Weird Collective Imagination

I was talking with an older relative the other day about a television show and make the comment that the set was so cheap it looked like it doubled as a porn set.  We both chuckled about this, but it got me thinking. . . . how did she know that reference?

Now, on one hand, I can assume she watched porn. That would be most people's idea. Or that she's seen various references to porn sets on other TV shows/movies.  This is more likely. She could have also read about.

However, there is the possibility that her only frame of reference for this is just from word of mouth.  People communicated a certain idea and with enough references, we fill in the pieces with our own imagination.  Suddenly that image becomes fact to us. Even if, strictly speaking, it's not actual fact.

Our imaginations are insanely vivid.  Consider HOW vivid for a moment. Think about the ocean.  Okay, now....did you just see vast water?

Or did you see waves crashing against a beach. Did you imagine the sound of waves in your head, hear seagulls, maybe even the sound of your feet in the sand? Did you feel that sand? Did you imagine the feel the wetness in the air from the water, like a slight tickle against your skin? Did you imagine the smell of fish, of suntan lotion, of a slight decay around the water's edge?

More than likely, you did.  You might not register that you had ALL of that detail to you image of the ocean, but you do.

Oh, and here's the fun thing. You have all that, but maybe you've never even SEEN the ocean.  And for anyone who doubts that is possible, I was able to describe all of that from seeing it in my head and I've never seen the ocean.

So how do I have this image?  As I listed before, other outside sources.  Books, movies, tv, people telling me about it.  I take all of this together and create my own ideas of the ocean.  Will it be like that when I finally see it?  Perhaps not exactly, but I can bet that it will be fairly close.

Creating impressions from the communications of others is something we more or less can't help but do. It's part of our basic nature, I think.  It can be really fun too, because it gives us a collective playground.  How else can a whole generation understand how one becomes a Jedi, why even hobbits can save Middle Earth, and how delicious Wolverine must smell, even after he's been fighting people for hours.

However, we have to be very careful about this, because it can lead to a lot of destructive things.  Very often, we have ideas about countries, groups of people, and even individuals that are colored by the bias of those around us, and even of the education we received about the subject.

There are all kinds of people out there who want to alter our perceptions of things to their world view.  Now, sometimes, they do this for evil and selfish reasons.  Most of the time though, I think it's because they truly believe whatever they're saying and want to make the world a better place.  Well, their idea of a better place anyway.

I think it's a good idea to routinely examine your perception about life.  Consider the other ideas out there, maybe not to adopt them, but to understand why they may have merit.  Most of the time, instead of weakening how you feel, it will serve to make your own ideas stronger.

How is this possible?  That's quite simple. The more you explore on your own, the more your ideas are less impressions from others and more based on your own solid evidence.