THE CESSPOOL OF OUR ARGUMENTS

 


 

“People’s minds are changed through observation,

and not through arguments.”

Will Rogers


The dictionary meaning of the term ‘Cesspool’ is this: ‘An underground resourviour for liquid waste such as household sewage.’ It further describes it as: ‘a filthy, evil or corrupt place or state’…

And, how true that is!

Well, which cesspool am I talking about here, today?

The figurative one… The toxic arguments, let me be precise.

Like most around me, I, too, am aware of that impulsive need in me to argue with others, including my loved ones… often fiercely, with what they call - ‘teeth and nails’…

Colourful way of describing the way most of us choose to argue and try to ‘win’, right?

I have done that too many times… Only to end up feeling terribly bad, later. Because, when we argue with our teeth and nails, we resort to verbal violence… Invariably, it leaves our soul bruised and wounded.

And, imagine, when we do that with our loved ones!

So, these days, whenever the animal instinct in me is aroused, I remind myself: “Dude, go head only if you are prepared to get into the cesspool – that place of household liquid waste… yes, the filthy, evil and corrupt place.”

However dramatic it may sound, our toxic and loud arguments serve no good to anyone, anytime, anywhere. They only succeed in suppressing the weaker voices. The louder voices – the brash and ruthless ones – needn’t be the sane voices…

I, therefore, find myself – very often – quitting the arguments, the moment I recognize the danger of its consequences… I just quit, and let the loud noise around me die on its own…





It’s useless to argue with people who are hellbent in proving their point. If both the parties are hellbent in proving their points, they are doomed to end themselves into the cesspool – the filthy, evil hole!

I have realized what an energy-drainer our avoidable arguments are!

Yes, most of our arguments are avoidable… If the opponent is not ready to let go his need to prove right, I would, Sir.

In a slightly different way, we are advised by the wisemen: “Never try to explain too much… Your friends don’t require it; and your enemies won’t believe you, anyway.”





You see, in life, winning arguments and losing friends is a sad state of affair. But, even sadder state of affair is losing our own inner peace.

 

GERALD D’CUNHA

Pic’s.: Pixabay

Video: Gaur Gopal Das

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