War – any kind of fighting is when people have given up on using communication
I’ve always believed that any kind of fighting is when people have given up on using communication. Of course communication is barely happening at this depth of the ocean, which is pitch dark, freezing cold and littered with dead detritus floating around.
If listening is a large part of communication, then that immediately shows how bullying is a low form of communication as listening does not happen. People get confused between hearing and listening. When people say ‘I hear you’ they (sometimes unwittingly but the words give them away) are actually saying ‘words are going in my ears but I am dismissing them.’
If you listen to people talking, you might hear someone telling another person something as if to say ‘you should think this way too.’ What they are not doing, perhaps, is displaying what they think in a way that the other person can consider it.
Look at the word communication. It speaks for itself. Commune. Uni. One. Becoming one. What I find damned funny about language is how much it gives away, which the speaker may not be aware of.
Take the definition of war as described above and put it back into the school yard. Can you see all the similarities? Can you see the patterns? Here are the school yard scale, war posturings typically used by playground or office bullies. Just for fun, write out versions of these phrases below as if they were sent between diplomats or ambassadors from two different countries.
“You should copy me.”
“Give me your lunch.”
“He prefers me to you.”
“He told me he doesn’t like you.”
“I don’t like the way you do things.”
“You’re ugly.”
“You smell.”
“No one likes you.”
“You can’t go there.”
“You can’t play on that, it’s saved for someone else.”
And don’t forget. Bullies often pick fights that they have no intention of fighting. Governments form armies to go and kill other armies full of people paid to go and fight each other. When they are done, dead or injured, they are dismissed and neglected as soon as is possible. It is unlikely that suitable treatment to recover them from their experiences and rehabilitate them in civil life will have been forthcoming. Promises made to them for giving their lives are often not kept. Look at how many ex-military people end up homeless.
Doesn’t this remind you of the cowardly school bully and his or her gang who are forced to do any of the dirty work?
Recent Posts: Dairy of A Nonny Moose
Don’t Depend on Government – This is Up To Every One of Us
Bullies Always Count on a Target’s Predictability
Some COVID-19 Silver Linings – Past, Present and Possible
Why Profits are Put Before Public Health – and it’s Getting Dangerous
Why Boosting your Media Profile While Ignoring Your Opposition Helps Win Elections
Recent Comments
Recent Posts: Dairy of A Nonny Moose
Don’t Depend on Government – This is Up To Every One of Us
The Coronavirus Pandemic must surely be a big wake-up call to remind us to keep safe and look after ourselves. Many trends have been stopped in their tracks, particularly travel, which is giving the earth a break to reset. While we’ve been in lockdown the sun has been shining. Lockdown People in London have been […]
Bullies Always Count on a Target’s Predictability
The powerful response to an attacking or negative message brought to mind Brene Brown’s Call To Courage, particularly saying there was no more need to justify. Beautifully put. Replying to bullying online can be very empowering if you say what you want to say. Chateau Cherie Chess board and text “Strategic plan” Business planning concept […]
Some COVID-19 Silver Linings – Past, Present and Possible
The pandemic has stopped humanity in its tracks. City streets are deserted and even politicians are reaching for experts to guide us. The world is talking and ordinary people’s voices are being heard. Creativity and resilience are increasing and people are caring for vulnerable citizens like never before. Governments and companies have to be accountable and key workers are being valued over sports stars. Rich people are not immune. Everyone is in this together. We have to get our priorities straight right now and maybe for good.
Why Profits are Put Before Public Health – and it’s Getting Dangerous
Further back in time, women were healers, often using herbs and natural medicines. When we think of Medieval people today, the most likely picture in our minds is of of people carrying out old wives’ tales (maybe that was a slur to discredit such women healers) or biding by religious superstitions. Men have dominated politics, […]
Why Boosting your Media Profile While Ignoring Your Opposition Helps Win Elections
The biggest area in which political elections are fought has to be the media. There is plenty of evidence for this. Not least, we ought to look at the relationship between the party that wins and the column inches, headlines and photographs of their representations in the media. Speaking as a journalist since 1985, we […]
Recent Comments