Friday, November 7, 2014

PRIVATE MENTOR / EARS

Posted:  7 Nov 14

SOCIAL HEARING -- a tool for human betterment?
A Personal & General Case Study
(of sorts)


What are some useful things one might say about those practical ornaments on the sides of our heads? What are some details -- some particles of meaning -- which we can attach to them, besides the plainly obvious? 


Purpose

Just some musings -- about the precious gift of hearing -- of abusing it (or having things smashed by bad luck) and paying prices -- and of losing it or of never having had it at all -- about available solutions -- and about launching the whole society onto a newer, finer level of intimacy and joy.

A cautionary tale for warriors and would-be warriors -- concerning another price that might be payable in return for the adventure of a lifetime -- and an observation or two about even further exploiting the clever solutions humans have worked out so as to augment the loss or deterioration of those practical sensors which we charmingly refer to as "ears."


I.  Topic 1: HEARING AIDS -- To use or not to use.  That is the question


 FOR THE WARRIORS -- AT HOME AND ABROAD
In a very real sense, we're ALL warriors in the endless struggle for a better world

A.  Defining the Problem:  Recently, I was thinking about "manning-up" and starting to wear those blasted hearing-aids more regularly, in earnest.  It finally just now dawned on me (with great, jarring power) that I was being inconsiderate to my wife and others whom I afflict with repeated requests to repeat things, with ever-increasing frequency.
I think they're mumbling (probably for reasons of ego).  They think I should put my "ears on" (an always amusing thought -- Mickey Mouse headgear never fails to pop into mind).  
True, the challenge of fully tuning-into the conversation does occasionally produce amusingly inappropriate responses from me -- Mr. MaGoo-like -- but that probably gets old for all but me.  [I seem to have no problem hearing male-voices, in the lower registers -- it's the lovely higher pitches that seem to have moved further from reach]
B.  Preliminary Solution:  So, I hereby resolve to wear the annoying, unflattering, expensive things (a real bummer to lose 'em) -- about the best I can think to do for the sake of greater clarity and comfort in a world occupied by others whom I wish to keep in a good mood.  Then, if that doesn't help, it will at least go to prove that it was their mumbling all along. (smile)  This is not to say that, as in most everything else having to do with modern living, there aren't wonderful advances being made in perfecting this important utensil -- but it's nice not to need them.

C.  An Illustration from War:  Over 4 decades ago, I was the gunners mate on an 82', 11-man Coast Guard Patrol Boat, in the Viet Nam War.  They issued ear plugs -- but, in battle, and with all the incredibly noisy preparation that goes along with this unsubtle undertaking, it somehow didn't always seem all that important or convenient to bother with -- so I often didn't.  I was younger then and, naturally, "super-human." Now, the bill has come due.  Plus, it's often part of the "aging-package" we receive when we turn-in our "youth-packages"  (or whenever fate chooses to conduct the exchange) -- especially, if we are not sufficiently careful.

D.  Moral of the story:  So warriors of today -- at home and abroad -- don't do as I did!  Make wearing the ear-plugs an automatic, unbreakable procedure -- or expect to rue the omission for a long time to come -- sure as rain (hopefully, you'll have a long, rather than short time to rue the day).  And, if you peer even deeper, the omission may speed the day when you'll be pondering putting plugs in your ears, of a different kind, too.


II.  Topic 2:  WOULD HUMANKIND BE BETTER OFF, IF WE ALL LEARNED SIGN LANGUAGE -- AND USED IT FREQUENTLY?
.


SURELY, ANYTHING THAT INCREASES OUR POWER TO COMMUNICATE TOGETHER --  EXCLUDING AS FEW FELLOW HUMANS AS POSSIBLE -- WITH ACCURACY AND CLARITY -- IS A BLESSING OF THE FIRST ORDER!

I postulate that most, if not all, social problems have their roots in inadequate communications

A.  Consider:  Imagine a person standing up in a restaurant and telling a hilarious joke, entirely in sign-language -- and everyone laughed in all the right parts of the story.  Admittedly, this notion might seem a little contrived and trivial.  But, it's to make a point which I believe to be substantial.  What a world we would have -- for the hearing-impaired -- for those who are becoming so -- and for everyone else -- if such a thing could happen easily, naturally.  Just think of the implications for so much that is far more important.

B.  Modern Equivalents (sorta):  Like "texting" in air -- with a communicator you're never without (hopefully) -- or like applying "subtitles" to our life's often foreign-seeming "movies," so all have a better chance to understand and enjoy the stories -- and catch their meanings.

C.  Surprising Advantages:  To be able to "chat" with friends -- in utter silence -- or even across a noisy crowded room -- across the street -- through binoculars at a distance -- etc.

D.  THE MAIN THING:  To bring our deafly-troubled brethren and sistren more tightly into the human embrace -- exactly where they belong -- for the good which that would bring to all of us -- undeniably.

E.  SOME HYPERLINKS:  And, as you might have noticed, I can't leave such topics without exploiting the awesome power of "hyperlinks" -- so here are a few to get the ball rolling:



David Nelson
In a grandfatherly mood




All Original Content © 2014, The MENTOR Enterprises / ELMS, All Rights Reserved. BUT, I hereby waive those rights, to this extent: You may freely copy and pass this along -- and are urged to do so -- as long as it's all done free of charge, unchanged, you include this statement, AND you inform me as to how it is being used -- at YOUR convenience but, hopefully soonest.
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