What is Uncommon Thought?
One factor that motivates our ways of being in the world and which serve as a primary motivation for reaching out to others who function in ways contrary to the norm, is the belief that uncommon thought, feeling and behavior are necessary if we are to make changes in the sad state of human existence. We realize that those who subscribe to common ways of thinking and being aren't likely to share our view of the human condition, and they certainly won’t agree with our contention that it is precisely their ways of being that contribute to the sad state of affairs that characterizes social existence. Yet, we believe that there are many out there who hold uncommon perspectives that may contibute to positive change.
Our attempts to function in ways that are different from the norm have had some positive impacts in our spheres of being, but they have been attempts without much support or confirmation from others. And, although we do not believe that individual efforts are insignificant or wasted, we do believe that a concerted effort by a community of individuals (a social movement) would have a greater impact on global conditions. The validation and/or confirmation to be derived from a community of dissenters would also be invaluable to the individuals who are seeking to live lives contrary to the norm and to have their lives contribute to the enhancement of the human condition.
Unlike most movements, a movement prompted by uncommon thought would be one that seeks no converts. It would be a movement that would seek to lead by example. Those who commit to the movement would simply contribute to the movement by refusing to allow their uncommon thoughts, feelings and actions to be submerged or suppressed by those who adhere to common ways of being. Essentially, acting in ways that are seen as conducive to the maximization of the individual and the collective would be the only commitment members of this movement would make.
We don’t think of the mainstream as a movement, perhaps because what is common is established and predominant. It is what most folks adhere to, and what guides how they think, feel and behave. Yet whether we identify common ways of being as a movement or not, it is in fact a very large movement, moving humanity toward an abyss that we will have fallen into before we realize it. Perhaps we already have fallen.
Such a view will not be received positively by those who adhere to common ways of thinking, feeling, being. Those who hold a common view of the world usually respond negatively, even violently, when contrary ways of being are introduced into the normal social milieu. These contrary ways are usually attacked and ridiculed. At best, uncommon ways of being in the world are assessed by the norm, and if found to be relatively harmless to the norm, they are tolerated, often ignored, and, depending on the potential benefit perceived, small portions of these uncommon ways may be adopted.
Like most systems, social systems are invested in maintaining themselves and it is not surprising that common systems of thought and behavior resist challenges to their dominance. However, those who are thoroughly convinced that common systems of being are not the most conducive to the enhancement of the human condition may find it useful to come together to construct and enact an uncommon system of being that contributes to the enhancement of the human condition. At worst, a community of those who share a system of uncommon thought and practice would provide validation its members typically fail to find in common social arenas.
As firm believers in the vital importance of clear and effective communication, we find it necessary to be specific as to what we mean by uncommon thought. The definitions of terms offered may not match common definitions...but that's the point here; isn't it? No dictionaries or thesauruses were consulted and we welcome any contributions to refining the definitions.
By "Thought" we mean conscious and active devotion of mental energy to a topic, or any focused mental activity. This inludes the process of making sense of and attaching meaning to our environments, which include objects, people, events and so on. By "Uncommon" We mean unusual, atypical, abnormal, essentially different than what you are likely to find as a matter of course. Uncommon Thought, then, refers to ways of processing and making sense of the environment that are different from the ways maintained by the vast majority of people in the environment. This is a pretty simple, perhaps even simplistic, definition but we believe it serves the purpose.
Thanks for joining us to share Uncommon Thought. It is our hope that through this and other sharings of uncommon thought, uncommon action directed toward improving the human condition will become more commonplace.
T.A. and M.J.
Our attempts to function in ways that are different from the norm have had some positive impacts in our spheres of being, but they have been attempts without much support or confirmation from others. And, although we do not believe that individual efforts are insignificant or wasted, we do believe that a concerted effort by a community of individuals (a social movement) would have a greater impact on global conditions. The validation and/or confirmation to be derived from a community of dissenters would also be invaluable to the individuals who are seeking to live lives contrary to the norm and to have their lives contribute to the enhancement of the human condition.
Unlike most movements, a movement prompted by uncommon thought would be one that seeks no converts. It would be a movement that would seek to lead by example. Those who commit to the movement would simply contribute to the movement by refusing to allow their uncommon thoughts, feelings and actions to be submerged or suppressed by those who adhere to common ways of being. Essentially, acting in ways that are seen as conducive to the maximization of the individual and the collective would be the only commitment members of this movement would make.
We don’t think of the mainstream as a movement, perhaps because what is common is established and predominant. It is what most folks adhere to, and what guides how they think, feel and behave. Yet whether we identify common ways of being as a movement or not, it is in fact a very large movement, moving humanity toward an abyss that we will have fallen into before we realize it. Perhaps we already have fallen.
Such a view will not be received positively by those who adhere to common ways of thinking, feeling, being. Those who hold a common view of the world usually respond negatively, even violently, when contrary ways of being are introduced into the normal social milieu. These contrary ways are usually attacked and ridiculed. At best, uncommon ways of being in the world are assessed by the norm, and if found to be relatively harmless to the norm, they are tolerated, often ignored, and, depending on the potential benefit perceived, small portions of these uncommon ways may be adopted.
Like most systems, social systems are invested in maintaining themselves and it is not surprising that common systems of thought and behavior resist challenges to their dominance. However, those who are thoroughly convinced that common systems of being are not the most conducive to the enhancement of the human condition may find it useful to come together to construct and enact an uncommon system of being that contributes to the enhancement of the human condition. At worst, a community of those who share a system of uncommon thought and practice would provide validation its members typically fail to find in common social arenas.
As firm believers in the vital importance of clear and effective communication, we find it necessary to be specific as to what we mean by uncommon thought. The definitions of terms offered may not match common definitions...but that's the point here; isn't it? No dictionaries or thesauruses were consulted and we welcome any contributions to refining the definitions.
By "Thought" we mean conscious and active devotion of mental energy to a topic, or any focused mental activity. This inludes the process of making sense of and attaching meaning to our environments, which include objects, people, events and so on. By "Uncommon" We mean unusual, atypical, abnormal, essentially different than what you are likely to find as a matter of course. Uncommon Thought, then, refers to ways of processing and making sense of the environment that are different from the ways maintained by the vast majority of people in the environment. This is a pretty simple, perhaps even simplistic, definition but we believe it serves the purpose.
Thanks for joining us to share Uncommon Thought. It is our hope that through this and other sharings of uncommon thought, uncommon action directed toward improving the human condition will become more commonplace.
T.A. and M.J.
2007-03-05 02:27:46 GMT
