I'm sure you've had a conversation with a person before, and you got into a heated argument with them, going back and forth on the topic. It ended, finally--when you realized that you two weren't even talking about the same thing. You grinned, kind of embarrassed, and waved it off.
Labels! Definitions! Terms!
They are IMPORTANT, especially if you ever hope to be coherent to another person. This is why we have language; so that we can share and understand concepts under one name (or a few). If we all spoke a different language, how would we ever understand each other? After all, that is pretty much exactly what happened above.
If you're going to debate or talk with someone, establish your terms. If you're going to even think about things, ESTABLISH YOUR TERMS. Don't go around saying, "uh, you know, that thing"--it's important that YOU know what you are talking about. If you don't know what you're talking about, how do you expect anyone else to? Of course, there is a time when the English language simply ceases to suffice to explain certain things. Or language altogether--there's really nothing we can do about that.
A good example of needing to define your terms is that I talk a lot about "consciousness"--if you're into the self-development track of thought, you'll know what I'm talking about, as to mean a constant awareness of yourself. Your feelings, your thoughts, your body, your intents, etcetera. I talked with a friend about this concept, and we talked about it for a long time until I realized that he thought I was talking about consciousness in the sense of being awake.
Not just so other people can understand you, either! Knowing what you are talking about, understanding where you stand, who you are, and what you think is extremely important. It gives you the basis for who you are, and you can live off of it. It actually allows you to create constructed arguments, instead of trying to argue a barely half-formed thought which has no foundation.
So please! People!
Define.
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haha this is so true.. i've had a few arguements with people and i totally was talking about something completely opposite of what they were talking about.
It's amazing. People fail to define terms or even use actual logic. My favorite is cognitive dissonance, where their beliefs are so firmly held that they can defy evidence and rationale to keep an irrational opinion. Ah, arguing!
(if you can't see the fnords they won't eat you)
I agree with this post, but sometimes language goes far beyond words! I think you are right though; it is so important to establish terms so that it is clear where the discussion will go.
"If imperfections are what make us beautiful, then I must be a total babe!"
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/missionsminded-maiden
I remember settling an arguement between two of my friends, about whether you could be in two places at once. It was resolved when one said she was referring to the fact that one foot is in one spot, and another in a spot next to it. The other said that she was referring to the fact that you can not be in one room while simultaneausly in another room on the other end of the building. I found it rather amusing.
In another situation, my dad and I got into an arguement about what an opinion was. I won't go into details, except to say that I ended up having to get a dictionary to prove I was right.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/tricia0711