On Thursday the internet was flooded with a singular image (…perhaps to distract us from the massive internet regulations also adopted that day… but lest I digress…). The image could simply be coined as “THE DRESS.”
The picture posed on social media was of a new, colorful dress. Some saw it as white and gold; others saw it as black and blue; a small few found a minority variation. The ironic commonality between the two primary perspectives, no less, was that each person was certain they were right — 100% right. Each was also equally certain that those who saw any different perspective was clearly, completely wrong. In most minds, there was no logical way to view the scenario any differently.
That means households were divided… families were divided… communities were divided. In other words, the presumed certainty of opinion led directly to division. Some of that division was intense.
Prior to the suppression of the cyberspace intensity, an explanation of “THE DRESS” phenomena was put forth. Simply, sort-of-scientifically put, the way light enters our eyes and hits our retinas stimulates neural connections to the part of our brains that processes those signals into an image. In other words, there is a legitimate reason, based on light and neural processing, that two people can look at the exact same scenario from the exact same angle and still see two completely different things.
Allow me, no less, to quote an insightful, sweet friend: “The whole white/gold-black/blue dress thing was an eye-opening experience for my family… my teenage daughter said (somewhat dramatically), ‘This makes me question whether everything I see is true.’ The scientific explanation made us all feel a little relieved…YES, two people can look at the same thing and see something different. Our reality is shaped by our own perceptions. This was a great reminder of how important it is to be mindful of that when we disagree on other issues.”
What a fantastic point. Hence, I ask…
Where else are we so certain that our perspective is clearly, completely right — and any other perspective is clearly, completely wrong? … where do we have zero understanding, grace, or respect for the person who sees things differently?
- On the root cause of terrorism?
- On immigration and funding the Dept. of Homeland Security?
- On the evidence for climate change?
- On what happened on the streets of Ferguson, Missouri?
- On Pres. Obama’s ambiguity addressing Islam?
- On Tom Brady throwing footballs?
- On limitations placed on unions?
- On the effectiveness of another Clinton or Bush in the White House?
- On an athlete accused of domestic violence?
- On any perceived inequality or social injustice?
If we were individually humble enough to recognize the reality — that two people can make two totally different conclusions based on the exact same information from the exact same angle — how would it change how we interacted with one another? … how we spoke with and about another? How would it change our attempt to work together toward solution? And how would it alter the arrogance embedded within each of us when we believe we are so completely right and another is so clearly, completely wrong?
“Our reality is shaped by our perceptions,” as my wise friend said. Our perceptions, also — if not recognized for how limited they may be — often create increased, disrespectful division.
Always advocating for that understanding, grace, and respect…
Respectfully…
AR