Perception* is defined as:
- perceiving: the process of using the senses to acquire information about the surrounding environment or situation
- result of perceiving: the result of the process of perception
- impression: an attitude or understanding based on what is observed or thought
The processes that take hold and the influences upon our perception of "whatever" is almost innumerable. Here's just a few that can impact our process of perceiving.
As a child growing up, our environment and experiences that molded along the way. Through time, our perception of "things" would be adjusted and re-learned.
The schools we attended to our teachers, the acquaintances and of course the friends we made through the years. Think back for a moment to college, if you attended and the myriad of "things" encountered. It might be the career path we chose that had a greater influence. Perhaps, it was your social status that dictated the perception process. Certainly, perception through the lens of a male or female is unquestionably different. What about where we live? Where one works and so on and so on. And, here is the biggie. What about religion? Stop and Think for a moment.
This is always an interesting question to ask someone. What perception of your future life did you have when you were, let's say 10? How much if any did that change when 15? Then 20?
What, in your opinion impacts you the most in your "perception of?"
So what does influence our perceptions? Damn near everything. However, for some, there is a defining moment. For others it may be a series of events that shape perceptions.
Perception
What is your perception of a used car salesman?
Think for a moment and let it conjure up some perceptions. I don't care what side you're on in the political debate or any other persuasion you may hold; the perception of the used car salesman is shady, crooked and fast talking. He/she is held in the same accord that water is wet. Doesn't matter if it is true or not. That's the perception. But, is it fact?
The real point here is this.
It is something we all have in common; at least as far as common shared perception goes.
Or should I say a common misconception?
It's obvious; it is dependent upon who you ask. Put that question up in a diary here and see what happens.
President Obama's eulogy/speech in Tucson stopped me cold, when he said this,
"I want to live up to her expectations. I want our democracy to be as good as Christina imagined it. I want America to be as good as she imagined it. All of us -– we should do everything we can to make sure this country lives up to our children’s expectations."
And this,
"And I believe that for all our imperfections, we are full of decency and goodness, and that the forces that divide us are not as strong as those that unite us."
How positively socialist of the president. Kinda un Americany. Yessiree by golly, this feller sure hates this country. USA! USA! USA!
Really? Do any of us suppose they hold that perception of President Obama?
We're number 1!
Perception of number 1 is a bit askew. Show 'em the facts and you hate America. WTF ever.
I still have some issues with the President over some issues and those have not changed and it's worth noting, I am sometimes critical of my wife too, but I have no intentions of divorcing her.
This also bears repeating. Well said Mr. President, well said. His eloquence was breathtaking.
Then again, that is the perception I hold. Nothing more, nothing less.
Avenging Angel had a diary last July. Take a gander, it's titled "Studies Confirm the Closing of the Conservative Mind." I know, it's a shock. But, inquiring minds want to know.
Our messaging to the republicans must include this perception we have for our country, that the president so eloquently described.
Liberals, democrats, and those of darker skin have been reduced to "sub Americans" from their perspective. Counter with facts and it only serves to entrench their warped perception further.
We need a campaign of epic proportions to change the perceptions they have of us.
Throwing facts at them have no effect. Then there is the media, in particular, Fox (News). We need ideas to battle these perceptions that are spewed daily. If anything, I would hope America follows the lead of the President when he stated, "that the forces that divide us are not as strong as those that unite us." How we change those perceptions of division remains to be the $64,000 question.
With that said the perceptions we hold of the "other side" are open for debate. So I ask...
Would the perception, some of us hold of the other side, or more explicitly the "tea baggers" be accurate in that they have a loathing hatred of democrats, liberals and progressives? A perception the President of the United States and of us, is un American, socialists, Marxist's determined on America's destruction? Are we, in how they perceive us, godless heathens, who stand shoulder to shoulder with our gay brethren hellbent on destroying "their way of life?"
How often times have we heard that you, I, the people we know, love and respect, hate America? An abject hatred extolled by not just them, but from the vitriol of egotistical gasbag millionaires on TV and radio.
And still, it's not enough division, as their cause is championed further with the justification and ultimate divider, that God is on their side in this, their battle cry to save America, from a perceived enemy. Their perception is not just false. It's a damn lie.
Is there a consensus in this perception?
Can these reprehensible notions, the innuendo and complete utter mischaracterizations and lies upon us be pushed back? Mitigated?
It's incumbent upon us to challenge the false perceptions that have fallen on the President, democrats, progressives, and the liberal citizens of the United States. If that wasn't enough, they throw in
climate change is over-hyped, a hoax, we can drill our way out of our energy problems, affordable and equitable healthcare is socialism and intelligent design is a science, just to name a few. Oh, did I mention they want to repeal the healthcare law.
If we want to dislodge these held beliefs, these perceptions from the conservative mind, it probably will not work.
Joe Keohane of the Boston Globe explains and offers some insight into the brain when dealing with facts. "How Facts Backfire." Read the article, it's intriguing. Here's an excerpt.
It’s this: Facts don’t necessarily have the power to change our minds. In fact, quite the opposite. In a series of studies in 2005 and 2006, researchers at the University of Michigan found that when misinformed people, particularly political partisans, were exposed to corrected facts in news stories, they rarely changed their minds. In fact, they often became even more strongly set in their beliefs.
Perception, facts, political ideology, and the quirks within the brain can make for fascinating discussion and debate. Keep it in check and all is fine. Loose sight and I suppose a heated argument can ensue.
Maurice Merleau-Ponty has this to say about perception.
The processes of perception routinely alter what humans see. When people view something with a preconceived concept about it, they tend to take those concepts and see them whether or not they are there. This problem stems from the fact that humans are unable to understand new information, without the inherent bias of their previous knowledge. A person’s knowledge creates his or her reality as much as the truth, because the human mind can only contemplate that to which it has been exposed. When objects are viewed without understanding, the mind will try to reach for something that it already recognizes, in order to process what it is viewing. That which most closely relates to the unfamiliar from our past experiences, makes up what we see when we look at things that we don’t comprehend.
The perceptions, opinions and stereotypes of the staunch conservative, republican-tea bagger become more entrenched when confronted with facts.
Think about that for a moment and recall some of your conversations with someone stuck on what they believe to be true. How did it go?
Mark Twain said,
"It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so."
Plenty examples out there and for whatever reason, Beck, Palin and Limbaugh with their ardent followers came immediately to mind.
And a final perception.
Each and every one of us has a perception process, born of personal experiences that is unique. Like a fingerprint, no two are alike.
Even as individual people we all share common experiences that connect us.
Most humans feel empathy for another persons tribulations. The ability to relate, to feel for another persons troubles, suffering or plight, absent personal knowledge or experience is human. It is a connect, a way to relate on some level. Empathy for your fellow man.
So I wonder, if something, maybe intrinsic is missing, an element so vital for understanding. The personal and collective vitriol, hate and contempt for those who are unlike and unfamiliar to them is a cancer on humanity. Their targets are anyone and everyone. For those less fortunate among us.
A perception of those who are sick, hospitalizations that bankrupt from unmitigated greed. The choices they're given in life are the roof above the head, or food for the body, or even the medicine to hold onto life just one. more. day.
The phone will ring all day; not from support and the tender love. See, the collector must get his due. Once again, the human will to live gives battle to the grim reaper times two.
One comes for the soul, while the other comes for the dollar in America.