Friday, January 20, 2012

On the Efficacy of the Dissemination of Ideas

In comments to this post, Og and I had a little discussion touching on the subject of the efficacy of the dissemination of ideas, the main idea being disseminating the idea of reclaiming our inalienable right to life, liberty and freedom.  Og requested of me, “let me know how well that works out for you,” to which I somewhat defeatedly replied “I know.”

I’ve lightly touched on the subject of the efficacy of the dissemination of ideas previously, stating in that post the following in regards to the use of the internet and blogging in disseminating ideas.

In fact, we will be fortunate to be remembered digitally as a string of 0s and 1s cached by Google.

There are certain conditions which are conducive to the dissemination of ideas.  Edward Gibbon, in The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, suggested that the Roman road system was conducive to the spread of Christianity.  Christ himself, in The Parable of the Sower, notes that fertile ground is conducive is the dissemination of ideas, and is not our current political and economic climate conducive, fertile ground, for disseminating the idea that democracy is failing us?

Ideas matter, and while we may consider our ability to disseminate ideas as lacking, or somewhat futile, planting the seed of an idea is sound, even in the smallest plot of fertile ground.

Joan of Argghh! has touched on the subject of the dissemination of ideas a number of times in posts such as Higher Ground and Here’s What It’s Gonna Sound Like, and in her most recent post, titled Batting .500, she provides a real life example of disseminating an idea which could yield results even if the ground is not so fertile.

...downtown Charleston today I came across a delightful young lady in a boutique store. She was wearing a “Save Ferris” t-shirt, which while kind of cool,  is also kind of disconcerting when I realize she wasn’t even born when the movie came out.

We chatted in friendly and happy tones; the talk of a girl who hadn’t had many visitors to her store that day,  clearly elated to have a non-tourist interaction.  I came to learn that she was a college student from Maine who was now preparing to transfer to Southern Oregon. What follows is more or less exact:

Me: Southern Oregon? What will you study there?
She: Sociology with a minor in Women’s Studies.
Me: Now, really, what on earth will you do with that kind of degree?
She: I want to be a couples’ counselor.
Me: Well, shouldn’t you also have a minor in Men’s Studies?
She: I dont’ think they have such a thing. I’ve never heard of it. . .
Me: Well, won’t half your clients be men?
She:
Me: Unless you’re just going to specialize in lesbian couples, NTTAWWT. . .
She: [nervous laugh] Hehheh. Yeah, really. I hadn’t thought of that.

Gentlemen, I hope I’ve done you all some small service of human dignity by making just one sweet young girl stop and think about the other half of the planet.  It’s not much, but hopefully it’s the thought that counts.

This may not be the most efficient method of disseminating ideas, but at least it is a dissemination of an idea.

Posted by John Venlet on 01/20 at 10:38 AM
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