Our brains have less work to do when we can devise shortcuts. Thinking is hard work requiring attention, focus, and energy.
One of my favorite detective novel series comes from Rex Stout whose lead character is an overweight, narcissistic “genius” private detective called Nero Wolfe who hates to go to work. One sub-theme of the series involves the assistant, Archie Goodwin, trying to find the appropriate time to prod, cajole, irritate Wolfe into working—which in this case is thinking.
Thinking is hard work.
Reading from a late 18th Century German philosopher where he complained about contemporary philosophers were dismissing one of the previous generation by applying labels. Labels serve no good purpose toward understanding, wrote FWJ Schelling.
A psychologist explaining autism to an interviewer mentioned that higher functioning people with autism resisted the label of autistic preferring to being acknowledged as people with different social skills. Labels often cause harm. People become easily dismissed.
We look at someone and immediately apply a label. We now can adjust our attitude of how to relate…or not. Or we hear someone or read something they wrote or listen to someone else describe them.
How often have I been surprised when I’ve taken the time for a conversation and listened. The label disintegrates before my eyes as I discover the person beneath the label.
Maybe I mute you on Facebook, because I don’t wish to see the information you’re reposting. Yet, there is a person with hopes and fears and pressures and pleasures.
Behind the label exists a human. One of God’s children. Worthy of respect and consideration.
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