Debates and Debating

"Debates are the extreme polarization of a
central issue, and the eternal nemesis of Truth."
-Joseph Panek

As we work our way through our school years we are introduced
to a concept which is "theoretically" designed to assist us with our
Decisions and Actions.  And because this concept is a part of
our formal education, we accept it to be sound, reasonable, and
efficient.  However, this concept is, in reality, an exercise in futility
which hampers, stagnates, and Confuses us. This concept is the
"art" of Debating.

A debate is a structured visible and verbal competition in which
two individuals, or factions, present two polarizing sides of a
central issue.

Furthermore, debates are "scored" based upon how these
opposing sides "present" their argument and NOT on whether
they arrived at the Truth of the issue.

And because it is a visual and verbal competition, the judges and
audience are all-too-often deceptively swayed by the poise,
appearance, and "charisma" of the debaters.  These deceptions
encourage the viewers of the debate to willingly and gladly toss
aside the central Truth of the issue being debated and Believe the
debater who appears to be the most attractive and seductive.

When we consider these issues we find that the purpose of a
debate competition is NOT to get to the heart (the Truth) of the
issue being debated. The sole purpose of a staged debate is to
win the debate by whatever means necessary.

So, the question is: what is the primary purpose for staging a
debate in today's society?

As staged debates, in today's society, are either won or lost
based upon the perceived appearance of the debaters, it is safe
to conclude that debates are structured so as to discredit, cloud,
and Confuse the central issue (the Truth) of the topic being
debated.

And as the debaters are not concerned with getting to the Truth
of the issue being debated, their debate competition is naturally
divisive. It inflames and polarizes the spectators of the debate.

Many high schools and colleges have debating clubs. Students
in these clubs are taught to argue two sides of a simple issue.
Each side introduces various aspects to the original issue until
the issue is completely buried under a mass of confounding
arguments which simply serve to encourage divisiveness and
hide the Truth.

We see this drama played out unendingly in our court system,
politics, "news" media, group discussions, and in the conflicting
opinions of "experts" who are paraded before us on a daily
basis.

We are taught that debating is a skill. Unfortunately, in today's
society, it is a skill that is designed to cloud, or Veil, an issue.
Debating incorporates confusion into the main issue. It keeps
throwing conflicting issues onto the Truth and buries the Truth
beneath layers of clutter. This takes us in the exact opposite
direction which we should be Traveling: the direction of Truth,
clarity, and Wisdom.

By assigning one party to debate the opposite side of a simple
issue (the Truth), we are teaching our students and children to
attack the Truth, to take the opposite side of the Truth, to cloud
the Truth, and to become a "devil's advocate" for the sole purpose
of "winning" an argument. When, if fact, we should be encouraging
our children, our students, and ourselves to focus on, and Seek
out, the Truth.

Truth is the only issue which should concern us...not gossip,
"mud-slinging", hearsay, unfounded Opinions, unproven theories,
factless accusations, or discrediting someone else solely for the
purpose of getting enough "points" to "win" a debate.

Nor should we allow our children, our students, and ourselves to
be deceived by which debater has the best hair style, most
fashionable clothing outfit, and the smoothest voice.

For perceptions are very often deceiving. And Truth is rarely, if
ever, delivered to us by a "silver-tongued devil".

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2011

Appearances And Perceptions

"Trust not too much to appearances."
- Virgil

"The fish sees only the bait, not the hook."
- Chinese proverb

Why is it that we are so ready to unconditionally judge the inner,
and unseen, contents of a box or package based solely upon its
outer gift wrapping?

Why is it that we so readily accept the words of some "expert"
or "authority" simply because these Words are presented to
us by someone who is stylishly groomed, impeccably dressed,
and is in possession of some "recognized credentials"?

Why is it that we trust in, and unquestionably Believe, the many
arguments, dogmas, and Indoctrinations which are served to us
by way of attractive "packaging" which is designed by, and
delivered to us by way of, self-serving individuals, groups, and
organizations?

Over time, society has created a materialistic measuring scale
for us to use when making Decisions. This measuring scale has
conditioned us to perceive that the more attractive a person, a
cause, or thing appears, the more we should unquestionably rely
upon it as being trustworthy, desirable, and True.

In other words, we have been Indoctrinated into believing that
illusion should be accepted as Truth, and that Truth, which is
seldom, if ever, presented to us by way of sparkle and glitter,
should be ridiculed, discredited, and ignored.

This is why it is so easy to manipulate, and Deceive, the masses.
Manipulation and Deception simply require an attractively
camouflaged appearance, a well-baited hook, for them to be accepted
as valid by most members of society.

And after we have willingly allowed ourselves to be tricked by
some cutely packaged scheme or promotion, we say to ourselves:
"I should have known better".

But how does this happen to us? Why do we allow ourselves
to be tricked, manipulated, and deceived by attractive Words,
well-groomed "experts", and tantalizing promotions? Why is it that
we do not 'know better' right from the start?

The answer is quite simple. Slowly, over time, and without even
being aware of it, we have been taught to become complacent,
lazy, and impatient. We have been "nudged" into relinquishing
our Sovereign responsibility to fully research and investigate
the Choices, Decisions, and dilemmas that constantly confront
us as we Journey through our Current Incarnation. We have been
"baited" into relying upon others to make important Decisions
for us regarding our personal well-being. We have agreed to
accept Indoctrination as a replacement for Self-Instruction. We
have been led to Believe that Appearance and Perception are the
only "tools" we need we need to consider when making our
Decisions.

And although we may be cunningly convinced by methods of
Appearance and Perception when making our Choices and
Decisions, deep down within ourselves most of us know that
Appearance and Perception, by themselves, very seldom lead
us to Truth, Wisdom, Happiness and Harmony.

This is why, in Myth and Legend, Oracles, Omens, Wise Sages,
and Master Teachers, who are plainly dressed and soft-spoken,
speak their Truths only once. And when these Truths are spoken
they are left to fall upon the ears of those few who are ready to
receive them. That which is True, Wise, Honest, and Harmonious
does not rely upon any Appearance and Perception created by way
of sparkle and glitter.

Ancient Teachings continually remind us that Truth, Wisdom,
Honesty, Harmony, and Compatibility are always standing right
before us in all of their undeceptive and common Simplicity, and
few of us ever take the Time to give these longed-for Treasures a
second look.

(See also: "Beauty - Inner Beauty vs. Outer Beauty" and
"Masquerade - The Masks We Wear")

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2010

Self-Deception

"The greatest deception men suffer is
from their own opinions."
- Leonardo da Vinci

A deception is an un-truth, an intentional misguidance, a lie. When
we deceive someone else we are, in fact, lying to them. When we
deceive ourselves we are either lying to ourselves or we are
accepting as Truth a lie or a misguidance from someone else.

With this thought in mind, why is it oftentimes much easier for us
to believe lies and deceptions than it is for us to believe and accept
the Truth?

One reason we allow ourselves to be deceived is that there are
certain things we wish were true. We blind ourselves to all actions,
information and facts that are in opposition to whatever it is that
we "wish" to Believe. We deceive ourselves into believing that if we
blindly follow a deception it will eventually turn itself into the Truth.
However, as a deception or lie is completely contradictory to the
Truth, this "wish" of ours can never come into fruition and we end
up holding the rotted remains of a Self-Deception of our own
creation.

A second way in which we permit ourselves to be deceived is when
we allow the Opinions, arguments and self-serving comments of
others to influence our judgement.

In any issue there is only one Truth. However, in this same issue
there are many arguments and opinions which are contrary to the
Truth.

Why is this so?

The answer is rather simple. There is only one Truth. Truth does
not force itself upon anyone. Once it is spoken, or revealed, there
is no more to be said. Truth simply states its case and leaves it up
to us to either accept or reject it. Truth cannot add any arguments
or opinions to itself. Truth also has no reason to defend itself. The
Truth is simply...The Truth! This is why it is so easy for the
enemies of Truth to attack it.

For while Truth has has only one way to present itself, lies and
deceptions have many different avenues through which they can
attack the Truth and deceive unwary victims. Some of the ways
in which lies and deceptions attack the Truth is by way of Debates,
confusion and Opinions forced upon us by self-serving "experts"
and servant messengers.

We have been educated into believing that we must debate, and
"look at", all sides of an issue. Often, doing so simply clouds and
confuses an issue by allowing the demons of deception to enter
into the debate.

We also tend to believe that we must have a "devil's advocate" to
attack an issue simply for the sake of attacking it. In following the
path of devil's advocate, we often ultimately find the devil itself.

We have also been taught to believe that more "information"
enables us to make a better Decision. However, more "information"
usually adds to more confusion. Once the basic facts (the Truth)
of an issue has been un-veiled, anything else we add to the issue
simply creates a thick Mist of arguments and deceptions which
clouds the issue, confounds our thinking and leads us to erroneous
conclusions and Actions.

The vast armies of lies and deceptions are well-trained and well-
experienced. They have been practicing and perfecting their craft
for ages. Their "silver tongued" messengers have entranced and
slaughtered many innocent victims by persuading them to believe
in the folly and not the fact. For folly receives so much more
attention and promotion than does fact (Truth).

It is our responsibility to banish the specters of lies and deceptions
when they appear before us. However, before we can banish these
demons, we must first be able to recognize them.

Here are some of the ways in which we can protect ourselves
from being deceived:

Whenever we find ourselves confused about an issue we should
consider stepping back and taking a different look at whatever it is
that is confusing us. Confusion is a warning signal that either the
issue itself is not clear to us or we are allowing too much "information"
to clutter the issue and cloud our judgement.

Whenever we find ourselves entranced by, and carried away upon,
a wave of popular hysteria we must consider the fact that deception
is afoot and is working its diabolical miseries upon the masses. Truth
is simple and quiet; it does not present itself by means of popular
hysterias and delusions.

Whenever we find ourselves being entrapped into "looking at all
sides" of an issue we should realize that we are no longer
concentrating on the central issue, whatever it may be, but are
being led astray by multiple arguments and opinions which have
little, if anything, to do with the core issue. It is in times like these
that we must remind ourselves that deception has many "sides"
whereas the Truth has only one. The Truth is simply The Truth.

Whenever we find ourselves simply "wishing" something were true,
or when we find ourselves blindly accepting the arguments and
opinions of others without doing our own in-depth research, we are
opening ourselves up to a Self-Deception for which we have no one
to blame but ourselves.

Remembering that the Truth is simple, quiet and uncluttered we
should avoid all ideas, opinions and arguments which are loudly
forced upon us by the specters of deception. Once we are
introduced to the Truth we must accept it for what it is...simply
The Truth. Failure to recognize and accept The Truth when it is
presented to us can only lead us into dire Consequences.

Once we eliminate the clutter and wishful thinking which the agents
of deception plant in our minds we become able to focus on the
basic Truth of the issue which is before us. Then, with a clear mind
and unwavering understanding we are able to confidently act upon
the issue which is currently confronting us and banish the unholy
demons of Self-Deception from our lives.

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2010