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...It's always the same
Mar. 6th, 2003 09:59 am[chunky Jimmy Page guitar riff}
I'm wondering/worrying about my communication skills again (or is that still?). Specifically, perception versus intent, at least on my part. While I've been told that I come across as very opinionated, speaking in absolute judgements, I'm always surprised by that. Sure, I know I have opinions, and I'm often not shy about expressing them, but I have never made any claims to absolute veracity. As I always, and often, say, I'm always prepared to be wrong, and hope that if someone thinks I've missed something, that they'll point it out to me. It's really, really, really not important for me to be right, or to leave a conversation with the same perspective with which I walked into it; I'd actually prefer to have had it changed by virtue of contact with others.
I worry a lot that my delivery makes people think I'm unkind and/or inconsiderate. If I talk quickly (sometimes to a Mametesque degree), if I leap to encounter someone's points, it's not because I long to do violence to them or their ideas, it's just that I get very, very excited, and want to engage. I always semi-joke that the Golden Rule gets me into more trouble than it helps; for me, to have my ideas tested, weighed, evaluated, and possibly broken, is a form of respect. It shows me that someone takes what I say seriously enough to really look at it, and to see if it's flawed, and/or if there is anything of merit or use therein. Unfortunately, I don't think others take that as respectful in any way, usually.
Recaffienate, possibly reconsider.
I'm wondering/worrying about my communication skills again (or is that still?). Specifically, perception versus intent, at least on my part. While I've been told that I come across as very opinionated, speaking in absolute judgements, I'm always surprised by that. Sure, I know I have opinions, and I'm often not shy about expressing them, but I have never made any claims to absolute veracity. As I always, and often, say, I'm always prepared to be wrong, and hope that if someone thinks I've missed something, that they'll point it out to me. It's really, really, really not important for me to be right, or to leave a conversation with the same perspective with which I walked into it; I'd actually prefer to have had it changed by virtue of contact with others.
I worry a lot that my delivery makes people think I'm unkind and/or inconsiderate. If I talk quickly (sometimes to a Mametesque degree), if I leap to encounter someone's points, it's not because I long to do violence to them or their ideas, it's just that I get very, very excited, and want to engage. I always semi-joke that the Golden Rule gets me into more trouble than it helps; for me, to have my ideas tested, weighed, evaluated, and possibly broken, is a form of respect. It shows me that someone takes what I say seriously enough to really look at it, and to see if it's flawed, and/or if there is anything of merit or use therein. Unfortunately, I don't think others take that as respectful in any way, usually.
Recaffienate, possibly reconsider.
