Tradition vs. Change
- Thread starter RexoftheFord
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I like tradition because it influences culture and all but when change needs to be done do it. If it doesn't that culture will die out because the other cultures around it become civilizations and maybe even destroy that tiny culture. You can't always rely on the past. You must change eventually.
That I can answer in one convenient clip:
The thing is that tradition gives people precedent for doing things, assuring them both the stability in life that they believe they need as well as making them confident of the way they do things. Now, I'm not saying that change is a bad thing, quite the contrary. If change is generally better received by the public and the administration, chances are that the change will be more beneficial than the previous practices. However, forcing people to adopt this change can lead to a backlash that can ultimately harm society more than the change did good. I recommend watching this movie, Fiddler on the Roof, if you haven't. It thoroughly explores the themes of change within a culture that thrives off of traditional practices.
The thing is that tradition gives people precedent for doing things, assuring them both the stability in life that they believe they need as well as making them confident of the way they do things. Now, I'm not saying that change is a bad thing, quite the contrary. If change is generally better received by the public and the administration, chances are that the change will be more beneficial than the previous practices. However, forcing people to adopt this change can lead to a backlash that can ultimately harm society more than the change did good. I recommend watching this movie, Fiddler on the Roof, if you haven't. It thoroughly explores the themes of change within a culture that thrives off of traditional practices.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. But it's rather silly to transport urgent messages with a pigeon if both you and the receiver have a phone, a computer with a broadband internet connection or anything of the like.
Does your current way of doing something work? Is there a better, more efficient and obtainable way?
I don't understand why you would choose something older over something better.
Does your current way of doing something work? Is there a better, more efficient and obtainable way?
I don't understand why you would choose something older over something better.
Yes, Max, we get that you're a lonely sociopath with no human soul. Please, find a new tune to fiddle to, this one's getting stale.MaxTheReaper said:
Traditions are nice if they make sense; but if one stands in the way of change (for the better), change should always come first.
Without knowing what traditions in question you're objecting to, it's difficult to make a judgement. Your discussion of the best way to seek "true understanding", "knowledge and truth", ect. makes me wonder what in the hell you're talking about. But, it might be the way you present your argument (rather than the concept) that makes people react with the feeling that you're a bit of a plonker.RexoftheFord said:
If you say "some of these traditions don't make sense", I'd wager you'll get a warmer reception than if you say "these traditions hinder my search for true understanding of the path of knowledge and truth". I can be a pretentious git with the best of them, but come on.
I'm using encourage in it's less than obvious form here.cuddly_tomato said:
For example, currently you are often actively discouraged from changing things, at least in an educational setting. We need to stop the discouraging, which would therefore encourage, but without making people feel like they have to grow and mature.
Tradition, for me, does not have to serve a purpose. Sometimes it's fun, entertaining, or just fascinating. Traditions that stifle people's participation (like sexist ones) should be reconsidered, but part of the fun of the past is sharing it with the present. I'm for appropriate change while trying to maintain traditions.
I think we should adopt our traditions 100% and abandon change. Go back to your own inherited traditions as far as you can trace them. If that means eating people and dancing naked around a pine tree during the solstice, so be it. Nom nom nom nom nom nom nom nom.
I was kind of waiting for someone to use Fiddler on the Roof as an example. It is a great film.mugetsu37 said:
And the Red Herring comes in at a close second. This is merely a discussion about Tradition vs. Change. To explore the entirety of the subject. I could ennumerate the many traditions I thought were stupid, as well as the many changes I thought were stupid, but it would limit the discussion to only those things. I prefer to not limit discussion.Seldon2639 said:
Not all traditions are merely done "because it's always been done." Some have a serious logical or ethical reason for doing so. Like the cutting the end off the sausages example that was presented earlier, the original meaning behind the cutting off the ends was logical, and the tradition of doing so would still be logical if the pan being used were still small. But over time, when people don't speak on why you're doing something, the meaning of the tradition gets lost.MaxTheReaper said:
So, in a way I agree with you, but I find your definition of tradition a bit lacking.
If eating people would be the most logical choice, then I'd agree with your sarcasm in its entirety.jthm said:
I said "I don't understand why you would choose something older over something better."RexoftheFord said:
Not "I don't understand why you would choose something older over something newer."
Obviously you're not going to replace your carrier pigeon with a microwave oven.
