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8 CommentsThere is a guy called ProteanView on YouTube that makes short videos, usually involving current events or political issues. Normally, he will state an issue then ask a question but does not necessarily answer the question poses (he throws it out there for debate). This prompted his readers to ask him what his answer was to certain issues. He gave this as an example response (link to the quote and his YouTube movie) usually from Americans:
I agree man, but my problem with your posts is: where are the solutions? What do you suggest be done. You paint a grim picture, and its true, but the fact that such a grim picture exists necessitates a solution. Something MUST be done.
Any solutions?
He asks if the viewer is the type of person that needs to have a answer when a question is posed for discussion. The world doesn't work that way. There isn't always a "happily ever after" and unfortunately, there isn't always a solution that everyone would agree to.
So I pose the question he asks: are you the type of person that, when reading a controversial issue, needs to have a solution/alternatives to it or are you okay with allowing others to discuss it/hash it out? He implies Americans "need" a resolution (meaning they request one from him).
Personally, I don't require an answer because I like to form my own thoughts. I realized that when I write I take a different stance of always providing an answer. I think I might change that up just to do something different. I'm blessed to have an audience that can (and enjoys) discussing different issues.
One point I do not agree with: an answer does not always equal the truth (which he implies).
liza
Written Apr. 7, 2008 / Report /
Tyme I agree with you. People should be able to hash it out and maybe by reading other peoples thoughts, come up with a better so called resolution than one individual can.
Kamigoroshi
Written Apr. 7, 2008 / Report /
Well, I agree that an answer doesn't always mean it's the truth. A solution to a problem doesn't always mean it's the only option available. It may be the only viable option that can be taken but that's always subjected to socio-cultural perceptions.
Personally when faced with a question, I cannot walk away until I have an answer. Doesn't mean I will always tell you what it is, but it means I need an answer to a question or even a question to an answer.
At the same time, I like listening to solutions and ideas that other people give as well. I am one person with a single perception. It's only fair that to get closer to an ideal solution, an amalgamation of different perceptions has to be considered and taken into account. The more alternate solutions that come up, the better the final solution will be.
At the end, it depends on what you want out of it and there is a time and place for everything. I won't sit around idly and wait for people's input when I can act out the solution at the end of the day. Sometimes people wait far too long for the ideal answer only to find out that the situation's gotten worse and they need a new answer to the problem.
It might not be the perfect solution at the time, but as long as you're willing to take responsibility for the consequences, nothing answer is perfect, neither is it truth.
shadowsun7
Written Apr. 7, 2008 / Report /
I have absolutely no problem leaving a question in the air, hanging at the back of my mind with no answer. It's a byproduct of being a debator, really, because I believe there are some questions that have good arguments on both sides (eg: affirmative action policies, does God condone masturbation), and I'm too lazy to think both sides out and take a stand, because these questions don't affect me.
So, yeah. Mark one up for discussion.
RightOn
Written Apr. 7, 2008 / Report /
While it does bother me a great deal to hear a politician discuss an issue of the utmost importance, and offer no real solution or ideas on fixing it... I don't think it is ALWAYS necessary to provide one every time an issue is discussed.
I get similar comments like that at times on my blog... I'll talk about an issue but not offer my take on what should be done to fix it.
My take on it is this... from my blog perspective, on posts where I HAVE laid out detailed information on how I would fix issue Z, I get ZERO discussion on the topic. It's as if they read the article and thought to themselves, "Yep, that's a good idea!" and left. The same happens in my daily conversations.
I think you NEED to leave it even remotely open ended or else no one will take the next step as they feel you've already taken it for them and they'll just wait and see what your next move is while you're waiting for them.
Scrivs
Written Apr. 7, 2008 / Report /
I'm confused, what is the difference between hasing it out and needing a solution? If you are hashing it out aren't you coming up with a solution?
Tyme
Written Apr. 7, 2008 / Report /
The guy in the video brings up the question without posing a solution. There are people in his audience (and he claims that Americans do this the most) that request he provide the solution (or ideas for solutions) in his videos.
The equivalent would be how you say people ask a question here and don't answer it. He always asks the question (by throwing out an idea, concept, theory, etc.) without answering the question (giving a solution).
Scrivs
Written Apr. 7, 2008 / Report /
Yeah I understand that point, but you were asking do I need a solution or am I willing to let others hash it out. If he asked a question with no solution, but I knew others would hash it out then I would be fine with it. If I knew others wouldn't hash it out I would love to know his opinion of what could be done because it might open my eyes up to another solution.
estarla
Written Apr. 8, 2008 / Report /
My response would be drawing a parallel between this and the saying, "It's not the destination, it's the journey." Each person will take a journey that is different but I like the idea that two people might have different journeys but might end up at the same destination. Inside the journey might involve backtracking (moving backwards) and taking a different fork in the road that they've taken, before. So in the end, I'm definitely about the discussion. As long as you're striving for the resolution, that is. If it's "all" about the resolution then maybe you're just trying to encapsulate a really complex problem into a one-size-fits-all answer, which more often than not is not that simple. Different answers work for different people and I would rather be content with that - in a way it honors everyone's experiences and what they've learned from them because they're just that: personal and unique.