A.)Epictetus“We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.”

B.)Paul Tillich “The first duty of love is to listen.”

C.)Stephen Covey...'Seek first to understand, then to be understood'

D.)Ernest hemmingway “I like to listen. I have learned a great deal from listening carefully. Most people never listen.”

E.)“My wife says I never listen to her. At least I think that's what she said.”

I have been around these boards for many years and I notice that most people start out there time here proclaiming there beliefs loudly and strongly, however over time they become less vocal. They work out that you can only post the same things over and over again so many times before you get sick of hearing it yourself.

But how many people realy take the time to listen to others before they get sick of the sound of their own keys clicking.

Humility is a virtue promoted in most religions as is patience. These are both gifts required to Listen, not just to hear but to understand. Which one of these quotes best reflects you and if somebody was to look up your past posts would it reflect that philosophy?

very cool topic Kismit. I'd like to answer.

I think, I hope, it's C for me. But there are times I wish I was more A.

That is true, but they ALSO claim the be the one and only truth.

see the problem here?

Miss Mells wellI hear ya honey


Sorry couldn't resist. I picked myself for a D. I was definately one of those posters who took a while to work out you learn more from listening.

Sorry Zombie Jesus I am having some computer issues it seems that my computer has stopped listening to me.

I'll do this manually
Who are these they you speak of? Is it a particular religion? And can you define what that one and only truth is.

Hmmmmmm, excellent thread. I really like this idea. For me personally I would have to choose

from the choices above. I guess my heart rules my head and I am openly loving (not sexually; but with compassion and/or sympathy for others)

I also feel this quote reflects me as well:


This is really a hard question for me to answer. The reason being, I'm not quite sure how someone else is going to perceive me through my past posts.

Take care Jody ♥

you said most religions, so when i said they, i was referring to most religions.
lets just the the big 3 we usually focus on here.

and when i say the one and only truth, all 3 of them leave absolutely no possibility for any other faith to be the correct one.
they warn against other faiths, even warn that these other beliefs will try to sway you from your current belief.
so its all nice warm and fuzzy to say that religion teaches patients, tolerance, humility etc... but still has the specific faiths prosperity at heart..which immediately makes all of these nice traits to have redundant. its contradictory.
but to answer your question
I like most people like to think im a C

Thank you Jodie, I had actually picked you as a listener from your posts to date. If that helps with how I atleast percieve you others may see you diferently.

And feel free to add quotes to this thread many religions have a quote based on the ability to listen. However I only used a small portion of some of the quotes I found. Didn't want to overload anyones senses with the topic starter.

Thank You Kismit! I'd like to THINK I'm a good listener; but I do tend to blah, blah, blah... a lot too. I did go back-and-forth between B and D a bit. The reason I chose B is because I do tend to listen more out of love and respect...if that makes sense.

♥ Jody

Wow something just kind of came to me.... did you have a hard time with this because you are naturally perceptive? Maybe even more so than other people?

Zombie Jesus,
The big 3 religions?

Christianity, Judaism, Neo-Paganism?

The idea of being the one truth actualy sounds more like a Budhist concept to me. However I can agree that religion, from a dualistic perception, does appear to contradict the idea of listening to all beliefs. But this does not dismiss that on the whole religions do promote listening and learning above preaching or talking. And that includes the non dualistic faiths like Budhism and Paganism.

C.) 'Seek first to understand, then to be understood' The topic does not state that it is aimed at any one religion either dualistic or non dualistic so it can hardly be viewed as contradictory to a religious belief.

There is me. I can only listen just so long then I got to tell everybody what they should think. LOL

Nice post Kismit, makes us all think.

I was thinking of you when i posted that one Darkwind.... you and PA shhhh

I spend way more time on these boards these days "listening" rather than "speaking".
It saves me a lot of energy.

Well, lmao... I never claim to be anything. Good question. I don't feel like I'm any more perceptive than anyone else... that's just it. Isn't everyone an observer, so to speak? Once again... good question... I honestly don't know {and THIS was a hard question for me too!} I'm just... ME! xo, Jody ♥

I choose A.

And I think people cant always tell when others have listened or not. Like.. sometimes I think people like to assume they arnt being heard when they are just disagreed with.. So its easier to assume the person isnt listening at all. When really they have listened, but they just dont agree with what they heard.

I'm not sure if I'm explaining myself well but anyway... I choose A... because I think I do listen at least twice as much as I speak.

Except I think the question was not how you perceive yourself, but how you think OTHERS perceive you.

I often listen well and even hear and address what is not being said. However, I can be unreasonable and go off half cocked if I am in that sort of mood.

The truth is that we should all practice the art of listening, without preparing what we are going to answer, for it is only then that we an truly HEAR what is being said.

Nice thread, thanks!

Which one of these quotes best reflects you and if somebody was to look up your past posts would it reflect that philosophy? The question is supposed to make you reflect apon yourself.
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Nicely put Saint.

I find in this area of U.M. in particular posters are often all too ready to attack an idea or an opinion before really reading what has been written. They go into a thread with a head strong I am right and convicted in my beliefs attitude and don't alow the oportunities that being wrong can sometimes bring.

When you trully listen, sometimes you discover that you are wrong and sometimes this can be painful to come to terms with. Especialy when those people have placed their own convictions and beliefs above those of others. To admit that you are wrong is hard enough. But to have to admit that somebody you thought was not as enlightened as yourself is right, Now that really hurts.

But when you take off the blinkers and allow yourself a chance to be wrong you allow yourself a chance to grow and become a part of the whole. I would rather grow change and adapt than be the same person tomorow that I am today.

Maybe it is airy fairy logic but I am willing to argue my convictions to any one willing to listen.

listen and silent are spelled with the exact same letters. If one is to listen they must be silent without being silent one can not listen .

but i gotta go with E~

Well if we read six posts in a row then we were listening/reading more than flappin lips/tapping keyboards-were we not ?

I am a terrible listener but a good reader. I'm not good at verbal info. Maybe because of my supposed severe ADHD. (if it exists)

Listening and comprehension are linked but not the same, are they ?-but comprehension is not always possible no matter how hard one tries.

If we repeat ourselves-it is not surprising-debates go in a circle and one topic leads to another-because all is inter-connected. Plus you have new members bringing up old topics-so there we go again repeating ourselves like a stuck record.

I am all of the above at various times.

Momentrylapse,If we repeat ourselves-it is not surprising-debates go in a circle and one topic leads to another-because all is inter-connected. Plus you have new members bringing up old topics-so there we go again repeating ourselves like a stuck record.

I know what you mean. Really. I have seen old topics posted time and time again. For instance every time someone starts a Moon landing conspiracy thread an audible groan can be heard in the Moderators staff room.

Sbradj, listen and silent are spelled with the exact same letters. If one is to listen they must be silent without being silent one can not listen
I like that one it reminds me of this one.

You cannot truly listen to anyone and do anything else at the same time.M. Scott Peck

Speaking of that, whats your opinion on the new data collected by James Fredrick concerning the photo of the kolopimeter? If it was really on the moon, the pressure gauge would read far different than it read in the photo. This aloing with the windy picture of the American flag leads me to believe it was fabricated by Martians, due to the red dust found on the third ball bearing of the second rover prototype.

What are your thoughts on that?

I'll start a new thread later today in the proper place with the 14 page comprehensive analysis I've recently completed. It will prove without a doubt that my view is correct. In the meantime, please feel free to reply to my preliminary questions.

I haven't been here long, but I would have to say I am a C... my problem is I tend to dwell on what I hear for extended periods of time so I can evaluate what was said, and by the time I have some useful conclusion, everyone else has moved on ( when it comes to debate that is). For example I had to remove myself from some threads because I was struck by some of what others said and I needed time to process and evaluate the thought(s). I came to the conclusion (so far) that there is much to be said for a lot of things that I had never considered and it is a hard road to wrap your mind around new concepts and understandings. I have yet to "change" my position on my beliefs, but I can say that the reevaluation process brought on by others insightful (sometimes scathing) remarks has made many of my beliefs that much more clear, and honest.
I am a psychologist by trade, so I listen pretty well anyway... if I didn't, I don't think I could be much help.

It is my understanding that if a person really wants to be helped, they will reveal the best method to you. The real trick is to encourage them to believe in themself.

My favorite quote is "A wise man can learn from a fool, however a fool can not learn from a wise man". Naturally the reason for this is never stated. What is true wisdom?

[quote name='Kismit' date='Aug 30 2007, 02:57 AM' post='1858349']


E.)“My wife says I never listen to her. At least I think that's what she said.”

I have been around these boards for many years and I notice that most people start out there time here proclaiming there beliefs loudly and strongly, however over time they become less vocal. They work out that you can only post the same things over and over again so many times before you get sick of hearing it yourself.





Your right but some never work it out ,I just hope I'm not amongst them


fullywired

Listening. we can all claim to listen but most have preconceived ideas or beliefs that no matter how much we say we listen or hear we don't. Let's not even get to far into understanding because too many shut off at that point. it's either the Christian(jew , muslim) saying the athiest doesn't understand , takes things out of context ( yet fine when they do it) and vice versa.

granted it's hard to debate where one side wants facts and the other has none other than a belief in a text that is yes filled with some facts but also contraditction , books added and removed and even forgeries. If I gave you a history of Michigan written like that you'd file it under fiction .

the problem lays with both sides wanting to be right. and in this neither can be. Maybe if both realised fully that there is no answer , that they religion and the non religious , are both trying to shove square pegs through round holes debate may run more logically , smoothly.

that both those who believe and those who don't at thier very core are nothing more than opinions . I have no proof God exists and I have no way of saying God doesn't . that is the most honest answer.

as for inter religious arguements. whew that's another round ,

I wonder how many of us suffer from the common ailment of 'selective hearing' I know I for one occasionaly suffer relapses where I quickly realise that I'm truly only listening to the parts that i want to or suit my needs at the time! A great thread thanks for a truly inspiring thought!

I'd say that I am best reflected by the quote of Mr. Hemingway. Quote D that is.

I am quite a quiet guy most of the time and as a result I notice things a lot of people miss.