If you are a regular reader here, you know that I don’t deal in political commentary…so what follows is intended neither to support nor lambast anyone for a position on a political issue…rather, this is a basic — and vitally important – point about communication!
With that understanding in mind, consider this quote — from a news report about a speech by the President of the United States:
“‘You’re coming of age in a 24/7 media environment that bombards us with all kinds of content and exposes us to all kinds of arguments, some of which don’t always rank all that high on the truth meter,’ Obama said at Hampton University, Virginia.”
OK — I’m with him so far…then, this:
“With iPods and iPads and Xboxes and PlayStations, — none of which I know how to work — information becomes a distraction, a diversion, a form of entertainment, rather than a tool of empowerment, rather than the means of emancipation,” Obama said.
As my friend, Mike Cane — who, by the way, was one of the people injured (not seriously, fortunately!) in the crash of the Staten Island Ferry this past weekend — wrote in his blog post on the issue:
“He decries trivialization by stating with pride he has no experience with modern devices?! What the hell does one thing have to do with the other? (Yeah, he tries to make a point … which any thinking person can see flops miserably. Like decrying the printing press for the appearance of comic books.)”
Mike’s exactly right. And, let me piggy-back on his point to strongly suggest this to every professional who communicates (in other words, ALL of us!) — don’t criticize what you don’t understand!
Most of us have no time and little sympathy for those who protest a movie that has yet to be released. How can they know if it is offensive or not until someone has seen it? I would not listen in church if a pastor said, “Well, I have to admit I haven’t read the Bible…but, let me tell you my positions on Christianity!” Would you?
I wrote in an earlier book about the executive who boasted he had no idea what “American Idol,” “Survivor,” or any other recent show was about, as he had not watched television in years. My take is that his attitude was pretty shallow, because any true leader has to — at the bare minimum — be aware of what is engaging his customers and employees. Imagine how silly this guy would look not knowing what someone meant if a colleague mentioned something was going to get “voted off the island.”
Ignorance may be bliss…although I doubt it. There is no questioning, however, the fact that ignorance is NOT preparation for critical analysis.
When you have a point to make…do so by using an example from an area of your personal expertise, not by slamming something about which you admittedly know little.
Please don’t misunderstand — I’m not saying you have to know how to build a reactor to have a position on nuclear power! However, I am saying — as an important aspect of communication — if you tell me that energy is something “you know NOTHING about,” please don’t expect me to take your viewpoint seriously!
By the way…look at the President’s quote one more time. How much information do you REALLY believe people are getting from their Xbox?
To quote the great philosopher, Homer J. Simpson — someone who has a body of work I know quite well — Mr. Obama’s commentary is enough to make one go, “D’OH!”
Don’t criticize what you don’t know…
May 10, 2010 · 10 comments
If you are a regular reader here, you know that I don’t deal in political commentary…so what follows is intended neither to support nor lambast anyone for a position on a political issue…rather, this is a basic — and vitally important – point about communication!
With that understanding in mind, consider this quote — from a news report about a speech by the President of the United States:
As my friend, Mike Cane — who, by the way, was one of the people injured (not seriously, fortunately!) in the crash of the Staten Island Ferry this past weekend — wrote in his blog post on the issue:
“He decries trivialization by stating with pride he has no experience with modern devices?! What the hell does one thing have to do with the other? (Yeah, he tries to make a point … which any thinking person can see flops miserably. Like decrying the printing press for the appearance of comic books.)”
Mike’s exactly right. And, let me piggy-back on his point to strongly suggest this to every professional who communicates (in other words, ALL of us!) — don’t criticize what you don’t understand!
Most of us have no time and little sympathy for those who protest a movie that has yet to be released. How can they know if it is offensive or not until someone has seen it? I would not listen in church if a pastor said, “Well, I have to admit I haven’t read the Bible…but, let me tell you my positions on Christianity!” Would you?
I wrote in an earlier book about the executive who boasted he had no idea what “American Idol,” “Survivor,” or any other recent show was about, as he had not watched television in years. My take is that his attitude was pretty shallow, because any true leader has to — at the bare minimum — be aware of what is engaging his customers and employees. Imagine how silly this guy would look not knowing what someone meant if a colleague mentioned something was going to get “voted off the island.”
When you have a point to make…do so by using an example from an area of your personal expertise, not by slamming something about which you admittedly know little.
Please don’t misunderstand — I’m not saying you have to know how to build a reactor to have a position on nuclear power! However, I am saying — as an important aspect of communication — if you tell me that energy is something “you know NOTHING about,” please don’t expect me to take your viewpoint seriously!
By the way…look at the President’s quote one more time. How much information do you REALLY believe people are getting from their Xbox?
To quote the great philosopher, Homer J. Simpson — someone who has a body of work I know quite well — Mr. Obama’s commentary is enough to make one go, “D’OH!”