Children do not know they lack the wisdom of age.
An adult does not know when more information and knowledge has ceased to provide more wisdom.
When blind privilege provides an advantage it does not know that this advantage has been bestowed.
When ignorance is spoken it does not know that it is spoken while lacking relevant information.
Anger does not know how it clouds rational thought.
Hate does not know how to foster love or forgiveness.
A biased person does know their subjectivity lacks objectivity.
An irrational person does not know that their judgments are clouded.
The delusional does not know their view of the world is altered.
The hypocrite does not know their words do not meet their own standards or revered beliefs.
The fool does not know when they are being fooled.
To tell a child that they they are too young to understand; To tell an adult they are not wise enough to understand; To tell the blindly privileged that they are privileged; To tell the angry or hateful not to be angry or hateful; To tell the biased, irrational, or delusional of their faulty perspectives; to call a hypocrite a hypocrite, or a fool a fool… These are vain and futile attempts to share what you know with someone that does not know.
To be noble in principle, thoughtfully persuasive, and influential in a way that can be heard is no easy task. Knowing when you can be convincing and when efforts are futile is not always clear. To believe that you can change a fixed mind is a fool’s errand, but to give up on a fixed mindset that can be changed is a lost opportunity to have meaningful influence.
Related post: Ideas on a Spectrum
