What Keeps Masks Intact?

MASKS BEGIN TO CRACK WHEN YOU INSIST TO LOOK WHAT’S BEHIND.

It was a very intense discussion with somebody on a certain topic, with somebody who belongs to that domain. When the other person had all his arguments being busted ruthlessly, and he had very little to defend against, he dropped the bombshell :

“I am from this field. Do you think you know more than this about me?”

Perfect question. Somebody who works in that field, somebody who is out there experiencing that domain day in and day out, has got to know more about the domain than somebody who isn’t into it.

Or, is it?

I asked him – “Does everyone in your field have exactly the same point of view and conclusions about it as you do?”

A person working in a certain domain may have a lot of information, knowledge and data about that space, but nothing ensures that everyone looks at things in the right way,  considers all that needs to be considered without prejudice, makes the right interpretations, applies the right reasoning, asks the right questions, and comes up with the right conclusions.

No human being in the world is beyond bias, prejudices or opinions. 

In an Indian music reality show several years ago, an iconic singer from Pakistan judging the show gave full marks to a contestant, with the reasoning – “You sang the song of my favourite saint. There is nothing more to consider“. 

Where’s the musical consideration in this decision? What if I said – “This guy was totally off-tune”, and somebody retorted –  “Do you know more about music than this legendary singer? Was she a fool to give him full marks?” 

The answer to this is NOT “No”. The answer is NOT “Yes”.

The answer to this is : “It is irrelevant“. This decision by the legendary singer was not based on musical considerations, but something totally disconnected.

Why do we tend to use hyperboles and hyper-exaggerated metaphors to individuals, institutions, and functionaries?

The whole idea is to grant them an aura that is so dazzling that no body would question them.

Most of the modern day languages, popular phrases and linguistic structures have evolved in a way that is aimed at maintaining our pretty little masks – and this requires a very dynamic need to manipulate people into doing  and believing in things we want them to do.

Most of the arguments and reasoning people use are absolutely irrational and illogical. The bulk of the reasoning used today is – “What have you done?”, “Have you achieved more than him?”. Silly jibes are thrown around in guise of “rational arguments” and “universal truths”, and ridiculously, they work !!!

They hold ground only because we accept them without challenging them.

All language is designed to tell you – “Look here, straight at my mask. Do not peep sideways to find more“.  We fall for it all the time. We start responding to the most irrelevant and most absurd reasonings thrown at us.

There are no universal logics, reasonings and arguments. Most of what people call as “arguments” are hypothesis.  “I am right because I am from this field” is not a logical argument, not common sense, not a reason, not a universal truth. It is a silly hypothesis, usually asserted so vigorously that it sounds like TRUTH.

Yes, in general this may hold true, because most people suck at making penetrative observations, sound arguments and correct reasoning. Since most people suck at “deep thinking”, “information” does get equated to “knowledge” and “wisdom”, and in general, people with experience may be on a better grounds. But that’s NOT a grounds to dismiss reasoning from someone outside the domain.

In other words, this is NOT a “logical argument”.

We agree to the unverified and most often baseless hypothesis with such readiness that we do not even consider a possibility that this could probably be all wrong.

Where we have lost the plot totally, is because we accept hypotheses, biases, arguments, judgements, and conclusions as “logical reasoning”. Especially when these hide behind shiny pretty little masks, which create such a dazzling aura that you simply cannot question. Bedazzled by this aura, you lay down the arms even before the other person strikes.

We have lost the art of questioning. There is NO UNIVERSAL TRUTH that cannot be questioned.

Our blind acceptance of people’s masks is what keeps those masks intact.

Stand up, Question, and you will see how the masks drop.

The first step to create a dent in masks is – “ASK QUESTIONS”. Insist on looking what is behind the mask.

The next time somebody drops a “logical argument” in any speech or debate or discussion, look for these –

Is this a logic, or is this a hypothesis?

Where does it come from?

What’s the basis for it?

Does it hold 100%?

If you stop buying into “personal hypothesis” as “universal truths” and “logical arguments”, you can bust almost every argument that a manipulator gives.

You can bust every mask, if you are determined to peep what’s behind.

Oh yes, I know the examples in this post are very lukewarm compared to the intensity of the topic. We are only getting warmed up. We are here to tear away EVERY MASK.