Perspective - A Critical Questioning Exercise

Dear People of the Internet...

When was the last time you considered a perspective so different from one you've held that you've been moved to reconsider the stance from which you have found comfortable, and even taken a step towards seeing things in a different way?

Please read through both examples for this reflection exercise...


What if your perspective was that tree trunks look like this....

Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland - Rotorua, NZ
Image by @JenApgar 

Likely you would 'see' more tree trunks like this, they'd feel comfortable to you, and they'd more closely match what you have seen in illustrations of trees in most of your day-to-day tree trunk perspectives.

And then someone showed you this tree trunk.... saying that from their perspective tree trunks look very different, and that has been true from their perspective for close to 1500 years. 

King Billy Track - Cradle Mountain, Tasmania, AU
Image by @JenApgar

What would your reaction be? 

• Is it one of disbelief, dislike, offence?
• Is it one of curiosity, intrigue, a want to know more?

🤔What does your reaction say about your current state of mind? (How might stress/anxiety be impacting your reaction?)

🤔What does your reaction say about your 'Intellectual Humility'?

Which of these would you include in your next step....

• find evidence that supports your perspective?
• demand significant research (from credible sources you trust) that support this 'new' perspective?

OR

• listen to and seek out more people with these different perspectives?  
• consider that your perspective may be biased? and that the bias may results from where you feel your perspective aligns with past, current and future popular or protected views? 

Starting from the other perspective....

For example, what if in your experience tree trunks look like this....

Cradle Mountain, Tasmania, AU
Images by @JenApgar

Likely you would 'see' more tree trunks like this, they'd feel comfortable to you...

However these tree trunk don't match what you have seen in illustrations of trees... except for people who have the same lived experience/perspective as you do... and even then they are hard to find and not the majority.

And then you were shown this tree trunk on the internet with a bold statement like this...

"This is what Tree Trunks look like! What they have ALWAYS looked like and what they SHOULD always look like!  If they don't look like this there is something wrong with them and they aren't really trees.  Researchers and scientists have known this for years, and I'm sick of people who try and use other pictures of 'tree trunks' to push their agenda."

Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland - Rotorua, NZ
Image by @JenApgar 

What would your reaction be? 

• Is it one of disbelief, dislike, offence?
• Is it one of curiosity, intrigue, a want to know more?

🤔What does your reaction say about your current state of mind? (How might stress/anxiety be impacting your reaction?)

🤔What does your reaction say about your 'Intellectual Humility'?

What is your next step....

• Share current research (from credible sources you trust) that support this your perspective?

• Consider both personal and social short and long-term impacts and consequences to responding or not responding to this post? (trolling, abuse, support, social change)

The internet, and social media specifically have a lot of potential for positive and negative experiences and impact as it relates to the human world. 

How open one is to considering 'different viewpoints' is influenced by interaction in and with media types that lend themselves to anonymity and impulsive posts, shares, comments.

Thinking is critical. It takes time and reflection. If the media is the message, take the time to make sure you reflect and consider your perspective, bias and intention before you post. Don't let your immediate brain chemical reaction be your only fuel, it burns fast and might be more dangerous than you realize.