Everyone is Wrong

At least, part of the time. To be a singular, linear being in an expansive universe is to have a limited perspective by which to understanding that universe. Necessarily, we must draw faulty conclusions. Furthermore, being limited by lifespan, we must act upon those faulty conclusions or else run out of time to act—because it is impossible to know everything.

This is not the cause of human suffering, but perhaps of frustration, and certainly of failures. However, when individuals and small organizations fail, those with the clearest vision of their stated purpose can merely pick themselves up, dust themselves off, and correct their mistakes. These types of learning experiences are invaluable to the success process—whatever your success looks like.

This is where media is important, with its ability to capture and share stories, ideas, and other information. The great tragedies of Shakespeare teach us about the consequences of running with our faults—not so that we can fear them, but so that we can examine possible course corrections before problems arise. Much media content today boasts similar examinations, though most people are no longer looking for food-for-thought.

The trend in media is to re-feed the masses what they already think. Mostly because it is the easiest way to make a quick buck. This is true whether one sells his own media content, or uses it to develop a large audience for paying advertisers. The consequence of this is mass-stagnation. When the greater portion of the populace is encouraged to steep in its own ignorance, it becomes increasingly difficult to make any real progress.

Such stagnation means that those under the influence of such re-fed thought are unable to think "outside the box." To them, the world is as it seems to be, and will be going in the direction it is going permanently. Once, there was a time that new things could be created, but now everything has been.

Of course, the people outside this mindset are in the minority. These few that are, know that what there is to be discovered is infinite in both breadth and depth, as well as complexity. However, with the vast majority thinking what they think and patting each other on the back for thinking it, new information is met with extreme skepticism.

Nevertheless, the solution is not to back down, but to press forward. There needs to be a flood of truthful and diverse content into all media. More important than what people want, is what people need. To overcome skepticism, the people must be given a compelling reason to explore this flood of new content, whereby becoming liberated from narrow, stagnant thought.

Everyone has misconceptions, but the more widely everyone reads, listens, and views, the more likely each is to find pieces of the truth—and share them. Getting unstuck is the first step to progress.