Don’t you know that (old) white men can’t negotiate?

I have spent part of the day in a 'workshop' with a group of people from across my organisation to discuss (again) a matter of importance.

 

So the discussion pretty much goes like this:

• It's not my fault
  
• We need more…money people time
  
• That doesn't apply to me (or the I'm special rant)
  

 

I try not to pay too much attention to it. Because all it does is wind me up. So I think about my farm, or other things I need to do at work, or my boy or… well… you know.

 

The biggest issue I have is to keep my unvalidated, possibly unhelpful opinions to myself. All that really happens I that I get a very sore tongue (from biting it so hard) and a headache.

 

I am trying to be much more zen of philosophical about it and think in terms of moral objectivism.

Ethics and morals are supposedly interchangeable as words – in fact one is from the latin root and the other from the greek.

 

And of course the view we have now is one (morals) is more driven by organisations or communities – such as organised religion – and the other (ethics) is driven from a personal point of view.

 

So my own set of ethics and morals are currently being challenged. I am learning about moral objectivism, moral realism and the rest. So I am using my new found knowledge to remember that there is only one REAL truth and it can only be revealed through research and understanding – not just passionate opinion.

The thinking I have learnt recently that I really like is the negation of the statement "I am entitled to my own opinion". Well, the real situation is that you are NOT entitled to it. You may have an opinion – that much is true – but you are no more entitled to one any more than simply entering a race means you have won it. To be entitled to an opinion means you will have thought deeply about it, researched it, had it critiqued etc – to indicate that your position is validated and worthy.

This has really helped in these type of workshops and meetings – understanding that every individual has a moral/ethical standpoint – and may well truly believe that their standpoint is 100% true and right. However, it is impossible for every individual's views to be 100% truth – as it is impossible for more than one truth to exist. So all that remains is one truth and many opinions.

 

That REALLY helps me keep my mouth shut. I only ever want to be on the side of the 100% truth – and it takes a long time to get there.

On a brighter note – it is the last days of summer, the garden looks great, my dog and chooks are happy and my boy is home. Gotta be happy with that.

 

And it is International Women's Day on 8^th March. Embrace your inner feminist, embrace the feminist in your life and say it LOUD and PROUD.

Girls can do anything.