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Why is it so hard to change tradition?
I read of an experiment on-line the other day. It didn't give much information about the origin of the experiment. But it went something like this, There are 5 monkeys in a cage, they have all been slightly under fed. A banana was put on top a podium in the middle of the cage, a monkey climbed the podium and got it. But when he touched it all of the other monkeys got sprayed with cold water. Another monkey went up on the podium when another banana was put there, except he was stopped this time by the other monkeys and beaten for trying to get the fruit. One by one the monkeys were to be replaced, the first new animal that was put into the cage mediately went for the banana, but was stopped and beaten. Then another monkey was replaced, he went for the banana but was stopped and beaten too, but the difference this time is the monkey that was beaten before joined in. The beatings continued as all the monkeys were replaced, and non of the monkeys knew why they were beating the other one up, only that they were beaten themselves for trying.
Robert Winner 50+
Many of the "traditions" were religious taboos for the health or sometime to the benefit of the "church". As an example the Jewish were told not to eat pork. The problem was not the pig or even the pork ... it was the disease trichinosis. Eating fish on Fridays ..... I think you can see the point.
Many of these things have gone away with modern methods and applications, as well as education of the masses. We probally would not burn witches in Salem today and would look for the mold in the wheat as the cause.
So a look at the root of customs and traditions is not only fun but very informative.
All the best. Bob.
Colleen Steen 500+
Pork.....tradition......reminds me..........:>)
When I was very young, my wasband (was my husband) was starting out a new career, and we had all the new office staff over for dinner. I made a lovely pork roast dinner with all the fixings, which was a huge success.
During the dinner, one person said to another, how does that pork taste to you....being Jewish and all. OH MY GOODNESS....I never even thought about that. I felt terrible....for a minute! The woman who was Jewish, laughed heartily and said..."if this was 2000 years ago, I probably would not be eating it because they had no refrigeration then. Colleen has a frig., and I trust that she kept the meat refrigerated prior to cooking it......right Colleen? That was my education regarding the underlying reason for that tradition.
I'm sure that many people still honor that tradition/requirement of the faith, and that is a choice individuals make.
Fiddler is a GREAT show...is it not?
peter lindsay 30+
Colleen Steen 500+
I agree with a lot of what you say...
You write..."as we lose functional brain capacity we seek out predictable situations".
I will add........Unless we have another plan!!! LOL:>)
peter lindsay 30+
Colleen Steen 500+
Talking about having work done on just about everything reminds me of a "scene"...LOL
My buddies and I were having a beer, sharing stories and laughter after a great day of skiing. One guy said his new hip was working really well....another commented that his knee replacements were great....three of the buddies said their shoulder replacements and/or reconstructive surgery was good....and I, of course had my brain worked on because of a near fatal head injury, which they lovingly, joyfully do not let me forget!!!
One of the guys looked contemplative for a minute, and finally said....
"do we have any good original "parts" at this table at all?"
Great cause for laughter, which of course stimulates the mind/body. Now THAT is a great tradition!!!
John Allyn
Feyisayo Anjorin 50+
But sometimes people are just too foolish to desire change for the sake of change. Not because a certain tradition has failed or that it does not work. But because such traditions require the kind of discipline and commitment that they are not willing to give.
I think most people fall into the trap of thinking that wisdom and discoveries are new to humanity; and that anything that is new has to be good, while the old has to be bad.
Debra Smith 200+
edward long 100+
Colleen Steen 500+
I totally agree that each case ought to be examined on its own merits, and that some traditions may be found to be positive and beneficial, while others are useless and harmful. We (humans) often get attached to traditions as the one and only reality, and sometimes believe that we cannot live without them.
With appropriate information, we have the mental capacity as evolving individuals, to filter information to make beneficial decisions in our global societies.
edward long 100+
Colleen Steen 500+
Yes, mental capacity can come into play with each and every scenario as we travel life's pathways. I suggest that "wise" and "safe" may be very different from each other, so it is "wise" for us to know what is "safe" and why.
Sometimes, we may not have an obvious "course of action", and in that case we can go along for the ride with as much love and courage as we can muster in the moment, always seeking balance:>) Yes, life can be interesting, challenging and fun:>)
I offer you a senario regarding change, tradition, courage, fear, uncertainty, and a LOT of all kinds of feelings and emotions.
I was a competitive athlete, singer, dancer, actor, model, very active participant in the community, and in the best physical and emotional condition I had ever been in, when I went horse-back riding one day.
When I regained consciousness two week later, after an emergency craniotomy and being on life support systems, everything was a blur, and I was in a child-like state emotionally and physically.
There were lots of people with me (daughter, son, x-husb, sisters, brothers, friends) and they were all a blur....who ARE these people? Who am I? What am I? Over a period of time, when I began remembering bits of information, my question was why am I alive?
For a LOOOOOONG time, I looked at my acting/modeling portfolio over and over again...looked at articles in the paper about me....acting and playing competive tennis....looked a photos of myself prior to the accident.....that's me??? Really? I read the medical reports over and over again....looked at photos of me with my kids, friends, etc.....that's me? Really?
Honestly, it would have felt MORE safe to stay in the box the medical professionals tried to give me....never function again....never have to make decisions....never have to work hard again....rest.....relax.....that would have felt REALLY good at that time.
I kept reaching......reaching......reaching outside the box Edward....beyond what felt safe.
Colleen Steen 500+
Many things changed for me at that time in my life. Of course, I still had/have the same family, the same home, the same underlying values, and all things that are important to me.
One important thing I learned is to detach from those things that are not really important......traditions, patterns, habits that don't make any sense and do not serve me OR humankind. We do not need to get hit in the head to learn this, as I'm sure you know Edward. It is a matter of mindfully taking in information and being aware of how we use information. That is how we can learn, grow, evolve, with a balanced life experience.....in my humble perception:>)
edward long 100+
I know you are not fishing for kudos, but kudos! What a story. Thanks for sharing your hard-won insight. You are right that If we could learn to wisely and candidly evaluate our traditions, habits, and beliefs perhaps they would not so stubbornly refuse change. Peace. --Edward
Colleen Steen 500+
Yes indeed.....Peace......
Anne Dagen 10+
The advantage of tradition is the knowledge that certain behaviours result in predictable social reactions or other predictable results. This frees the individual from having to analyse on a case by case basis, and allows them to develop new concepts. Ttradition has value in promoting cohesion in society and in allowing the development of new ideas, so there is good reason for people to believe that tradition is a good thing.
Sometimes tradition outlives its usefulness, either because the underlying reason for it ceases to apply, or because the reduction in risk arising from traditional behaviour is offset by the benefits to be gained from a non-traditional approach. Where defiance of tradition is the route to progressing a new concept, that tension has value in that it forces testing of the validity of the new concept.
Debra Smith 200+
Lawren Jones 10+
Kevin Jacobson
Maximilian Thomas
Lejan . 30+
Rhona Pavis 50+
Ian Sheane
Rhona Pavis 50+
Fritzie Reisner 100+
James Zhang 30+
1) sheep - people who readily follow others, without really giving much thought
2) questioners - people who question things
Sheep are people who readily accept/reject ideas without much thought. They believe in previous ideas without question.
Questioners want to seek a logical understanding before making a decision to accept/reject. These guys want to make sure they're not making the wrong decision, and constantly analyze new ideas and make an effort to accept/reject them.
Everyone, to a degree, has both sheep-like and questioner-like qualities. In the end, everyone goes by whatever makes sense to them.
In another post somewhere, I also believe that there are some dangerous ideas that are so radical and drastic, that almost no one can even accept, no matter how true the new idea may be. Basically, if someone who, their entire life has found that everything they were built on was on the wrong idea, then that can really mess people up. "What's the point of my existence, if everything that made me who I am is now wrong?" If this is true, then it could explain why some people can't accept Evolution or black people or other new ideas. It's probably just too radical to them, and that whatever logic makes sense to us, could be black magic or blasphemy to others.