Hello,

Starting on page 17 of the thread below, a brief debate arose in regard to the educational qualities of silence (Thread titled "I Worship The Devil" of all subjects...Not me, in case anyone's curious). Please feel free to share your own story or stories of silence changing your life or someone else's in your company.

http://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/forum...ic=71442&st=240

Well, having just read your post explaining such in the other thread... I have to ask what and who exactly was being taught in that example of the woman who was assuming things about your thoughts?

The woman? I would argue that your silence taught her nothing. She taught herself something by working through and figuring out her thoughts.

You? You learned to keep your mouth shut even when someone is accusing you of somethng?

Please explain.

Silence = no communication

How can something be effectively taught if there is no exchange of ideas?


Now silence as a means of re-enforcing a previously taught lesson is a different issue

Silience = good communication

Don't ask me how? SILIENCE

silence = other way of communication

Good way to express your Love is SILIENCE

Hello, Purplos,

Above all else, I believe she learned that the expectation of mind reading being received credibly by the listener is quite low. The criticisms she believes without evidence that are in the minds of others are in fact within her own mind.

Have you ever heard someone say, "You think you're cool, don't you?" Translated it means, "You're cool and I'm jealous of your self confidence."



Whether the silence is a direct tool, indirect, or simply a catalyst for one's inner growth, I don't cast aside its value in social interaction so easily.

If not for my silence, the woman's paranoia would probably not have been expressed, or at least not revealed aloud to me. Silence has the power to teach via inspiration. Instruction by command, as many view teaching, is not the best method in my opinion.



I beg your pardon? I was failing to interrupt a conversation in which I had no business, and then the woman made a mistaken assumption of my opinion of her.

The stink eye is a prime example of inspiration by silence with no further action required. When I was a senior in high school, I accompanied my brother and his girlfriend to an upscale restaurant in Chinatown. It was cold at that time of year, and I hadn't removed my jacket upon being seated. The server stood at a distance of about 15 feet, glaring at me with absolute disgust. At the very moment I removed my coat, he leaped from his position and offered us drinks. It was a period of two minutes that he stood doing nothing else, and one does not usually wait a significant period of time for beverage service. Finally, restaurants of that caliber are very busy at dinnertime, and it's harmful to the image of a dining establishment when the help stands around doing nothing. I surmise that he was offended, knowing full well that his business kept the thermostat at a comfortable temperature.

Was this paranoia on my part? Whether or not it was, that man's expression has remained with me as a reminder to show respect by adhering to proper etiquette. 17 may seem a bit late to learn such a lesson, but I didn't grow up in a wealthy family, and greasy spoon joints don't care if patrons leave their coats on throughout the entire meal.


Regards,
Brian

Thanks for your input, j4jak. How many times have men heard women say, "Don't talk." during those intimate moments?

Silence produces mystery, and mystery invokes thought and emotion, which initiate the path to greater understanding of oneself.

Finally, who among us, irrespective of religious faith, is not fascinated by monks who have taken vows of silence?

Hello, Zandore,

I'm glad you decided to join the thread. If you were to arrive home with a rainbow-striped mohawk, acid wash jeans with countless holes, and a face so riddled with piercings that no skin could be perceived, would your partner's wide-eyed expression, gaping mouth, and concussion resulting from fainting and collapsing onto the stove top not qualify as an exchange of ideas? Granted, I've gone overboard with my hypothetical example, but would you not learn from that silent reaction that your taste in fashion was disagreeable to your mate?

Silence can say "I'm comfortable with you" And that is always a good thing to learn. We don't have to talk all the time with our friends. Actually, I think that it's only with our true and closest friends that we feel able to just sit in silence.

Then again, Silence can also say "I despise you with every fiblre of my being, I feel such hatred towards you that If I say anything I might actually start screaming." That can also be good, If it stops you from commiting a murder.

Do you want to know the deeper silience! The first kiss of each mate.. they even close their eyes which give them deep sense of their partner.

You are totally right tho. I am comfortable with my hubby of 17 years and if we sit in silence it has a comforting effect.

Also there are certain people at work who I apply the 'silent' rule to so I don't get fired or carted off in a looney wagon.

I had to employ that very technique at one of my former jobs for over 4 years. A co-worker of mine in financial dire straits with 4 children and a hefty mortgage was insanely jealous of the low rent I was paying. We got along famously until the day he asked about my living expenses.

I couldn't so much as express an opinion without him warping it into an assault on my character. I practiced silence with him to maintain civility, spoke to him only when addressed, and kept my responses brief. Ironically, he didn't appreciate being ignored, and he would bait me by occasionally requesting advice when those with more experience than myself were at hand. Oh well... water of a dam.

"Real bad boys move in silence"
- KRS 1

"U say it best,when u say nothing at all"
- Ronan Keating (or probably some country singer before? )

I think silence is cool.It says so much,yet so little.
Can make you seem mysterious,elegmatic and confident yet shy,rude and pompous.All at the same time.
No-one truly understands another so spoken words can sometimes seem too clinical and words cannot always express how we feel.

Points can still be made with the power of thought and the twinkle of the eye imo.

I think I work with the same guy.

I like this guy in every other respect except for his sentiment that he is always the victim. He has his priorities all screwed up in my opinion yet he blames everyone else for his own situation. I sometimes have to just shut up when he starts because it just drives me crazy how he won't take responsibility for his own situation.

Uh, I'm babbling now. I should employ silence...

Quite true. Quality, not quantity.

It's also the yin yang, in that we would not fully appreciate verbal communication without silence.

Over the years I've noticed that a smile can say "I love you" in a way that words would often spoil. I think a great deal of it is in the timing. The smile is usually more immediate, whereas the words tend to be rehearsed. Political correctness is a good example of why words can be annoying. The person is thinking one thing, but saying another in an effort to satisfy you, as if he/she has power over your happiness.