Tradition vs. Change

[RexoftheFord]

I currently live and study on a University Campus that prides itself on its traditions. Some of these traditions seem pointless, others just downright stupid. But I'm called a 2%er if I even mention this fact.

I do like tradition to a certain extent, but holding firm to certain traditions hinders the pursuit of knowledge and truth. Certain traditions offer truth themselves though. I think a good mixture of tradition and change is the best path to true understanding.

But what do you think? Do you think that it is better to maintain traditions that are cultural, religious, political,etc? Or do you think that we need to abandon the old ways entirely? Or do you think a mix of old tradition and change would be the best way to attain knowledge and truth?

 

[GodsAndFishes]

Traditions can be good, but at the same time change for the sake of change can royally bugger things up. So yeah a mixture.

 

[Dragon_of_red]

I think that we need tradiotional Religious and Culteral things, but change pretty much everything else... if there is anything else.

 

[RexoftheFord]

I think that we need tradiotional Religious and Culteral things, but change pretty much everything else... if there is anything else.

THere's plenty of traditions outside of culture and religion. You've got political, musical, stuff like that. Which in a way can be cultural or religious, but then again they have their own essence.

 

[Dragon_of_red]

I think that we need tradiotional Religious and Culteral things, but change pretty much everything else... if there is anything else.

THere's plenty of traditions outside of culture and religion. You've got political, musical, stuff like that. Which in a way can be cultural or religious, but then again they have their own essence.

Hmmm, im still staying with the tradional cultures and Religions, because we all know how angry religious people can get... yeah... jokes...

But if we changed tradions like that, then we would eff up so many people and get burned at the stake for it... figurativley speaking of course.

Although i would like to add that it is up to the person to choose, if snyone decides to change something for you, therre gonna get a face full of fists and a room full of law suits.

 

[Woem]

There is this guy who is happily married. But there's this one thing that's bothering him. His wife always cuts the ends off the sausages when she cooks them. So he asks her, "Dear, why do you always cut the ends off the sausage when you cook them?" Surprised, she replies " I don't know. I have always done so. I learned from my mother and I have done it my whole life."

At the next visit to the wife's parents the man asks, "Why do you always cut the ends off the sausage when you cook them?" Surprised, the mother replies "I don't know. I have always done so. I learned from my mother and I have done it my whole life."

Some time later the man meets the grandmother and he eagerly asks, "I have asked your daughter and grand daughter, neither can explain, why do you cut the ends off the sausage when you cook them?" The grandmother looks at him and says, "Why are they still cooking with a small pan?"

 

[RexoftheFord]

There is this guy who is happily married. But there's this one thing that's bothering him. His wife always cuts the ends off the sausages when she cooks them. So he asks her, "Dear, why do you always cut the ends off the sausage when you cook them?" Surprised, she replies " I don't know. I have always done so. I learned from my mother and I have done it my whole life."

At the next visit to the wife's parents the man asks, "Why do you always cut the ends off the sausage when you cook them?" Surprised, the mother replies "I don't know. I have always done so. I learned from my mother and I have done it my whole life."

Some time later the man meets the grandmother and he eagerly asks, "I have asked your daughter and grand daughter, neither can explain, why do you cut the ends off the sausage when you cook them?" The grandmother looks at him and says, "Why are they still cooking with a small pan?"

Interesting. So are you saying that traditions stem out of ignorance of why something is done? Or do you believe that it's something that merely comes automatic?

 

[MelasZepheos_v1legacy]

If people cling too hard to tradition, it stagnates a society culturally. Then again, with no tradition, you don't the opportunity to learn from mistakes and move on.

There needs to be a balance, and in my opinion, right now western society is more on the 'tradition' side of things. We need to encourage change and growth.

 

[comadorcrack]

I answer this with a quote from the ever genius south park...

CHANGE... CHAAANNGEE

 

[MGlBlaze]

Change for the sake of change can seriously screw things up, as much if not more than holding on to pointless and archaic traditions that could be better now.

A mixture is the best, I think. Change things for the better whenever possible, but hold on to traditions if they are still relevant or make sense to keep sight of how things used to be at the same time.

 

[WayOutThere]

I cannot imagine why anyone would value a tradition just because its a tradition. If there is a more rationally sound idea throw out tradition and go with that.

 

[Woem]

There is this guy who is happily married. But there's this one thing that's bothering him. His wife always cuts the ends off the sausages when she cooks them. So he asks her, "Dear, why do you always cut the ends off the sausage when you cook them?" Surprised, she replies " I don't know. I have always done so. I learned from my mother and I have done it my whole life."

At the next visit to the wife's parents the man asks, "Why do you always cut the ends off the sausage when you cook them?" Surprised, the mother replies "I don't know. I have always done so. I learned from my mother and I have done it my whole life."

Some time later the man meets the grandmother and he eagerly asks, "I have asked your daughter and grand daughter, neither can explain, why do you cut the ends off the sausage when you cook them?" The grandmother looks at him and says, "Why are they still cooking with a small pan?"

Interesting. So are you saying that traditions stem out of ignorance of why something is done? Or do you believe that it's something that merely comes automatic?

I'm saying that we should never be afraid to question why we do something, and that "because we have always done so" is not always a good motivator.

 

[RexoftheFord]

There is this guy who is happily married. But there's this one thing that's bothering him. His wife always cuts the ends off the sausages when she cooks them. So he asks her, "Dear, why do you always cut the ends off the sausage when you cook them?" Surprised, she replies " I don't know. I have always done so. I learned from my mother and I have done it my whole life."

At the next visit to the wife's parents the man asks, "Why do you always cut the ends off the sausage when you cook them?" Surprised, the mother replies "I don't know. I have always done so. I learned from my mother and I have done it my whole life."

Some time later the man meets the grandmother and he eagerly asks, "I have asked your daughter and grand daughter, neither can explain, why do you cut the ends off the sausage when you cook them?" The grandmother looks at him and says, "Why are they still cooking with a small pan?"

Interesting. So are you saying that traditions stem out of ignorance of why something is done? Or do you believe that it's something that merely comes automatic?

I'm saying that we should never be afraid to question why we do something, and that "because we have always done so" is not always a good motivator.

Excellent point. Thanks for the clear up mate.

 

[Talyn.Co]

Traditions that make sense should stay. But many traditions these days are pointless and even pathetic in a modern context. My family has a strong tradition of not randomly stabbing people in the eye but that doesn't mean we should start for the sake of change.
So I really have nothing new to say other than disagree as I think the culture needs some serious changes too, although doing say wouldn't be very sensible. But I really don't know enough about the situation to enter into a discussion about it.

 

[Pingieking]

I think my view goes along with the concensus of the Escapist forums. I think that as long as the traditions make sense, then keep it. The sad thing is that a lot of traditions that make absolutely no sense are still be practiced, and in some cases being kept sacred. Oh well. Time will fix all problems.

 

[CrysisMcGee]

This is one of the oldest arguments in history. Started with Religion, and Scientific Progress. Still goes on today.

Personally, some traditions that are for a college don't seem that bad to me. But if a change would be better, like I've seen myself, then I say do it.

 

[VanityGirl]

I like traditions. Like gathering around the Christmas tree with my whole family to catch up on what we've missed over the last year.

I do think we should allow change to enter our lives, but we should always continue family traditions.

 

[Saskwach]

Edmund Burke said (to paraphrase very viciously) "I support tradition that might be a minor ailment until it becomes a debilitating illness." He said this because he reasoned (reason, funnily enough, being a word mostly used by those who oppose traditions) that any one man or small number of men can only be expected to understand so much, and can't usually be trusted to rationally comprehend the complex reasoning behind this or that tradition or ruling or whatever. Better to just stick with tradition (where tradition can be loosely defined as: "a collection, surviving to the current time, of responses of all our past generations to the problems of their day, many of which still face us") and assume it's there for a reason until it's quite, quite clear that there isn't any more.
In other words: if it ain't broke, don't fix it. You might break it.

 

[Agema]

Edmund Burke said (to paraphrase very viciously) "I support tradition that might be a minor ailment until it becomes a debilitating illness." He said this because he reasoned (reason, funnily enough, being a word mostly used by those who oppose traditions) that any one man or small number of men can only be expected to understand so much, and can't usually be trusted to rationally comprehend the complex reasoning behind this or that tradition or ruling or whatever. Better to just stick with tradition (where tradition can be loosely defined as: "a collection, surviving to the current time, of responses of all our past generations to the problems of their day, many of which still face us") and assume it's there for a reason until it's quite, quite clear that there isn't any more.
In other words: if it ain't broke, don't fix it. You might break it.

Agreed, largely.

For the most part, change needs justification, and the more of a change that is needed, the greater the justification required.

 

[cuddly_tomato]

If people cling too hard to tradition, it stagnates a society culturally. Then again, with no tradition, you don't the opportunity to learn from mistakes and move on.

There needs to be a balance, and in my opinion, right now western society is more on the 'tradition' side of things. We need to encourage change and growth.

Why though?

I am very much against the idea that anyone needs to encourage anything. People should be free to make up their own minds on which traditions they want to follow and which traditions they want to abandon.