Reaching Others By Not Talking At Each Other
A conversation between characters Richard and Gwen about Bill in Robert A. Heinlein’s great book The Cat Who Walks Through Walls reminded me of how important listening, seeking to understand, and appreciating the views of others is. Here is a quote from that conversation: “No, I don’t know, I don’t understand how his mind works. We talked at each other but we didn’t reach each other. He believes his nonsense.” This statement reflects a deep sense of disconnect between two individuals.
When Gwen said, “We talked at each other but we didn’t reach each other,” it suggested that although they were exchanging words, there was no real communication or understanding taking place. It’s as if they were speaking different languages. Ever had a conversation with one person expressing thoughts that the other could comprehend or relate to?
The phrase “He believes his nonsense” indicates that the character in the novel, Gwen, sees the other’s beliefs or ideas as illogical or absurd, yet those beliefs are sincerely held by the other. This creates a barrier to genuine dialogue and understanding because one person cannot accept or appreciate the perspective of the other.
This excerpt highlights the challenges of communication and the difficulty of bridging gaps in understanding between people who have fundamentally different views or experiences. It underscores how important it is to find common ground in conversations to truly connect with others.
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