Anyone who has seen this man's show can recognize the fact that he was an excellent communicator. Whether he communicated with puppets or children, Mr.Rogers was constantly listening and communicating. He did not attempt to engage children with flurries of sights, sounds, and ideas, but rather with more relaxed methods. He calmly explains and teaches important things to children, and manages to communicate very successfully even though a television works only one way. If you don't agree with any of those things, it's undeniable that his show was, in the very least, unique.
Whenever you see his show, you get a grandfatherly vibe from Mr. Rogers that few people possess any more. Perhaps it's because we have lost sight of the value of listening, ourselves. As the intro to Chapter 5 suggests, this man was a master of communication, and mainly a master of listening What better way to demonstrate the power of listening than by using one of America's idols of sorts?
Why is listening essential? Obviously it's a big part of how we internalize information about our surroundings. Listening is a very vivid and important thing for me because of the fact that I can't do it very well. Sometimes it's tempting to just block out sounds and focus on my visual senses, because they are much more acute. It's simple to push the auditory responses to the back of my brain while I read the subtitles on a movie or watch people's lips as they speak. However, there comes a time when listening is the only option.
Anyone can listen to a song or listen to the rain on the roof, but few people think beyond the sounds. And in conversation, few people think beyond the words being spoken. In the middle of a conversation, it is not acceptable to simply listen to the words. It's essential that you truly listen to what is being said. Being able to listen and appreciate not only what someone says, but what they mean, is a very valuable skill to have.
We have all had times where we just need to talk to somebody. Whether that be our significant other, friends, or parents, we have shared something with another person. This communication is not fulfilling unless you know that they care about what you are telling them. Like this chapter illustrates, body language and visual cues let us know just how much a person is listening. When we know someone is listening, we feel more comfortable with the situation.
I figure that we should all try to return the favor. If it makes us feel good to be heard, why not listen to other people? I believe that if this happened, mis communications and emotional gaps could be avoided, because we would all be understanding each other better.
Hey Emily, great posting. Just found out you were 17 years old. Very thoughful and isightful coming from someone your age. That isn't a bad thing. I was just like you at your age, very insightful. The one thing I have to say is aren't you a little too young for Mr. Rogers? I wasn't aware that they still aired his shows. Just a joke, but a great example of a man who knew how to listen.
ReplyDeleteI am afraid that our days of that kind of talking and listening are gone, I would almost say thanks to technology; however, I still try to practice those methods used by Mr. Rogers to the best of my ability. It has made me a good friend a lending ear when somebody needs one.
Yes, Emily, I too remember Mr. Rogers...And he was one great listerner. I think it's great that you're so perceptive. In our day with our age group it's hard to find people of a similar mind who think for themselves. Doin' great! Keep it up!
ReplyDeleteWe need to talk.
ReplyDelete