Well said. For me words are swords. Hmmm...just without the "s" in front! They really can be meant to harm can't they? Sometimes a person will push your buttons so much to bring you down to their level - just to make them feel better about their own poor attitude or behaviour. I think it takes a lot of self-control to remain cool in those situations. I haven't quite mastered that art yet but I'm getting there!
Often words are swords without the edge. They can ultimately do the same sort of damage. It does take a lot of control in such situations, something which sometimes continues to evade me as well.
Although in my case, they can actually be real as well: http://thefortyfive.blogspot.in/2017/02/new-iaito.html
Honestly, for me, I've been through both and it's the words that cause the most damage unfortunately. Physical wounds do heal (for the most part)...but the words seem to stick in my mind and affect my self-esteem.
Words are generally the more damaging. Bodies can indeed heal or at least be compensated with; words echo through our minds and souls our entire lives.
When a man like you says it - sure, TB. But these days? Some people spout platitudes like that, roll over and go along to get along when they should be slapping leather and hauling the guns out!
And - while I'm busy being a contrarian jerk (no offense Rain) - using your enemy's tactics against him does not necessarily lower you to his level. One blogger put it this way: Had the French used Blitzkreig tactics against the Germans in WW2 - it wouldn't have made them Nazis.
Like our host - I feel an 'unsettled' state of affairs is in the air. Said another way, it feels awfully 1939-ish out there to me...and I think a lot of that stems from the fact that we are appeasing a lot of people we need to be fighting.
Glen, you may know if you have done martial arts, but we one of the things that is drilled into all of us from day one is that we are not to frivolously use the skills that we are honing. They actually can have real life consequences. There is a difference, one we hopefully learn throughout our lives, about when such actions are necessary and when we are just reacting to someone's boorishness or bad breeding - all the more difficult now given the fact that the reaction of most is to raise their fist first and only later think of the consequences.
Comments are welcome (and necessary, for good conversation). If you could take the time to be kind and not practice profanity, it would be appreciated. Thanks for posting!
Well said. For me words are swords. Hmmm...just without the "s" in front! They really can be meant to harm can't they? Sometimes a person will push your buttons so much to bring you down to their level - just to make them feel better about their own poor attitude or behaviour. I think it takes a lot of self-control to remain cool in those situations. I haven't quite mastered that art yet but I'm getting there!
ReplyDeleteOften words are swords without the edge. They can ultimately do the same sort of damage. It does take a lot of control in such situations, something which sometimes continues to evade me as well.
DeleteAlthough in my case, they can actually be real as well: http://thefortyfive.blogspot.in/2017/02/new-iaito.html
Honestly, for me, I've been through both and it's the words that cause the most damage unfortunately. Physical wounds do heal (for the most part)...but the words seem to stick in my mind and affect my self-esteem.
ReplyDeleteI just checked out that link, it's GORGEOUS.
Words are generally the more damaging. Bodies can indeed heal or at least be compensated with; words echo through our minds and souls our entire lives.
DeleteWhen a man like you says it - sure, TB. But these days? Some people spout platitudes like that, roll over and go along to get along when they should be slapping leather and hauling the guns out!
ReplyDeleteAnd - while I'm busy being a contrarian jerk (no offense Rain) - using your enemy's tactics against him does not necessarily lower you to his level. One blogger put it this way: Had the French used Blitzkreig tactics against the Germans in WW2 - it wouldn't have made them Nazis.
Like our host - I feel an 'unsettled' state of affairs is in the air. Said another way, it feels awfully 1939-ish out there to me...and I think a lot of that stems from the fact that we are appeasing a lot of people we need to be fighting.
Just my two cents.
Glen, you may know if you have done martial arts, but we one of the things that is drilled into all of us from day one is that we are not to frivolously use the skills that we are honing. They actually can have real life consequences. There is a difference, one we hopefully learn throughout our lives, about when such actions are necessary and when we are just reacting to someone's boorishness or bad breeding - all the more difficult now given the fact that the reaction of most is to raise their fist first and only later think of the consequences.
Delete