Tradition vs. Change

[infinisynth]

It really just depends on what tradition you are talking about. Give me an example and I'll give you my opinion.

 

[DarkPanda XIII]

In the end, Traditions are the quirks in life that makes the people comfortable. If they don't feel like asking, that is how they learn to do things, much like the sausage joke and all that. I'm mostly into the idea of change myself, but then again, I work at a job that seems to change everything upon a dime-roll. One day I'm asked to buffer something with a chemical and a scrubby. A week later? They suddenly tell me the chemical isn't working despite the fact I polished the object to a nice shine and told me to use a different chemical that doesn't really work that well with a scrubby that barely works and then ask me to make it look as good as I did before.

This is only an example, but in the long run, we do need to keep a few traditions in check, the basic rules that are suppose to keep one functional in life. The rest, more irritating stuff? Change, definetly. But dear lord, don't keep changing the thoughts of people every few monthes, you might kill a few people doing that.

 

[RexoftheFord]

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.

Perhaps the older system was better in certain scenarios.

I said "I don't understand why you would choose something older over something better."
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.

But if your phone was tapped, perhaps a carrier pigeon would be less easy to follow to find out your conversation.

 

[RexoftheFord]

It really just depends on what tradition you are talking about. Give me an example and I'll give you my opinion.

Well, you'd have to come on a roadtrip with me, because some of them would be difficult to explain without a visual, and even if I pulled that off it would be difficult for me to explain why they should be abandoned.

 

[Monocle Man]

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.

Perhaps the older system was better in certain scenarios.

I said "I don't understand why you would choose something older over something better."
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.

But if your phone was tapped, perhaps a carrier pigeon would be less easy to follow to find out your conversation.

*Kaboom*
"Let's see what message it held."
or
*Kaboom*
"Damn ye pigeons, stop pooping on mah lawn!"

You could also send the message in a different variant of Morse code over a cable.

But if the unmatched safety and reliability a carrier pigeon has is more important than the speed a message would be delivered, then the carrier pigeon is still better than the other things and should not be changed, of course.

 

[Jharry5]

I think that you need to strike a good balance between tradition and change. Family traditions (especially around Christmas, even though I don't believe in God or whatever) are especially important. I see that as a time to catch up with the family and friends.

Other traditions I'm not so keen on. For example, most (if not all) of those surrounding marriage. Maybe its because I've never really given it much thought, or because religion just doesn't play a part in my life, but I can't see the point to those certain traditions.

I think the answer here lies in the middle ground...

 

[Aardvark]

There are two types of change. Radical and gradual. Humans, being evolved to find a comfort zone and sit in it, are best suited to gradual change. Radical change scares people. Though radical change brings about the image of strange, new, wonderous inventions from the dreams of the Jet Age, all radical change really means is change that's faster than people are comfortable with. Yes, you need change now, but radical change forces people out of their comfort zone. When they're outside their comfort zone, humans are frightened and angry.

If you wish to implement change, the best way to do it is so gradually that nobody notices.

 

[Valiance]

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.

Basically this.

Sometimes tradition is wrong, stupid, outdated, etc.

Sometimes tradition can be a helpful new insight towards a current event. Just some things are obsolete or not designed for our time period, or are built around culturally accepted standards at the time, like, say, slavery being okay.

 

[RexoftheFord]

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.

Perhaps the older system was better in certain scenarios.

I said "I don't understand why you would choose something older over something better."
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.

But if your phone was tapped, perhaps a carrier pigeon would be less easy to follow to find out your conversation.

I honestly can't believe we're talking about pigeons. I think this is where we'll stop this. lol

 

[Doug]

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?

Probably - its why game mechanics that are no longer important stay along for the ride - like the live's system in Mario games.

 

[Naheal]

A tradition for the sake of tradition is one which has long lost it's meaning.

 

[Blackality]

If traditions are pointless/stupid then change is the best solution.

 

[Redingold]

Seriously, if you get rid of traditions just because you can't remember how they started, then you're no better than a foreigner.

Cookie going for a reference here!

 

[thepj]

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?

what kind of traditions are these that you fell hinder learnign and knowledge? and what the fuck is a 2%er?

OT i belive that a mixture is best, keeping traditions that serve a purpose, a positive purpose that is, and throw out old, stagnet and useless ones that do people in general no good

 

[lSHaDoW-FoXl]

Sometimes if we bury our self in too much tradition we practically forget the part OF tradition. The same goes with change.

I find religious traditions are entirely pointless, and the only ones that should be celebrated are of diversity, ethnicity, and cultural difference, that way we can show a bit of our selves and share our experiences.

Meanwhile Religious ones...I'm afraid I feel quite bitter towards.

I can argue religious traditions are why I'm a social recluse - and why I fear 75% of the world, which definitely does not promote difference nor diversity. I also cannot help but think of all the religious traditions which have either become entirely forgotten.

Christmas, what is it about?

If it's about Jesus why do I give my family gifts?
If it's about family why was I told Santa Was real?
If it's about love then why is money still involved?

Easter is even worse, how did we go from celebrating from Jesus to painting eggs? Or perhaps about a bunny which lays eggs?

When I think of Religious tradition I think of all the people that were condemned to death over their sexuality, religion, beliefs, and diversity, I think of how progressive and social rights were slowed down.

I'm afraid I feel bitter towards nationalism and patriotic ideals as well, I do not think a country should consider there better then another, otherwise that's narcissism and ignorance.

I recall one experience where this person wanted every German dead over what they had done in WW2. My argument on the matter was -

Most of the world is from German descent, Russia was just as brutal as Germany during this time, Britain, Spain, France, and China have done far worse in their past.

His argument was 'They attacked Poland and I'm Polish!'

So, basically to him it didn't matter what the Germans did to the Jewish, nor did it matter on how they tortured and experimented on people. The only thing that made him hate Germans was because they occupied Poland -arguably one of the more smaller things they had done in World War Two-

When I also think of Tradition I think of seals being beaten to death with a club, dogs and cats skinned for fur. I also think of Marriage, and how it's a belief that doesn't accustom our very nature, it can be argued us humans are more of a polygamous species then a monogamous - if we were monogamous then a lot of us wouldn't be trying to screw every girl/guy in sight in our teen years. -

Oh, and if we were more monogamous marriages would work more often, cheating would be less common.

So yes, I'm pretty much more for change, I'd prefer a world where we continue to advance technology, that way we can fix the mistakes we have done, or a world where we stop progress all together and live in a world which can heal its self.