You can see exactly the same thing as someone else... and somehow you both see it differently.
Sometimes that's because you were looking at what happened from a different angle - a physically different angle, where you literally saw things differently.
For example, videos taken from different angles lead people to believe different versions of events.
People see details that are blocked from the view of others, but in turn they lose details that others can see.
Or the difference in perspective can be metaphorical - to do with your beliefs, your background, your way of seeing the world.
Terrorist or freedom fighter? Thug or lost soul? Right or wrong? Left or right?
I think that sometimes we struggle to see other people's points of view.
True, some of those points of view are ones you don't want to see from, like blatant sexism, homophobia, racism, etc. - but others, the fuzzy-wuzzy bits in between?
We need to try to figure those out.
Because we need to know where people are coming from, even if we don't agree with them.
Sometimes though, that can be beyond difficult.
Some people's experience of life, the universe, and everything, is so different to our own that we may as well be on other planets - hell, sometimes I think we are! 😅
What do you think?
What's the best way of seeing from another person's perspective?
Is it always necessary to try to figure out what angle other people are coming from?
Talk to me! 😊💬
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Last updated: 1st Feb 2019
I definitely try to see from another persons perspective, but when it comes to things you mentioned like homophobia or racism is a hard one for me. Also that picture is really cool :) I really liked this post x
ReplyDeleteThanks! And yeah, I know what you mean!
DeleteIt definitely is necessary to see things from other’s perspectives, but to a degree. For example, I will never ever give any energy into trying to see that act of racism on a Native American man from that white kid’s perspective.
ReplyDeleteEm, sometimes I think you're psychic ;) That was what I was thinking of when I wrote this post. I think it's more important to look at it from the perspective of the people who somehow believe his excuses (not that I agree, I don't! But some of them legit. believe Mr Phillips was in the wrong somehow and I think it's useful to figure out how the hell they came to that conclusion!)
DeleteIf there was an easy way to get people to see things from other's pov, it would make the world a much better place. Empathy and understanding are such powerful tools that are often overlooked. I just wish there was an easy solution. Very powerful post - thanks!
ReplyDeleteAnd thank *you* for the awesome comment! So true, people are so far from each other (metaphorically) a lot of the time that it's difficult to bridge the gap.
DeleteExploring other perspectives is so important, and so is being open to new ideas and cultures. I think the world definitely needs a lot more empathy in it!
ReplyDelete100% true! :)
DeleteSo true! And thanks so much! XD <3
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me that people are getting more entrenched in their views on anything and everything, and that we don't seek out opportunities to put ourselves in their shoes so much. I don't know if that's just because I am more physically isolated at the moment?
ReplyDeleteI think you're right - the thing is, people feel the need to double-down when they're criticised, whether or not that criticism is valid. While in some cases, that's good, 'cos it means you're standing strong against hatred, in others it can lead to people shutting down and no longer listening.
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