing. If you value individual thought, rebel against conformity and sneer at ignorance, read on to travel outside of your paradigm today! You might be a bigger idiot than you think. |
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