Our communication is mainly verbal—at least the visible one.
We speak, read, and think in words all the time.
Let’s get the basics sorted out first. We need conventions
in order to communicate with each other. In traffic, we use
traffic signs and lights to signal. We agree that some sign or
mark means something and then everybody gets used to
interpreting the meaning. This is actually the same with
words as well. They are just a way of communicating and
making things easier. By definition they are no more than
alphabets in some recognizable order.
We take for granted that the symbols (words) we use are
precise in nature. But the reality is the opposite. Everybody is
living in their own perception of the world. The easiest exam-
ple is to ask someone to describe the association of a word to
be presented. For example, asking people to draw what we
mean by a “chair” demonstrates that the drawings do not look
even closely similar. And we haven’t even begun to consider
more complex and abstract concepts like globalization and
freedom, to name a few.
A lot of misunderstandings and harm are caused by using
words. People mean something and interpret it the other
way—their own way. The most powerful words might be
related to our religion, faith, and politics. Some of these sym-
bols have gained a sacred status. The words have started to
live their own lives. Their original purpose of describing and
referring to the real issue has been forgotten or blurred some-
where in the process. Our history is full of “holy” wars and
massacres for the “greater cause.” Idealisms have become
more important than human beings. By using words we can
divert and disconnect the reality and get carried away by the
pure power of concepts. In the name of these symbols we’re
ready to kill people and do amazing things. Seldom do people
really ask about the basics and fundamental meanings of these
symbols. Words are easy to use and even more easy to abuse.
They are powerful and so precise in their outlook, but their
actual meaning is mostly less simple and clear. And we live by
getting confused by their looks.
This is the original text, and an edited version can be found in the Fragments of Reality -book.
