Twilight Los Angeles forces us to look at a situation from multiple perspectives.
When have you been asked to see something from a perspective other than your own? Was it hard? If so, why? Why is it helpful to view a situation from other perspectives? Were you able to actually do so? Please answer as honestly as possible in the comment section below.
Let me know if you have questions!
Actually,I generally look at things from both my perspective, and at least the perspective of one other person involved. Since I'm so frequently only watching things happen, I have the time to stand there and think "well, gee, what if that was me?". Increasingly frequently, when I either see or hear something particularly outstanding happen, I think about how it would feel to experiance it. I do'nt find myself thinking from the perspective of people who cause violence so much as the victims' perspectives, though. Maybe I just don't feel the need to see through their eyes to know what they did was wrong, if it was so obvious to me on the outside.
ReplyDeleteI sometimes feel sick when I imagine how other people feel, actually. An example that a lot of people can agree with: When you're with a friend at their house, and their parents stary yelling at them, you feel more than just awkwardness for yourself, but also the shame and sadness that your friend is feeling for being yelled at.
Growing up British in Lexington, MA, birthplace of the American Revolution has helped me look at things from different perspectives. At school we always learn the American perspective – no matter how hard the teachers try to teach a balanced view of history, it always leans to the US perspective (which makes sense, it happens in every country). At home, however, I always get the British perspective. Having to sift through two, sometimes contradictory, points of view has helped me (I hope) become a bit more open-minded. However, I guess technically I am both American and British, so I suppose it would be easier for me to take on both perspectives. What would be harder would be to take the perspective of someone with a completely different culture and beliefs. I’m not sure if I’ve ever entirely succeeded in doing that.
ReplyDeleteEarlier this year in Race and Gender, we were asked to think about certain situations as if we were another race. This was a valuable lesson because it opens our eyes to what others feel and how they may react to a situation that, from our perspective, may seem insignificant. I think that it is difficult to truly understand another person's perspective because we do not necessarily know their feelings towards other people and certain situations.
ReplyDeleteIn 7th grade, I asked to see a situation between two people from their perspective. My best friend had become friend with a girl who I didn't particularly like and that girl was, in my mind, taking over my best friend and being extremely rude by not letting me in on conversations. Eventually, I pulled my best friend aside and told her how I felt. At that point, she asked me to look at from the other girl's perspective and in doing so I realized what I had to do to resolve the issue; talk to the other girl (nicely), telling her how her actions make me feel and asking her to think about how her actions affect other people around her. It all ended up working out in the end and we were all friends until my best friend moved away. Though it was extremely hard for me to come to terms with the outcome, I also had a hard time seeing the situation from another perspective. It was, and often is very helpful to look at situations from another perspective to get a semse of how other people feel and to put yourself in their shoes (not to be cliche).
ReplyDeleteYAY! Joint post from Sammy and Jackie!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/2pac/tolivedieinla.html
-To live & die in LA by Tupac
(Jackie wants you to read these lyrics)
From time to time, many of us have tried, been forced to, or accomplished viewing a situation from a perspective other than our own. In this situation, seeing a different perspective helped us in the long run.
"If YOU keep an OPEN MIND you never know what you MIGHT SEE!"
-Pizza Goldfish Package
All sillyness aside, Jackie and I have had some experiences in which we had to see things from other people's perspectives. Early this year, our soccer team lost to Acton Boxboro, defending state champs and nationally ranked competitors. We outplayed them for most of the game and before then, nobody had expected us to be any competition. We ended up going into overtime and losing in golden goal, 3-2. After the game, we were all heartbroken and extremely disappointed at coming so far and losing. Everyone told us that we had come farther than anyone else. For a while, still today, we are all upset at having that "miracle 1980" moment taken away from us. But hearing the perspectives of others, who were constantly telling us how proud they were and how amazing that game was regardless of the end result, helped us to see another side of the situation. They told us they had never seen a game played with more heart. We were able to see their side, though not completely write off our own and it helped us to cope.
When this question was first posed in class, the first thing I thought of is reading - whenever you are reading a book, you are being asked to see events from another person's perspective, whether that person be real or fictional. In these cases, I think it's not very hard to see from that person's perspective, because their thoughts and emotions are being presented clearly to you. However, it is, of course, harder to see things from other people's perspectives in life. Often, I can't understand someone else's perspective - for example, we were watching a film about convicts putting on shakespeare plays in my english class, and I had a pretty hard time understanding their views on how that could rehabilitate themselves, because the heinousness of their crimes made it hard for me to sympathize with them - however, I do try to withhold judgment when I can't understand someone else's perspective. Usually it's very hard to tell how other people perceive things when it is not laid out in black and white, but you can always give the benefit of the doubt.
ReplyDeleteI have had an experience of being told to see something from a different perspective other than my own. It is an interesting topic: names. I keep saying that a name is a name, and it should be respected. However, there are some names that are looked down upon, no matter who it is. There was one event where there was a little boy named Adolf Hitler, and none of the stores were willing to make a birthday cake with his name on it (it was his birthday around this time). My own reaction was "that is his name, it is unfair that they aren't willing to give him a cake. And so what if his name is Adolf Hitler, it's their choice." I also thought "People are being judgemental if they are not happy with a kid named Adolf Hitler- it's not like he is being named after the actual person" I was told that if the parents are willing to give their kid such a name, they [sadly] have to live with the consequences.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a kid, my parents split up and I was really upset about it. I was only 8 years old, but I remember being angry with them and giving them a hard time, because I felt like everything was getting too crazy. My mom took me aside at some point and talked to me about why she made the decision she did, and how she was sad as well. This shifted my perspective, because I realized that it was something she had to do. It was somewhat hard for me because I was scared and upset, but i worked at understanding it in terms of being a positive change for my mother. When I started to think about it that way, I could settle it in my head more, and I wasn't angry anymore. I obviously wasn't happy about it either, but pretty soon after that i realized that it was a very good thing that it happened. So to answer the question, it was very helpful for me to shift my perspective, and I was able to do it.
ReplyDeleteAt first it may be hard, but making an effort to see a situation from a different perspective can often have a positive outcome. Growing up, I have occasionally asked my parents for something, that they unfortunately have answered with the word "no". When I was younger, this was hard to hear. I am an only child, and having your parents react this way can sometimes feel like it's two against one, especially if they're mad at you. As I've grown up and matured, I've learned to see things from their perspective more, and I've also began to learn the right things to do in certain situations and having morals. Moreover, when I have conflicts with my parents, I try hard to resolve it and communicate with them, rather than being rebellious.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Alex. I also think about situations from different perspectives than my own most of the time. For example when trying to help out friends I usually have to look at the situation from both sides only to be fair. I don't think it's as much hard, as it is a learning experience. However, if it is something that i feel emotionally strong about I guess it can be harder to try to look at it from a prespective I don't necessarily have. Most of the time though, I am able to see how other people look at it in different views, and create a larger more knowledgeable understanding of the whole situation. Sometimes, when I know what the outcome will be, I don't want to look at it from different perspectives, for example when asking for permission from my parents, and I know they will say no, and even though I also know they are right, I don't want to look at it from their prespective because I know I won't recieve their permission. I do think it's important to look at situations from more perspectives than your own, so you can learn more about the situation.
ReplyDeleteIn my normal everyday life, i have to relate to someone when im having a discussion to see there point of view. for example when talking to my parents about college, they want me to stay home so i can and help around the house with my 2 younger brothers. i can see where theyre coming from but i would like to stay on campus and have a good experience in college
ReplyDeleteAt times I have been asked to see someone elses perspective. I have a friend who grew up without a father, and her mother works most of the time so she has to work and help take care of her brother. When I ask her to hang out or particpate in something after school hours she always has to make sure she doesn't have to work or help out with her brother. I always try to put myself in her shoes because then it makes it easier to make plans if I am conscince of her perspective. It is sometimes hard to see things in her perspective because I don't have to be conscience of everything she does. It is helpfulto see other people's perspectives because it allows you to be more open and able to help others with their best interest. I have been able to help my friend out by picking her up or lending a hand when I can to make life a little easier and so she can hang out with me and other friends. It sometimes can be hard to understand other peoples perpectives but even if you can try it helps to solve problems, often no matter how much you understand it helps.
ReplyDeleteI often have to see things from my parents perspective to understand why they tell me what they do. If they tell me i can't stay out later then i want to or other things then at the time i get angry and yell, but later if i see it from their perspective i see where they were coming from. Although, I would never admit to them that I understand their reasoning. Sometimes i imagine what it would be like if i were the parent and my kids were asking me to do something that I knew would be more harmful than helpful to them. I wouldn't want to disappoint my kids but at the same time I wouldn't want them to get hurt, so more importantly I would have to disappoint them. I feel lucky that I don't have to make these decisions yet and hopefully not for a while.
ReplyDeleteOften times, looking at something through a different perspective can be difficult but it is so important to do so because it allows you to be more open minded. In looking at different views, it’s easier to understand where people are coming from and why. When dealing with friends or just arguments in general, different perspectives are always brought up. It’s unlikely that people will always have the same view on something, but to understand why they have that view, it’s crucial to put yourself in their shoes and look at it from a different angle. Even when you feel strongly about something, doing this is important so you can be conscious of others thoughts and feelings. If the varying views are not considered, then one might just become very narrow-minded and unaccepting.
ReplyDeleteI have to see things from another perspective everyday when having discussions with poeple like my parents. I wanted to go to the south to georgia to go to college. But i made them get a dog a little over a year ago and i am responsible for taking care of it so they want me to stay in massachussetts. I do feel responsible for the dog and everything and i made them get him so i should stay but some how i cant see it from their perspective on why they would want me to stay so bad. Also i have a job and they want me to work on vacations and stuff so i can earn money while im in college too. This is reasonable request but im not even sure if i still want to be working there when i go to college.
ReplyDeleteI have to see thinks from a different perspective everyday at work. I have to see things from two points of view when kids get into an argument, I can't take sides no matter what. It can be difficult to deal with different personalities in conflict because you never know how someone is going to react in any given situation. It gets easier to put yourself in the shoes of someone else the more you talk to them and interact with them.
ReplyDeleteI know that it is not easy, but it is necessary in our times to be able to see more than just one side of an argument. how can u prove, argument or even think about a point or thesis if u dont know both or all of the opinions.
ReplyDeleteThe last time i had to face an argument about an opinion that i didnt see like that was when my mum and i had talked about a new dinner table we were thinking about buying. it might seem ridiculous, but it ended up in a pretty heavy discussion about style, money, and how long we are gonna stay in the united states. i just couldnt see her points, although i tried. i know, it is really hard to see others' points and especially if it is a kinda heated word it is even harder to try to understand or see what he/she tries to say.
it is really helpful to see others' opinions because on one hand it can give u just more reason why u hold on on ur own opinion, and on the other hand it can make u revise, or at least think about ur own point in a whole different way. like i have said in the beginning it is necessary to have an integrated, overwatching opinion because narrow-mind opinions can easily result in extremes, which can be very dangerous. (christians who believe that the bible and our god is the only "right" thing to believe in for example)
i myself try my best to have an open minded opinion and respecting other ideas, but sure, sometimes it is really/too hard to sustain that characteristic throughtout a discussion.
I find that my surroundings dictate my tendency to try to keep in mind other perspectives. One particular example has hit me very recently. Living in Lexington during the week to attend LHS, I frequently return back to my home in the Berkshire hilltowns over weekends. After almost three years of this routine, I've felt more and more like the town, my old school system, and especially my friends have changed since I first left after 8th grade. I've felt distanced. After some thinking aloud these ideas to my mom on one recent car trip, I fully came to the realization that the town is almost exactly like I left it, and that I'm the one that has changed. Or more pointedly, it’s my perspective that has changed, and I've gradually lost touch with the old small town perspectives that we grew up with. My friends still live by the same old, provincial perspective that comes with a tiny, rural, undiversified, low-middle class town.
ReplyDeleteThis is what I pondered one Saturday as I was sitting in the forest at home. For years I felt as my perspective struggled to change and adapt (I even documented it), but now I came to a better understanding about how far my perspective has come. Since then I've wondered more about this matter of perspective, and trying to view the world from my friends' perspective again, so I can maybe better understand how they think, and how they think about the way that I think. This is still a work in progress, so I don't know if I've totally succeeded yet...
When I was in 8th grade, my history class had a brief unit on the Supreme Court. The class was to pair up, and we were each assigned a court case. One of us was to take the defendant's point of view, and the other the prosecutor's; after a week or two of research, we would go up in a debate in front of the rest of the class, who would decide in the end who had won the case.
ReplyDeleteWhen researching and debating, I found it particularly hard to look through my person's perspective--especially because I didn't agree with what he did. Nevertheless, having to argue for this guy made me think about why he did what he did, and it helped shed some light on his actions. I found that stepping into someone else's shoes helps you to better understand the situation, even if you still disagree. It helps you to rationalize, and if there was a conflict, it would probably help you think of better solutions.
I think I did well with seeing through this guy's eyes, but I don't think I won the debate in the end. My opponent did better.
I think most kids who have siblings have, at one point or another, been told by their parents to try to see a situation through their sibling's eyes. I remember many occasions on which my sister, having had a long day of work, would come home and be really annoying. Whenever I get mad at her, my mom always tells me to cut her some slack because I would probably be cranky too if I were her. Whenever I think about how have felt in similar situations, it usually makes the dispute easier to fix. I don't think that I could see things from her perspective as easily if she was experiencing something I have never experienced before. However, I think that it is useful, in general, to imagine what a situation would be like from different perspectives; it gives us a better sense of the truth and a better understanding of other people's actions.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up with twin my mother always told the two of us to try and look at the situation from both sides. It was hard to try and view it that way because I only wanted my opinion to be right. No matter what I always figured his was wrong. It's also hard because you believe so strongly in your own argument that believing in another seems contradicting. With a sibling it will never be easy to just give up because there's always the competition. As we got older it became much easier to agree and view both sides with each other and because of that there is a lot less conflict. As we've grown more mature we listen to each other more instead yelling at the top of our lungs. (when we were small)
ReplyDeleteMy parents are slightly overprotective as they always are worried about me and make me call them-especially late at night. Recently, I was at school til 10 pm, but my cell phone ran out of battery and so I went to the center to look for friends there to borrow their phone. Unfortunly my dad went to school looking for me and couldn't find me there. When he picked me up at the center and went home, we were both very angry at each other-he was angry at me for "disappearing" and I was angry at him for the lack of trust that he had in me. However, I looked at his perspective and see that he did look all over the school for me and couldn't find me. No matter what, he was clearly worried about me. Although I was less angry at my dad when I thought it from his perspective. However, no matter how much I try to think of it from his perspective, there is still part of my perspective in the though process ("even so...you still should ahve trust me) and it may have helped-I just can't completely (100%) think through my parent's perspective.
ReplyDeleteWhenever I start thinking about perspective, the first thing that always comes to my mind is the saying "to understand someone, walk a mile in their shoes". This phrase really sums up how I feel life should be lived and that perspective is something that should always be in the back of someone's head. It also reminded of a situation that used to happen a lot at my house. My parents are also really overprotective of me, so I whenever I asked to walk to school or even hang out in the center they also had to know every little detail about who I was going with, how long I was going, and what I planned to do. I would get really mad and tell them that they had no trust in me and would go stomping off to my room. But looking back I realize that while they may have been a little overbearing, they still were only thinking of my well-being. I think if I could have seen my parents view, then maybe there would have been less fights in my house. For a child walking a mile in someone else's shoes is a really hard thing to do, but as we get older, I think it is a necesity if we are to grow as people.
ReplyDeleteI was forced to look at situation of my cousin's from a perspective other than my own. He lives in a rough neighborhood without a lot of opportunity, and recently he moved into his own apartment (even though he just turned eighteen.) He is working very hard to meet the finacial ends of the apartment. Being from Lexington I usually think of students doing everything they can to get to college- planning on attending some university. But taking the apartment was the move which was most open to my cousin and so my viewpoint had to change in order to understand his actions. It was difficult because I felt the strong urge to push my perspective on him- I wanted to force him on to education. I still do not fully appreciate his perspective, and still think that he should fully pursue college, but I have begun to further understand his motives.
ReplyDeleteAlmost every day people have to look at situations and ideas from other peoples prospectives. If People did not do this we would be living in a very selfish world. On a daly basis I have to see things from other peoples point of view. For example in dealing with parents, siblings, and friends. There have been many times when one friend will complain about an other friend to me. I have to look at the situation from not only my view but also hers and the other friend. It gets confusing when the other friend will complain about the same friend the next day. Situations like these are some what simple to view from different angles because I am similar to these people and are surrounded in a similar environment. But it is very difficult, or close to impossible to understand the opinion of someone who is very unlike you
ReplyDeleteI'd like to think I always keep an open mind and try to look at things from a variety of perspectives in order to fully understand where others are coming from, especially if there are disagreements. Human society only functions because we communicate, try to understand each other, work out problems and act together in a spirit of community. Being able to understand your neighbor and see things from his/her perspective is key in this process.
ReplyDeleteBut let's be honest: it's not always easy. The simplest way I can think of it is that, in the end I'm still only me: an eighteen-year-old with a limited world view. I've only experienced so much. I can only understand so much on an intuitive level.
An example that comes to mind is the generation gap: more specifically, the attitude that Chinese people of my grandparents' generation have toward Japan. I've read history books and studied the Pacific front of WWII for some time, but I still don't fully understand what it means (in emotions, in knee-jerk reactions) to have lived through the invasion of Shanghai, to have heard the bombers fly overhead and nearly be buried beneath crumbling buildings.
My mind can rationally understand my grandfather's feelings toward Japan, but try as I might, my heart can only sympathize up to a certain point: beyond that, it's all just numbers and dates and facts. That history for me is only history, not memory, not painful, real life experience. Empathy only takes you so far.
Although there is diversity and many different people in Lexington, I Still find myself often being judgmental and finding it difficult to view things from a different perspective. Watching the film, I often thought about stereotypes of the characters she was impersonating, rather then trying to understand from their perspective of the riots. The language and accents that Smith uses show the different groups of people, and you aer able to understand how EVERYONE was affected. I think its important to recognize that different groups have different reactions, but in this case, many of them were similar. I think that in life, I often have to view things through a different lens then my own. When writing papers, you sometimes have to argue a side you disagree with. In my household, my siblings, parents and I all do not have the same perspective on issues, and we all manage to understand each other. Also with friends, disagreements are inevitable, but if we try to understand the background that each one is coming from, my friends and I are more likely to understand and accept our differences.
ReplyDeleteAny time that I have had an argument with one of my parents, I've always looked at the situation from their perspective before completely blowing up at them. I realize that as obvious as it may sound, parenting isn't easy, and as the kid, being difficult and obnoxious isn't going to help anyone. Forcing myself to look at my behavior from the outside looking in makes me realize how I am really acting, to someone else who may not know the details of the situation. I've found from these experiences that it is only beneficial to you to view something with many different opposing viewpoints, because it will ultimately give you a broader understanding of how to approach a given situation.
ReplyDeleteMany times I have tried to see things from the perspectives of my friends when they were having an issue or if we were in fights. If I try to forget my own perspective and focus on what the other person would be feeling/thinking, I think it isn't too difficult to see what they think of a situation, although it is not easy. I think I am able to view a situation from others perspectives if I really try to.
ReplyDeleteI think it is very helpful to view a situation from other perspectives. It gives you a more balanced view of what is going on and helps you see a situation more clearly.
My life experiences have made viewing others perspectives a very prominent experience. Depending upon the depths and differences between their perspective and mine, determines how hard it is for me to understand the entire situation. Most of the time, being able to view others perspectives is a very usual tool, because it not only helps you to understand where they are coming from, but it also aids in finding a compromise.
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