Once upon a time there was a man who strayed from his own country into the world known as the Land of Fools. He soon saw a number of people flying in terror from a field where they had been trying to reap wheat. "There is a monster in that field," they told him. He looked, and saw that the "monster" was merely a watermelon.He offered to kill the "monster" for them. When he had cut the melon from its stalk, he took a slice and began to eat it. The people became even more terrified of him than they had been of the melon. They drove him away with pitchforks, crying, "He will kill us next, unless we get rid of him."It so happened that shortly afterward another man also strayed into the Land of Fools. But instead of offering to help the people with the "monster," he agreed with them that it must be dangerous, and by tiptoeing away from it with them he gained their confidence. He spent a long time with them in their homes until he could teach them, little by little, the basic facts which would enable them not only to lose their fear of melons, but eventually to cultivate melons themselves.
This isn't mine, but it's a good tale to think on all the same.QuoteOnce upon a time there was a man who strayed from his own country into the world known as the Land of Fools. He soon saw a number of people flying in terror from a field where they had been trying to reap wheat. "There is a monster in that field," they told him. He looked, and saw that the "monster" was merely a watermelon.He offered to kill the "monster" for them. When he had cut the melon from its stalk, he took a slice and began to eat it. The people became even more terrified of him than they had been of the melon. They drove him away with pitchforks, crying, "He will kill us next, unless we get rid of him."It so happened that shortly afterward another man also strayed into the Land of Fools. But instead of offering to help the people with the "monster," he agreed with them that it must be dangerous, and by tiptoeing away from it with them he gained their confidence. He spent a long time with them in their homes until he could teach them, little by little, the basic facts which would enable them not only to lose their fear of melons, but eventually to cultivate melons themselves. It's a little bit like the 'You can give a man a fish' story, but applied more to the fear of the unknown. Rushing in and 'solving' the problem for people doesn't really help in the long run, teaching them to solve it themselves does.
Quote from: Mr. Psychologist on November 20, 2015, 02:21:31 PMThis isn't mine, but it's a good tale to think on all the same.QuoteOnce upon a time there was a man who strayed from his own country into the world known as the Land of Fools. He soon saw a number of people flying in terror from a field where they had been trying to reap wheat. "There is a monster in that field," they told him. He looked, and saw that the "monster" was merely a watermelon.He offered to kill the "monster" for them. When he had cut the melon from its stalk, he took a slice and began to eat it. The people became even more terrified of him than they had been of the melon. They drove him away with pitchforks, crying, "He will kill us next, unless we get rid of him."It so happened that shortly afterward another man also strayed into the Land of Fools. But instead of offering to help the people with the "monster," he agreed with them that it must be dangerous, and by tiptoeing away from it with them he gained their confidence. He spent a long time with them in their homes until he could teach them, little by little, the basic facts which would enable them not only to lose their fear of melons, but eventually to cultivate melons themselves. It's a little bit like the 'You can give a man a fish' story, but applied more to the fear of the unknown. Rushing in and 'solving' the problem for people doesn't really help in the long run, teaching them to solve it themselves does.Very true, but then again you have to think who gives you the right to solve peoples fear of melons? Maybe it is better for the inhabitants of the Land of Fools to figure this out in their own time? Or then again you could just call them retarded and walk away.
Quote from: Mr. Psychologist on November 20, 2015, 02:29:15 PMQuote from: OnionBeetle on November 20, 2015, 02:26:58 PMQuote from: Mr. Psychologist on November 20, 2015, 02:21:31 PMThis isn't mine, but it's a good tale to think on all the same.QuoteOnce upon a time there was a man who strayed from his own country into the world known as the Land of Fools. He soon saw a number of people flying in terror from a field where they had been trying to reap wheat. "There is a monster in that field," they told him. He looked, and saw that the "monster" was merely a watermelon.He offered to kill the "monster" for them. When he had cut the melon from its stalk, he took a slice and began to eat it. The people became even more terrified of him than they had been of the melon. They drove him away with pitchforks, crying, "He will kill us next, unless we get rid of him."It so happened that shortly afterward another man also strayed into the Land of Fools. But instead of offering to help the people with the "monster," he agreed with them that it must be dangerous, and by tiptoeing away from it with them he gained their confidence. He spent a long time with them in their homes until he could teach them, little by little, the basic facts which would enable them not only to lose their fear of melons, but eventually to cultivate melons themselves. It's a little bit like the 'You can give a man a fish' story, but applied more to the fear of the unknown. Rushing in and 'solving' the problem for people doesn't really help in the long run, teaching them to solve it themselves does.Very true, but then again you have to think who gives you the right to solve peoples fear of melons? Maybe it is better for the inhabitants of the Land of Fools to figure this out in their own time? Or then again you could just call them retarded and walk away.Well you could, but then the fools may starve to death.To which you should ask yourself, is their foolishness is enough to cause you to lose compassion for other living creatures?Yes
Quote from: OnionBeetle on November 20, 2015, 02:26:58 PMQuote from: Mr. Psychologist on November 20, 2015, 02:21:31 PMThis isn't mine, but it's a good tale to think on all the same.QuoteOnce upon a time there was a man who strayed from his own country into the world known as the Land of Fools. He soon saw a number of people flying in terror from a field where they had been trying to reap wheat. "There is a monster in that field," they told him. He looked, and saw that the "monster" was merely a watermelon.He offered to kill the "monster" for them. When he had cut the melon from its stalk, he took a slice and began to eat it. The people became even more terrified of him than they had been of the melon. They drove him away with pitchforks, crying, "He will kill us next, unless we get rid of him."It so happened that shortly afterward another man also strayed into the Land of Fools. But instead of offering to help the people with the "monster," he agreed with them that it must be dangerous, and by tiptoeing away from it with them he gained their confidence. He spent a long time with them in their homes until he could teach them, little by little, the basic facts which would enable them not only to lose their fear of melons, but eventually to cultivate melons themselves. It's a little bit like the 'You can give a man a fish' story, but applied more to the fear of the unknown. Rushing in and 'solving' the problem for people doesn't really help in the long run, teaching them to solve it themselves does.Very true, but then again you have to think who gives you the right to solve peoples fear of melons? Maybe it is better for the inhabitants of the Land of Fools to figure this out in their own time? Or then again you could just call them retarded and walk away.Well you could, but then the fools may starve to death.To which you should ask yourself, is their foolishness is enough to cause you to lose compassion for other living creatures?
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