For example, at my house you have to take your shoes off at the door. This is common sense to me because I've done it ever since I was able to wear shoes. It made sense to me because why would anyone wear shoes in a house? That would get the house dirty. Back in middle school I had a friend come to my house. This was her first time at my house but when she got in, she didn't take her shoes off. I told her can she take her shoes off and she did. I wasn't mad but I thought it was kind of weird that she didn't know better. She asked me why do we take our shoes off at the house and I told her, so the house won't get dirty, it's common sense. She told me at her house they don't take their shoes off and unless they're super dirty. They might even just wipe them on the rug and still keep them on. At the time because I grew up doing something a certain way and it made sense that everyone should share that same understanding so it makes it common sense. At her house I didn't have to take my shoes off. Now when I go to someones house and I don't see shoes by the door I'll ask them if they want me to take my shoes off.
Sunday, October 4, 2015
Common Sense
The focus of this chapter gets talked about all the time in everyday conversation. This phrase gets abused and misused a lot to me. "Common sense is a a by-product of what we know and what we practice." (63) However not everyone knows/been through and practices the same as the next person. I think this chapter did a great job at expressing this. Something that is common sense to you because you are use to the practice, does not fall under the same category as someone who is unfamiliar to it's practice. People abuse that phrase without really understanding what "common sense" actually is. People think, I was born knowing that this is what I should do and this is how I should act but in reality, it was probably a concept taught at a young age and since you practiced it so much, you think it's something that comes natural.
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This is definitely a good example of common sense especially growing up with the knowledge of always taking your shoes off at the door. You do also make the point that to someone else this may not be the way they were raised. I found this blog post interesting because I did sales during the summer and met with a lot of potential customers at their houses. When I would come into their home to speak with them I would always debate whether or not I should take my shoes off. Usually I would keep them on, wipe them on the rug, and most people didn't get upset about it. One customer I met with stopped me and told me to take off my shoes before entering her home. Depending on the experiences and background people grew up in they will view this subject as common sense to take off your shoes, or not to take off your shoes. Its interesting how we never think twice about certain subjects like this but when we further analyze and see the intentions with topics, we realize it can actually be problematic. Before, I never thought twice about using the phrase "common sense", but now I realize the cultural, political, and social implications that it carries.
ReplyDeleteWhen hearing about certain common sense practices by different people it really resonates; is it just how someone was raised or is there a universal common sense that everyone can agree upon. For example the book uses Oprah as an example as a person who gives back to people because she is so famous. So is it universally known that people who have more money should commit random acts of kindness for more unfortunate people who do not have enough money for the bare essentials. Things we take for granted like water, food, or clothing.
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