“I was wrong.” Most people dread having to admit these words. Failed tests, lost arguments, reprimands from authority…all of these are feared signals of mistakes. Kathryn Schulz has spent five years studying exactly why people believe it is so wrong to be wrong. Her conclusion? Wrongness is a part of being human. While many people theoretically grasp this concept, society has pounded into everyone’s head since they were young children that the only way to find success is to be perfect. In her studies, Schulz has found that when people make mistakes, they equate it to meaning that there is something wrong with them. Thus, in her TED Talk, Schulz explores the benefits of changing our viewpoints to accept mistakes as a part of being human.
Teaching kids from a young age that perfection is necessary for success could almost be considered a form of mind control. Think back to George Orwell’s 1984. Big Brother controlled his subjects by teaching them there was only one way to be. If you did not love Big Brother, if your kids were not in the Spies or Youth League, if you had children for any reason other than for Big Brother, if you read too far into society and the ways of the Party, you were wrong. And if you were wrong, society rejected and then killed you. Society today teaches us that if we don’t succeed in school, conform to our teacher’s or boss’ expectations, or evaluate facts the way society wants us to, we are wrong. If we are wrong, we will never succeed. Granted, this is not nearly as drastic as the 1984 system; no one is killed for disagreeing. However, by telling people what is right and what is unacceptable, society is forming perfect, molded people who are afraid to step outside the norms of society.
In their novels and TED Talks, both Daniel Pink and Sir Ken Robinson addressed the idea that education suffocates children’s unique talents by creating in them a fear of being "wrong." Teachers claim that there is one way and one way only to be right (and thus earn a good grade), and that any other method is incorrect. From day one, students learn to not draw on their tests or argue with the teacher. Robinson stated that the school system teaches children that math and science are far more important than dance or any form of art. In truth, all of these subjects are equally important to society. In fact, Pink advocates the idea that art forms and other right-brained activities will become even more in demand in twenty-first century America. Pink’s and Robinson’s points line up with Schulz’ argument. All three have the same idea that society is trying too hard to push kids in one direction, when society would be better off letting every person blossom in their own individual way, without being constantly told they are wrong.
Imagine how different the world would be if people were not afraid to be wrong. Would people take greater chances? Would you take greater chances? Think of how much more creative and original everyone would be if they weren’t constantly trying to survive in the same cramped world of business and engineering. Human accomplishments would flourish if everyone was allowed to try without fear of being shunned. Another downside to the constant fear of being wrong is that it pushes everyone to assume they are right. When people disagree with them, they push it off by deciding the other person is either ignorant, stupid, or evil. This leads to arguments and a lack of understanding of each other. When empathy is lacking, fighting erupts. If people stopped assuming they were always right and instead embraced the fact that they might make mistakes, too, would there be less war? Could religions, instead of fighting each other for a city or for followers, instead understand each other’s needs and compromise in a way that benefits all? After a war breaks out, winning countries could choose to understand that nations make mistakes and that they do not need to be punished for their errors. After World War I, the Allies were unwilling to forgive Germany for their mistakes. Thus, instead of just reversing the damage that had been done, the Allies demanded Germany be punished for the damaged they had caused. Historians now argue that had Germany not been so harshly punished, Hitler would likely have never risen to power, and World War II may have never occurred. Nothing good stemmed from punishing Germany for not having the same values as the Allies; Germany did not learn to conform and instead it built up more hatred towards Britain and France. Situations only become more violent when people are too afraid to accept the fact that people make mistakes.
As I listened to Schulz speak, several questions popped into my head. For one, who decided what was “right” and what was “wrong?”Most of us have no idea why failing a test is considered so terrible. If we don’t understand the information, does it truly mean we will never succeed? Who decided math is necessary for a full and happy life? Another large question I had: why does everyone interpret events in completely unique ways? If everyone sees everything from a different perspective, is there such a thing as reality or fact? No two people see colors in the same way. No two people taste food in the same way. So why should people be expected to interpret information in the same way? The world needs to come to a greater realization that everyone sees things differently. As Schulz said, the uniqueness of human perspective is what allows us to create such diversity. Twists and turns and differences are what make the world interesting. I believe that God created all of us different and imperfect for a reason. Thus, we need to stop trying to change ourselves to become perfect because society says we should. If God made someone artistic, but not mathematical, they should not be told they are wrong for doodling on their math test.
Even though most of us dread being wrong, we must learn to enjoy, “The world’s ability to shock us,” as Schulz says. No one has ever lived their entire life without slipping up at some point. Mistakes are what humble us and keep our role on Earth in perspective. Wrongness is in the eye of the beholder; if we choose to never let our mistakes define us as bad people, the world will undoubtedly become a happier place.
More about the speaker and her book: http://beingwrongbook.com/author
In the video above, Kathryn Schulz discusses her book, Being Wrong: Adventures in the Margin of Error
Full text of George Orwell's 1984: http://www.george-orwell.org/1984
Summary of George Orwell's 1984: http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/1984/
No comments:
Post a Comment