Far Removed

I'm experiencing the world directly.  Others seems to be experiencing it through a screen.  Communicating and performing rituals are different endeavors, but too often they are not separate.  Language works best for communication when it's utilitarian.  Posturing confuses language, adding layers of code that obscure meaning.  This is the screen: a preoccupation with attitude presented symbolically, suggesting rather than saying.  This isn't an aspect of language that evolved naturally, like syntax.  Polite indirectness arises from something other than a need to communicate ideas and is imposed on language out of what I presume is a fear of each other. What if everyone said exactly what they were thinking?  Would there be more strife and unhappiness?  Is it necessary to protect ourselves and others from insufferable truths that we engage in polite obfuscation?  This seems counterproductive, but then I am largely outside the common human...

I have great trouble decoding hints, implicit meanings, and rhetorical questions.  Such great trouble in fact that it appreciably affects my ability to communicate well.  Nonetheless, I understand the concept of indirect language.  I know that people don't always say exactly what they mean.  What I don't often know is why or how to tell when they might be doing so.  I am only well equipped to handle the very clear, the glaringly obvious.  When communicating with me anything less than directness is a bad gamble. I'm continually surprised by how often people hide what they mean behind little language puzzles.  One can find people hiding even when there's no need to hide.  It seems to me that directness is perceived by many as rude, even on the smallest scale and in situations in which nothing is at stake. Obfuscation becomes second nature.  I will try to understand even when there's no hope that I will.  I've had to learn to ask for cl...

Symbolism isn't important to me.  This can cause problems.  To many, symbolism is of great importance.  If I say that I'm not interested in participating in ritual symbolism, said people can interpret that as a round rejection - or even as scorn.  Many it seems are wired to look for symbols everywhere no matter what.  They can hardly be blamed.  Symbols permeate human interaction.  Even language as a system is symbolic.  But I'm not wired that way.  I am wired for the explicit. I can interpret some symbols as easily as anyone else can.  Others, often common ones, confuse me.  And I frequently become confused about whether someone is employing symbolism or not.  When thus confused I make no decision in any direction.  I abandon the investigation.  Even when I understand symbolism, symbols only obscure meaning. I don't know why people want to obscure meaning.  So I assume they do so for nefarious reasons. ...