Inspiration

The Tower
Image by @alliski f/3.5 1/4000sec ISO-720 #Nikon #D3400

So, I was at an #IGBT (Ignited By Truth Conference) a few years ago with my husband and his family. For those of you who don’t know, it’s a Catholic Conference held yearly. Anyway, there were many speakers. We spent the whole weekend at the arena attending this conference, and so we sat through every single speaker.

I remember 2 speakers very well. One was Scott Hahn. I think he spoke on the importance of the Sacraments. It was a reference to one of his books, Swear to God: The Promise and Power of the Sacraments.

The other speaker who I remember well, but cannot remember his name, was a young priest. His delivery was on the concept of Subjective vs. Objective. For whatever reason, this concept has stuck with me since.

I mean, we all know that there is a difference between #opinion and #fact. Right?

I’m not so sure.

In Question
Image by @alliski f/9 1/25sec ISO-400 #NikonD3400

I distinctly remember being told in Elementary school that if someone does something I don’t like, then I should ask them to stop. In high-school, that thought pattern turned into a sort of censorship.

If I don’t like what someone says, then I should ask them not to say it again.

Then, I learned a very hard life lesson.

Just because I’m offended, doesn’t mean I’m right.

My step-father is a vile racist. He makes all sorts of comments unapologetically. This irritated me from the beginning. So, I did as I had been taught by my teachers: I politely asked him not to say such things in my presence.

His response?

Increased repetition of said offensive remarks and use of language.

This taught me that my teachers had failed to teach us (the collective body of students at my school) that we can ask someone not to utilize their first amendment rights in any way which offends us but in the end that person has to grant our request.

We also failed to learn how to deal with our own emotions, and how to regulate our personal reactions when others refuse to grant us that childish don't offend me please request we were taught to make.

Parameters

What is subjective and what is objective makes each mutually exclusive even though one cannot exist without the other.

Subjective

Something which is subjective is something that is “of, produced by, or resulting from an individual’s mind or state of mind.” It is “particular to a given individual,” and "existing only within the experiencer’s mind and incapable of external verification.” (Websters New Riverside University Dictionary, 1984)

Meaning that something subjective is an opinion, and is open to interpretation. It cannot be empirically proven or dis-proven, nor can it be physically manifested.

Objective

Something which is Objective is “of or pertaining to a material object as distinguished from a mental concept.” It is something that has “actual existence or reality.” (Websters New Riverside University Dictionary, 1984)

Meaning that what is objective can be proven, and physically manifested.

Difference

What is objective is real. It is fact.

What is subjective is immaterial. It is a matter of opinion, and relative to the situation.

The Point

My point is this.

• That the sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
• That bridges exist to link shores over large bodies of water.
• That the Pope is a real man.
• That my dog is a Staffordshire Bull-Terrier.
• That pulling weeds in a garden will allow more nutrients to reach the plants you want them to reach.
• That the grass in my back yard is green.

Are all objective points.

They are facts which can be proven, and shown.

The Turtle who went toe to toe against Chloe and won.
Image by @alliski f/4.8 1/25sec ISO-2500 NikonD3400

• That I look better with short-hair
• That taking the train is superior to flying
• That my husband can be a major pain in the ass
• That I hate pulling weeds
• That the grass was cut too short the last time the yard was mowed.
• That some people really should read more.

Are all subjective.

These are opinions which have been informed by my life-experiences.

Narcissum
Image by @alliski f/5.6 1/3200sec ISO-11400 Nikon D3400

Works Cited
Websters New Riverside University Dictionary. (1984). The Riverside Publishing Company.