Sociological Mindfulness... More than just paying attention to others

 

"Treat other people the way you want to be treated."

           After reading a recent article about "Sociological Mindfulness" by Michael Schwalbe, the simple phrase "Treat other people the way you want to be treated," that I've been hearing since as long as I can remember, suddenly suggests a lot more. In our world, scholars, elders, and parents constantly strive to think of new ways to teach children about respect. Usually, when taught to us in the past, respect has been portrayed with the idea that it is bad to be "not nice" to people, because we wouldn't want to be treated "not nice." While preventing this "not-niceness" is a seemingly quick, pleasant way to teach about respect, our parents and teachers failed to further explain that respect is much more than just paying attention to other peoples feelings. This is where sociological mindfulness sets in. As children we accept new things, new people, and new concepts naturally because we are so innocent and fascinated of the world around us. But, as adults, we become cognizant of the human's history and present. About the differences among cultures, races, and religions. With this acquired knowledge it is natural to, at first, be uncomfortable with lifestyles that our different from those of our own. We are told to be aware of people's differences and accept them, but that is not necessarily respect. Sociological mindfulness is where we can not only accept a person, thing, or concept, but appreciate its unique qualities. With this, all stereotypes and prejudices are disregarded. 

           So after reading this article, I realized how much of this I can relate to my own life. A lot of arguments or fights that occur in my life between friends and family appears to just be a failure of practicing sociological mindfulness. Some of my friends have family traditions or activities that they do and are sometimes teased about them a little, instead of being respected  for their own individuality. And from history I've noticed that failure of receiving sociological mindfulness has led to severe pain, suffering, devastation, losses of dignity, losses of self-worthiness, suicides, mass killings, and wars. I've also noticed that failure of using sociological mindfulness  has led to hate crimes, assassinations, humiliating and degrading stereotypes, generations of anti-Semites and racists, and in some extreme cases... genocides. So as simple and cliche as it may sound, "Treat people the way you want to be treated" and practice sociological mindfulness.

The Origin of Awkwardness

           Anytime that someone feels out of their comfort zone, feels alienated, or feels embarrassed, the situation is generally labeled as "awkward." In an "awkward" situation, people tend to be unsure on what to say or do, they become anxious because they desperately want to stray back into their own individual comfort zones, and this anxiety quickly spreads throughout all individuals in the situation. It is tacit among all in this scenario that the other individual or individuals are experiencing the same uneasiness as you.

          The first day of Sociology class, our teacher did not follow the cliche idea formed in our minds as students since we were very young of standing in front of the class and introducing himself. Instead, he proceeded to sit in a chair in the back of the class, almost acting as one of our peers. Not only did he sit in the back, but sat right behind me. He did not say one word. All the students including myself, began to find a sense of nervous humor in the situation, that sense eventually turned into a quite uncomfortable feeling. The silence continued for a good couple minutes and as people looked around confused on what to do, I figured that since this was out of the "social norm", he probably wanted one of us to say something to start off the class. So as an icebreaker, I looked directly at him, thought carefully, and decided a subtle "sup" was a suitable option. After I said that, a few people chuckled, including my teacher, but the silence still continued. A few more minutes past and finally a girl sitting in the front of the class introduced herself. Our teacher got up from the back seat in the classroom, walked to the front, and began class.