We all have our moments of stubbornness, when we dig our heels in and refuse to budge. A line is drawn. Even if others prove categorically that our stated position is wrong, backing us in to an indefensible corner where black has to be declared white, then so be it. Backing down is not an option. 'They' go on and on, insisting they are right, insisting you are wrong and a mumpsimus is what you become.
In such a situation, though, I wonder if it less about who is wrong and more about who has to be right. A power thing. Human existence is built on little deceits, from the kind (you look wonderful, dear), the polite (that was very nice, interesting..), to the diplomatic (I'm sure this can be fixed) and the politic (everything possible is being done). Good manners, a smile and a tactful turn of phrase ease our way through life. In every disagreement, does someone have to be right? Or to be wrong? Does it really matter?
So what if we saw through every lie, all the misinformation and were aware of all the side-stepping from what actually is, to what others think we should know. I have just read a novel which puts forward the idea of an engine which would enable everyone to recognise a lie for what it was and see the consequences of its outcome and suggests it would therefore promote an end to war, conflict. Possible?
Or do we need little lies and deviousness to deal with the hugeness of life? If we truly knew what would happen if we said/did a certain something, would we ever be able to do anything?
This all came from the 'wordsmith' site and its word of the day - mumpsimus; (1) A view stubbornly held in spite of clear evidence that it is wrong. (2) A person who holds such a view.
A site to provoke thought!
*Oh, quote from my dictionary, under 'mump' - The sulks; a contagious disease characterized by a swelling and inflammation in the parotid and salivary glands!
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