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The Blind Men and the Elephant
18 years ago
(this poem is public domain, and was written in the 1800's by John Godfrey Saxe)
It was six men of Indostan
To learning much inclined,
Who went to see the Elephant
(Though all of them were blind),
That each by observation
Might satisfy his mind
The First approached the Elephant,
And happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side,
At once began to bawl:
“God bless me! but the Elephant
Is very like a wall!”
The Second, feeling of the tusk,
Cried, “Ho! what have we here
So very round and smooth and sharp?
To me ’tis mighty clear
This wonder of an Elephant
Is very like a spear!”
The Third approached the animal,
And happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands,
Thus boldly up and spake:
“I see,” quoth he, “the Elephant
Is very like a snake!”
The Fourth reached out an eager hand,
And felt about the knee.
“What most this wondrous beast is like
Is mighty plain,” quoth he;
“ ‘Tis clear enough the Elephant
Is very like a tree!”
The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,
Said: “E’en the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most;
Deny the fact who can
This marvel of an Elephant
Is very like a fan!”
The Sixth no sooner had begun
About the beast to grope,
Than, seizing on the swinging tail
That fell within his scope,
“I see,” quoth he, “the Elephant
Is very like a rope!”
And so these men of Indostan
Disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion
Exceeding stiff and strong,
Though each was partly in the right,
And all were in the wrong!
So oft in theologic wars,
The disputants, I ween,
Rail on in utter ignorance
Of what each other mean,
And prate about an Elephant
Not one of them has seen!
This story came up while I was talking to someone today, about how easy it is to misconstrue anyone's words, responses, and intentions, especially online. We all see each other differently, and most of us do NOT see the real us, just a little bit. I know I'm completely guilty of it myself.
So before we go screaming that we are not liked, or pointing fingers at anyone saying that they are a jerk or coming to conclusions based off one one sentance or one journal or one action done or forgotten . . . try to see the whole elephant.
belated thanks to everyone who watched me over the past week! Not that there's going to be much mine of hear appearing for the time being but, thanks anyway!
It was six men of Indostan
To learning much inclined,
Who went to see the Elephant
(Though all of them were blind),
That each by observation
Might satisfy his mind
The First approached the Elephant,
And happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side,
At once began to bawl:
“God bless me! but the Elephant
Is very like a wall!”
The Second, feeling of the tusk,
Cried, “Ho! what have we here
So very round and smooth and sharp?
To me ’tis mighty clear
This wonder of an Elephant
Is very like a spear!”
The Third approached the animal,
And happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands,
Thus boldly up and spake:
“I see,” quoth he, “the Elephant
Is very like a snake!”
The Fourth reached out an eager hand,
And felt about the knee.
“What most this wondrous beast is like
Is mighty plain,” quoth he;
“ ‘Tis clear enough the Elephant
Is very like a tree!”
The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,
Said: “E’en the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most;
Deny the fact who can
This marvel of an Elephant
Is very like a fan!”
The Sixth no sooner had begun
About the beast to grope,
Than, seizing on the swinging tail
That fell within his scope,
“I see,” quoth he, “the Elephant
Is very like a rope!”
And so these men of Indostan
Disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion
Exceeding stiff and strong,
Though each was partly in the right,
And all were in the wrong!
So oft in theologic wars,
The disputants, I ween,
Rail on in utter ignorance
Of what each other mean,
And prate about an Elephant
Not one of them has seen!
This story came up while I was talking to someone today, about how easy it is to misconstrue anyone's words, responses, and intentions, especially online. We all see each other differently, and most of us do NOT see the real us, just a little bit. I know I'm completely guilty of it myself.
So before we go screaming that we are not liked, or pointing fingers at anyone saying that they are a jerk or coming to conclusions based off one one sentance or one journal or one action done or forgotten . . . try to see the whole elephant.
belated thanks to everyone who watched me over the past week! Not that there's going to be much mine of hear appearing for the time being but, thanks anyway!
the truth is larger that the summ of the parts
we never know others fully... not even those one may sleep a all life along side or meet from is very beguinning... if that can happens on real life with the ones that are so close to us what can one think of electronic signatures that have little changes in most of the cases to matherialize on real persons...
one can respect others opinions or take advantage of the fact the avatar create an illusion... i'm having a what i really think of you inquiry going on on my journal and i will admit its a biased one and one can only make a image from what little pieces the other provide... true that the vision is not complete
well you must know ma'am that you're a forum user that in no other place you can gain grudges agaist a electronic signature that forums and galleries online... grudges that you in RL could or could not gain...
a typed sentence on a screen is poised to several interpretations while the spoken word one can percive the intention with the voice modulation...
sometimes is hard to see the hole elephant when veils cover them
...and let's not forget the seventh blind man who happened upon the elephant's cock... couldn't comment with his mouth full...
...and this guy either who definately saw the elephant 'hole'... ;)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=X_sufNtlOEQ
We all need to take a step back and reevaluate :)