We need many filters to stay sane in this life. One of my key filters that I have to use in everyday life is dealing with exaggerations. Many of us exaggerate things for various purposes. Exaggerations could be mild, heavy or extreme. The mild ones are like making something more noticeable than usual. They could be seen as humour mainly to highlight a point and they usually give us good time with pleasure and learning. The heavy ones are sometimes bearable and sometimes go beyond the limit based on our mood or general tolerance level. The extreme ones are not easy to handle; especially the shocking images in journalism, visual media and meaningless broadcasts in recent digital social media. Showing an ant like an elephant is an example of this.
There are various interesting views on exaggeration from different perspectives that shed some lights on the topic. I like description of love by George Bernard Shaw in this context: "Love is a gross exaggeration of the difference between one person and everybody else". According to Kahlil Gibran "An exaggeration is a truth that has lost its temper". Interestingly Voltaire has a more positive approach to is with his definition "Exaggeration, the inseparable companion of greatness".
From behavioural perspective it may turn to habit in some people as observed by Josh Billings who said: "There are some people so addicted to exaggeration that they can't tell the truth without lying". It also reflects other habit patterns as pointed out by William Alger: "False eloquence is exaggeration; true eloquence is emphasis".
What is your tolerance level to exaggeration and how do you cope with it? Hope you can join the debate to answer my question here.
Regards,
Mehmet Yildiz
Friday, March 26, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Fast food may cause impatience
It was not surprising to me to read about this research finding of fast food in our behaviour. The study paper is called "You Are How You Eat: Fast Food and Impatience". It has been made available by the University of Toronto freely in this link.
Fast food is in abundance in our lives and they address our desire for speedy life styles. I provided some random thoughts on abundance and speed in one of my previous blog posts. In any design and implementation activities, quality, quantity and speed require a trade off. I believe in relativity and subjectivity in quality, quantity and time. One of the comments by Mr Stuarte Harris was notable and want to cite it here: "Whatever the clock says, whatever the advertising says, whatever anything external says, our perception of time and quantity and quality is purely subjective."
One of my friend (in his late 70s with a lot of experience in management of large corporate organisations) a few years ago asked a question of "Why we humans are in rush all the time" which still resonates in me. I am still searching an answer to this question.
Fast food is in abundance in our lives and they address our desire for speedy life styles. I provided some random thoughts on abundance and speed in one of my previous blog posts. In any design and implementation activities, quality, quantity and speed require a trade off. I believe in relativity and subjectivity in quality, quantity and time. One of the comments by Mr Stuarte Harris was notable and want to cite it here: "Whatever the clock says, whatever the advertising says, whatever anything external says, our perception of time and quantity and quality is purely subjective."
One of my friend (in his late 70s with a lot of experience in management of large corporate organisations) a few years ago asked a question of "Why we humans are in rush all the time" which still resonates in me. I am still searching an answer to this question.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Does Optimism Boost the Immune System?
It is interesting to read a media release titled "Optimism Boosts the Immune System". The study provides some insights to this long debated topic.
Optimism in my life has some merit however in my profession I have to look at the worst scenarios sometimes which may look or sound pessimistic. Any design requires a holistic view of the topic both from optimistic and so called pessimistic aspects.
It is possible to come across paradoxical views on the optimistic behaviour such as to smile when it hurts most.Is this possible and realistic? Having said that, from hindsight we see blessings in disguise for the things seemed horrible to us when we were experiencing them.
Many comments were made throughout the history on optimistic and pessimistic approach. We all may have heard Churchill's famous assertion "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.". Is it really so? As I asked in my another post "Do optimists see the opportunity in every difficulty?" Whose choice may it be?
Regards,
Mehmet Yildiz
Optimism in my life has some merit however in my profession I have to look at the worst scenarios sometimes which may look or sound pessimistic. Any design requires a holistic view of the topic both from optimistic and so called pessimistic aspects.
It is possible to come across paradoxical views on the optimistic behaviour such as to smile when it hurts most.Is this possible and realistic? Having said that, from hindsight we see blessings in disguise for the things seemed horrible to us when we were experiencing them.
Many comments were made throughout the history on optimistic and pessimistic approach. We all may have heard Churchill's famous assertion "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.". Is it really so? As I asked in my another post "Do optimists see the opportunity in every difficulty?" Whose choice may it be?
Regards,
Mehmet Yildiz
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Is it possible to be transparent and authentic online?
This is a discovery post rather than prescriptive on how to be transparent and authentic online. There are a number of recent incidents in various online environments which triggered some thoughts and feelings requiring associated decisions and actions for me. In this post, I’d like to discuss the environment factor.
Environment is an essential factor for success. I believe, like it is in the real world, one expect the online world to be clean and healthy to play with confidence and enthusiasm. If an environment gets toxic with mediocrity and childish behaviour, one’s enthusiasm and willingness relatively decrease. I believe authentic and transparent people instantly affected by their environments. An environment, for example for blogging, makes difference for one’s participation and collaboration.
Spirit of networking is directly related environment which play a significant role for participative actions. Who has the key impact on environment? Without doubt that the members of the environment have the key impact to keep the environment clean, healthy and pleasant to play with.
I’d like to discover how one can be transparent and authentic in this online world. How would you define and describe a clean, healthy and pleasant environment. Look forward to obtaining your insights stemming from your online experience, thoughts, and personal preferences.
Regards,
Dr. Mehmet Yildiz
Environment is an essential factor for success. I believe, like it is in the real world, one expect the online world to be clean and healthy to play with confidence and enthusiasm. If an environment gets toxic with mediocrity and childish behaviour, one’s enthusiasm and willingness relatively decrease. I believe authentic and transparent people instantly affected by their environments. An environment, for example for blogging, makes difference for one’s participation and collaboration.
Spirit of networking is directly related environment which play a significant role for participative actions. Who has the key impact on environment? Without doubt that the members of the environment have the key impact to keep the environment clean, healthy and pleasant to play with.
I’d like to discover how one can be transparent and authentic in this online world. How would you define and describe a clean, healthy and pleasant environment. Look forward to obtaining your insights stemming from your online experience, thoughts, and personal preferences.
Regards,
Dr. Mehmet Yildiz
Are we vulnerably designed dilemmatic machines?
In one of the yesterday's blog on Ecademy a co-networker made a notable and insightful statement which I'd like to quote here "...You can't tell life how to be and you can't second guess your own unconscious mind with all its complex, interrelated and unresolvable narrative threads. These are what dominate your life, not what your consciousness happens to think it wants." I believe you can guess who wrote this statement by browsing the comments on yesterday's blogs related to goal setting.
And today there was an interesting research finding reported in many news networks as recorded by google "The use and misuse of alcohol and marijuana can be traced to a common set of genes". In addition to the main theme of genes' impact on our lives, it is really eye-opening to know that "41.8 percent of 12th graders reported having used marijuana". This is of course very complex to create a scientific profile considering all aspects but I want to discuss a specific point here.
My point is, if we have this vast, dark, unknown unconscious mind at emotional and higher levels coupled with so many unknowingly inherited genes at physical level running the show of our lives; what is left to us to manage at conscious level? How can we keep responsible for things beyond our control? Is this dilemma or what? What are our responsibilities for our lives? Feel free to share your optimistic, neutral or pessimistic views [which who knows] may shed some lights on this dichotomy in our limited knowledge process.
Regards,
Mehmet Yildiz
And today there was an interesting research finding reported in many news networks as recorded by google "The use and misuse of alcohol and marijuana can be traced to a common set of genes". In addition to the main theme of genes' impact on our lives, it is really eye-opening to know that "41.8 percent of 12th graders reported having used marijuana". This is of course very complex to create a scientific profile considering all aspects but I want to discuss a specific point here.
My point is, if we have this vast, dark, unknown unconscious mind at emotional and higher levels coupled with so many unknowingly inherited genes at physical level running the show of our lives; what is left to us to manage at conscious level? How can we keep responsible for things beyond our control? Is this dilemma or what? What are our responsibilities for our lives? Feel free to share your optimistic, neutral or pessimistic views [which who knows] may shed some lights on this dichotomy in our limited knowledge process.
Regards,
Mehmet Yildiz
Friday, November 20, 2009
Monday, November 2, 2009
Are you a bower bird? Guess whose fault is compulsive hoarding and clutter making?
Are you a bower bird?
If so this blog can be a sign from the Big Giant Head in the Third Rock from the Sun!
Oh thank God it is a British study rather than an Australian one!:-)
Guess who we can blame for being a bower bird? I mean having a compulsive urge to collect and clutter our homes and offices with junk; at least a partly scapegoat for this amazing habit!
Good guess! Yes our genes! Who else could it be?
Here's the link to the study report titled "Genes to blame for clutter compulsion"
Do you have this urge to keep your old clothes, magazines, junk mail, furniture pieces, school reports, A+ assignments, and many other things that you may be attached?
Do you ever remember a special feeling when you clear clutter in your life? How was that? Have you heard people creating F word disciplines mainly from Asia to deal with this phenomena?
I'd like to obtain your personal view on dealing with clutter in your life from multiple angles and any context you may like to choose. For example, physical clutter, emotional clutter, even spiritual clutter or any type of clutter that you may think of!
Feel free to clutter my blog with your thoughts today!!
Regards,
Mehmet
Dr. Mehmet YILDIZ || IBM || IT Philosophy || Future|| Leadership || Twitter || Linkedin || Yasni || Naymz|| Superfan
If so this blog can be a sign from the Big Giant Head in the Third Rock from the Sun!
Oh thank God it is a British study rather than an Australian one!:-)
Guess who we can blame for being a bower bird? I mean having a compulsive urge to collect and clutter our homes and offices with junk; at least a partly scapegoat for this amazing habit!
Good guess! Yes our genes! Who else could it be?
Here's the link to the study report titled "Genes to blame for clutter compulsion"
Do you have this urge to keep your old clothes, magazines, junk mail, furniture pieces, school reports, A+ assignments, and many other things that you may be attached?
Do you ever remember a special feeling when you clear clutter in your life? How was that? Have you heard people creating F word disciplines mainly from Asia to deal with this phenomena?
I'd like to obtain your personal view on dealing with clutter in your life from multiple angles and any context you may like to choose. For example, physical clutter, emotional clutter, even spiritual clutter or any type of clutter that you may think of!
Feel free to clutter my blog with your thoughts today!!
Regards,
Mehmet
Dr. Mehmet YILDIZ || IBM || IT Philosophy || Future|| Leadership || Twitter || Linkedin || Yasni || Naymz|| Superfan
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