Ben Franklin Says to Shut Up
We have to read Franklin's autobiography for the history of the book class I'm in, and, around the middle of it, he outlines 13 virtues, complete with little summaries of what they are and what they mean. One of them is silence, by which he means speaking only that which is immediately useful to those around you or yourself. Otherwise, shut up.
On the one hand, I can see this, because I hate listening to long stories that people tell me, especially when they don't involve me at all and have no bearing on my life, no interest value for me. I understand that sometimes people, and some more than others, like to talk/vent/take the stage; but, since you are never allowed to obviously not listen to these stories, they infringe upon your time and make impolite demands on your patience for no good reason. So, I can see where Franklin would say that idle gossip and lengthy one-sided stories are no good, that utilitarian uses of language are paramount.
On the other hand, look how long this post has been? And really, who cares? The difference is that you can stop reading at any time, and I'm not demanding that you make sounds of recognition and/or maintain eye contact or anything (although, you probably won't read this very well if you cast down your eyes...). You still have your own autonomy. However, it is a long boring story about this time I read something in Franklin's autobiography and thought about it.
Thoughts (utilitarian and otherwise)?
On the one hand, I can see this, because I hate listening to long stories that people tell me, especially when they don't involve me at all and have no bearing on my life, no interest value for me. I understand that sometimes people, and some more than others, like to talk/vent/take the stage; but, since you are never allowed to obviously not listen to these stories, they infringe upon your time and make impolite demands on your patience for no good reason. So, I can see where Franklin would say that idle gossip and lengthy one-sided stories are no good, that utilitarian uses of language are paramount.
On the other hand, look how long this post has been? And really, who cares? The difference is that you can stop reading at any time, and I'm not demanding that you make sounds of recognition and/or maintain eye contact or anything (although, you probably won't read this very well if you cast down your eyes...). You still have your own autonomy. However, it is a long boring story about this time I read something in Franklin's autobiography and thought about it.
Thoughts (utilitarian and otherwise)?