Our senses are funny things – if you pay attention, you’ll notice that one can affect another. Our eyes and nose tell us that a plate of food is delicious because it looks appetizing and smells wonderful and should therefore taste great. We hear louder noises when there are special effects accompanying them in movies. This reminds me of the question about a tree falling in the forest making a sound. Believe it or not, I have asked that question and gotten mixed responses. There are people who don’t believe it makes a sound because they are not there to see the tree fall (and it is their sight that refuses to believe it).

This is another point that is parallel to what I’m talking about – literacy. I’ve found that people believe they are literate because they can read words. But literacy is more than just reading by rote, and learning to read is often hindered by this concept. It is the context, not the content, that is important in literacy. And the practice of being literate is important in all aspects of our lives, especially in communications.

Have you noticed, for instance, how many people have arguments or worse because of misunderstandings? The misunderstandings come from a fissure in communication that literacy is based upon. If a person does not understand the context of what is being said, they can misconstrue and take offense. In addition, people personalize verbiage or an act that is not directed at them. I agree with the adage that if it doesn’t apply, let it fly. Again, it’s the context in which the words are spoken or the act is committed.

It isn’t really fair to go to a comedy club and take offense to a joke made by a comedian unless it is outright racist. And to be truthful, I would consider it my bad if I walked into the middle of a Klan meeting and took offense to anything that was said. Context.