Subjectivity: What It Means And Why It’s Important
By Abby Drapeau
Subjectivity [suhb•jek•tiv•i•tee] (noun): Referring to how someone’s judgement is shaped by personal opinions and feelings instead of outside influences. Subjectivity is partially responsible for why one person loves an abstract painting while another person hates it.
What makes something sexual? What makes something violent, and how much violence should there be in video games and movies? What is true love and better yet, what exactly is the purpose of our lives? These are the type of questions that will typically yield a subjective answer, meaning that the answer is going to be different for everyone (or maybe there isn’t an answer *gasp*). That’s what makes us human, and what makes us American is that we have the freedom to express these thoughts.
However, too often you see us forgetting how subjective our world really is. Log onto your Facebook or Twitter and see the latest rant or fight breaking out. We run the risk of becoming an even more closed-minded society with this “I’m right, you’re wrong” attitude, unwilling to see things from someone else’s point of view.
Everyone has, and is entitled to, their own opinion. You don’t have to always agree with them, but you do have to respect the fact that they are entitled to it. Social media is a great outlet for expressing yourself, but remember that everyone is not always going to agree with you. If you’re angry and upset and feel like you need to get something off your chest, you probably shouldn’t be ranting on social media. Take that opportunity to collect your thoughts so you can figure out how you really feel and how you want to say it. It’s important that we think before we speak (or type).
Our words have power, people!! Often when I can’t find the right words in myself, I look to the words of others. I’m going to leave you with two quotes that I think sum it up pretty well…
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you did, what you said, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” -Maya Angelou
“Opinions are like assholes. Everybody’s got one and everyone thinks everyone else’s stinks.” –Home for the Holidays, 1995