You all heard the unwritten, but well-known rule of a polite conversation: don’t talk about politics or religion. Yet, there is another rule, which is not only unwritten, not only never spoken about, but the majority of people are not even consciously aware of its existence. And yet, that other rule has unquestionable power over people. Hardly anyone dares to break it, and those who do are swiftly punished by silent public disapproval. The rule is: not only refrain from talking about politics and religion, but don’t talk about anything serious, anything profound, anything of real significance. This rule reigns everywhere, as if an invisible hand were enforcing it. In lunchrooms of the office buildings, in smoking areas, in teachers lounges, in doctors and nurses lounges, at PTA meetings and toddler playgroups, on college campuses and during breaks at the professional conventions. When people sit down in churches after services and have a meal together, they follow this rule. When parents gather at the park with their children, they follow this rule. When friends visit each other, they follow this rule. Don’t believe me? Try this experiment, if you are brave enough. In a social gathering – any kind of a social gathering at all, be it in a lunchroom at work or at a party in somebody’s house – say one of the following: “I’ve just discovered the ideas of Karl Popper, Austrian philosopher. I’m fascinating by his thought, and it completely changed the way I see the world”. Or: “I am trying to learn more about the Middle Ages. The traditional historical narrative tells us that it was an awful period of history, a time when ignorance, violence and lawlessness reigned. But I’m wondering – what if the traditional narrative is not exactly correct?” Or: “In 18th century, there was a debate between Voltaire and Russeau about the nature of human nature. I think the debate is as relevant today as it was two and a half centuries ago”. Watch the eyes roll. Watch people around you becoming visibly uncomfortable. See people looking away, or walking away. Feel tension in the air, until someone in the room “rescues” the situation and, ignoring you completely, changes the subject. Do it often enough – and you will have few friends left at work, and few parties you’ll be invited to…
Posted on: Tue, 16 Dec 2014 18:00:00 +0000