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This week: Observations on Perspectives Edited by: fyn  
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Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.~~Marcus Aurelius
We all get so caught up in the moment of what we're doing every day, it's hard to hit that reset button and get pulled away from all that and see life from a different perspective.~~Tony Stewart
Space is as infinite as we can imagine, and expanding this perspective is what adjusts humankind focus on conquering our true enemies, the formidable foes: ignorance and limitation.~~Vanna Bonta
Writing has laws of perspective, of light and shade just as painting does, or music. If you are born knowing them, fine. If not, learn them. Then rearrange the rules to suit yourself.~~Truman Capote
You must look within for value, but must look beyond for perspective.~~Denis Waitley
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The Blind Men and the Elephant
John Godfrey Saxe (1816-1887)
It was six men of Indostan
To learning much inclined,
Who went to see the Elephant
(Though all of them were blind),
That each by observation
Might satisfy his mind.
The First approached the Elephant,
And happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side,
At once began to bawl:
"God bless me! but the Elephant
Is very like a WALL!"
The Second, feeling of the tusk,
Cried, "Ho, what have we here,
So very round and smooth and sharp?
To me 'tis mighty clear
This wonder of an Elephant
Is very like a SPEAR!"
The
Third approached the animal,
And happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands,
Thus boldly up and spake:
"I see," quoth he, "the Elephant
Is very like a SNAKE!"
The Fourth reached out an eager hand,
And felt about the knee
"What most this wondrous beast is like
Is mighty plain," quoth he:
"'Tis clear enough the Elephant
Is very like a TREE!"
The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,
Said: "E'en the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most;
Deny the fact who can,
This marvel of an Elephant
Is very like a FAN!"
The Sixth no sooner had begun
About the beast to grope,
Than seizing on the swinging tail
That fell within his scope,
"I see," quoth he, "the Elephant
Is very like a ROPE!"
And so these men of Indostan
Disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion
Exceeding stiff and strong,
Though each was partly in the right,
And all were in the wrong!
Ah, perspectives! And seeing the whole picture, not just a portion of it. We often do see only part of the whole and then make assumptions or draw conclusions based upon our limited experience of a particular thing. Even if we are only seeing some of the information, we take sides and will staunchly defend our opinion. We might be right or wrong or out in left field someplace. This might be true in fact or in the other side's opinion as they face the same dilemma we do. This has never been more true than recently as a brief look at Facebook will clearly show.
However, it is something to keep in mind whenever we are writing. As writers, whether we are writing an article, a short story or just our opinion, we must keep in mind that not every reader will draw from the same group of life experiences, set of circumstances or similar viewpoints. Our very lives color what we read and think. Just as the blind men ascribed a set of parameters to their portion of the elephant, so too, we form ideas and opinions based upon the lives we have led. No two people will experience a short story or a poem exactly the same way as we each bring differing experiences, values, ethics, or circumstances to whatever it is we are reading.
What might make perfect sense to the writer or to one reader might not to another due to our accessibility to the what the writer is writing about. While one can certainly research a concept, we may not find it accessible because we haven't experienced those circumstances, feelings or reactions. We may find, when writing, that we need to give more information or express ourselves in multiple ways so that what the reader reads is what we are actually saying.
Ever gotten a (to you) confusing text? That one where you had no idea what the person was (actually) saying? When you weren't sure if they were joking or being serious? When you reacted in anger because you misinterpreted what (exactly) they were saying? Had you had the inflections or volume of the spoken word, you might have 'heard' it differently. Had you had the visual clues of a frown or smile, sparkling eyes or a death stare, you would add these to the words to draw a specific conclusion and react accordingly.
Communication is more than simply words. Miscommunication, the benchmark of many a romantic novel, or, perhaps, a night spent on the couch, is one of the world's biggest problems. This is why, in our writing, it is imperative that the reader 'gets' what we are truly attempting to say, else wise, what we write may make no sense at all. This is fine when we want one of the two characters, for example, to intentionally misunderstand each other, but much of the time it isn't fine and just leads to confusion. Always be aware of the differences between a denotative meaning and connotative meaning! Also keep in mind that some words can be the same but have two different meanings that are opposite of each other. For example, the word 'cleave' which mean both bring together as in stuck or 'cleave ye only unto each other' as well as to separate or divide as what one does with that largest of knives in your butcher block!!
Differing peoples around the globe bring differing cultural expectations to both reading and writing. What may make perfect sense to someone in one country (especially with regional idioms) may make no sense to someone from another country. What is perfectly acceptable language in one area may be a major insult in another. Even bodily motions ... a wave of a hand in a certain way or using one hand over another may be fine in one area is taboo someplace else. What is perfectly normal in one country may well do more than raise eyebrows in another. While the world has certainly shrunk over the years, in many instances, it is still a place that is wide and diverse. We need to be aware of same as we both write and read the words of others. A local colloquialism in one place might be considered downright rude or crude somewhere else. Or might have no meaning at all. Either way, it can confuse a reader. A spider in the boot can have different ramifications depending upon where you are ... say Arizona or England! Same goes for a 'fanny pack.' Or burping. Or a simple touch on the arm with the wrong hand. Or wearing a hat in different places ... or not wearing that same hat. Sometimes we need to add in the information so it makes sense to possible readers.
Because, bottom line, what we, as readers, are trying to do is communicate our thoughts. If a thought is not conveyed clearly then it isn't communicated at all.
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harperpaul comments: It is good to see how you balance storytelling with content that has value. I have just created a folder with a few items in it that resemble what you are saying. In fact, I'm going to make an inner wish list and put being more of an engaged participant in it. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to overshadow your newsletter because in a lot of ways, my door standing days are just beginning. In fact, door standing is the beginning of being an engaged participant in a lot of ways. This is ironic! I just made my item today, and here I am reading your newsletter that centers in the ballpark of what I'm saying! Cool.
Joy  said: Great newsletter! I like odd-numbered years, too. 
brom21  writes: I loved your humorous little experience with the rolls. Good thing you were able to salvage the result into something unique. I'm sure everyone has burnt bread items before. It really stinks when it is the main desert dish like a pie. Thanks for the newsletter!
Shannon  says: Fantastic newsletter, fyn! Love your Santa story. 
Quick-Quill  adds: I never knew the origin of Upper crust. I love that kind of minutia. I love that word and so glad you used it. I think adding this kind of information to our novel/story will always bring a smile to the reader, whether they knew it already or not. Its trivia to be be used. Mark it down it will be used. Great Newsletter!
hbk16 says: IT is a nice story about Christmas day. It is full of rich vocabulary and expressions using a huge amount of descriptions and details.It gets also humorist style and it is full of some good values.It is a professional job.
chopstixd comments: Three cheers for oddball minutia! Ever consider writing a book full of it. For my part, I can't recall an interesting fact or song lyric when called upon to do so. Faced with real life, they flow incessantly.
RICH says: Nothing odd about this year, add all the digits, a perfect 10 or 100 if you want. Best for the year, may it live to be the 100.
Thanks for an entertaining newsletter.
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For Authors: February 08, 2017 Issue [#8122]
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