There are always two things:
- The thing
- The thing that’s causing the thing.
First we notice a problem. It could be an underinflated tire, an illness, destructive behaviors in a loved one, or worse. The thing itself is a problem, but it’s probably not the real problem. The thing that’s causing the thing is usually the real problem, and it’s much trickier to get a handle on.
That second thing is sometimes evident; spin that tire around and you may find a big old nail sticking out of it. Other times the thing that’s causing the thing is elusive, buried under layers of history, perhaps masking itself as something else. The thing that’s causing the thing may have been festering for some time, or it may have evolved so that aspects that were true about it last year may not be true about it today. What we think we know about it may no longer be true.
Understanding the nature of the thing that’s causing the thing often takes time, but many of us don’t have time. We tend to embrace easy conclusions formulated from limited information. We accept whatever narrative we’re given about the thing so long as that explanation agrees with our presuppositions, or we reject the narrative immediately if it doesn’t.
We see issues on social media that bother us and we decide the world needs to hear our postulations. We post a few words, share a thought or an article in order to let everyone know how we feel about it. Pretty soon everyone is doing likewise. Like a drive-by shooter we slow down and take a look, offer a few shots, and drive on. We don’t really investigate the thing that’s causing the thing.
We don’t really consider if our two-cents will help or not. But we need to, since our soapbox monologues can have quite an impact, and not necessarily in the manner we intended.
The thing that’s causing the thing is rarely cut and dry. It has motivations we may never understand and a perspective unique to its history. The thing that’s causing the thing might also be causing other things, not just the one we’re concerned with at the moment. Before we know it, our little rant may be unintentionally fanning flames and making the thing much bigger for those directly involved.
If we feel led to address the thing, we must be sure we understand the thing that’s causing the thing. You can fill that tire up with air all day long but it won’t stay inflated unless you remove the nail. And yet, removing the nail doesn’t fix the tire. It’s a little more complex than that.
We need to pause and take the time necessary to understand situations before rushing to snap judgements. We need to take a full appraisal of a situation and ask a few questions before posting that advice, that meme, that opinion, or even that act of solidarity. If we’re not willing to do that, we probably shouldn’t say anything, since when we scratch the surface a little we’re often surprised what we find.
Let’s give the people who understand the thing some credit, and assume they are on top of it. If we give them the chance to act it will get resolved simpler without our meddling.
This isn’t easy, but it is necessary if we’re really concerned with improving the lives of the people we care about instead of destroying them. Sober reflection and passionate, focused action is much more effective than firing a few flaming arrows into the tinderbox of internet outrage.
Engagement might make us feel better as we scroll down to the next distraction, insulated from the ramifications of our contributions over matters we think we understand. But our contributions might also make people’s lives worse, their jobs harder, and we might help create a whole new thing tomorrow — perhaps worse than the first, and much harder to fix.
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For Further Reading:
Hidden Figures: The Sports World’s Silence On Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Sanctioning Abuse: Why Men of God Must Speak Against Trans Athletes
Standing Your Ground: Lawfare’s Attempt To Disarm America
If I Get SWATTED: Ponderings On The American Police State
Looking for some homeschool resources or just mindless fun? Check out my other sites:
- Science Friday, homeschool for people who like to blow stuff up.
- Movie Fight Club, where we have weekly pointless arguments about movies
The Modern War Series: Historical novels that don’t suck.
Did you know I’m a writer? I love history, but my bookshelves are full of great novels and military non-fiction that I can’t let my kids read. My books are different. If you know someone who loves military action you’ll enjoy my modern war series: Beyond the Golden Hour, The Stars and Their Places, Pegasus, and the upcoming fourth book in the series, Those Who Face Death. Get them here, or online wherever books are sold.