Does where you have been and what you have seen, change your view of the world?

Question

I have to say I am quite young yet, im 18, but all of the places I have lived, visited, or just seen, in some way or another, change the way I had once viewed the world, sometimes for better, or for worse. It is a quite odd feeling, that changes my feelings, it can make me feel happy, or alot of times depressed. I am not sure if i have explained this correctly, but i'd like to see if anyone feels or experiances what I do myself.

Answer 1

Kid,your question really amazed me.It goes on to show that there are still kids out there with inquiring minds,a species I thought had died out.You are right.It is very normal(and,psychologically speaking,fascinating)to have your values and philosophy diametrically changed after witnessing something as small as,say,a photograph,let alone living somewhere.But these frequent pysochological revolutions are mostly part of young people's lives,and as you keep growing older and older,you will have less and less of them,until a time will come when your mind will develop a permanent set of values and the revolutions will stop once and for all.This revolution stopping age is different for different people.I have seen people,male and female,who reached this stage at such tender ages like 21,24,26.On the other hand,it is very normal to see people who are still having mental revolutions at 50 or even 60,but as I said,they(the revolutions)become less frequent with the passage of years.
I also want to add that this is an indication of a person who has an inquiring mind,who thinks and reflects on the things that he/she sees.There are many more people out there who will see things but never reflect on them,just as some people will see wonders of nature but not notice them,while others become impressed and intrigued by them.You have the ideal kind of mind to become a philosopher.

Answer 2

Well, there is more than one way to prove that the change that you feel is a positive thing.
First of all, in mathematics analyzing AI, it is proven that any extra information, if doesn't help the system, it causes no harm. This means that any new information that you receive can benefit you, or be useless to you, but it cannot set you back in anything.
In the psychological sense, it is beneficial for any member of the society to become objective when dealing with other members of the society. This can be achieved, or can be approached at least, by getting to know other cultures, and the best way to accomplish that is to live in that culture.
I've met many people like you, and I have a feeling that they are more "mature" they have a better grasp on what's important in life, and what is not. You should be lucky that you've experienced what you've got. Knowledge is power, no matter how cheesy it sounds.

Answer 3

Yes it has according to my husband. He was in Iraq for a year and lemme tell you his outlook was changed immediatly.
His views on the poor and the homeless has changed more than anything, not to mention loud noises like fire works he still doesn't like them even though its been 2 1/2 years since he was there.

Answer 4

Yes, you will change your views and ideas about the world many times over as you grow older.

Answer 5

the only thing constant in life, is change. As we see more, our views are either affirmed or we change. The more negativity we see, the more drastic the change. We see more love and we become more loving. Balance is acquired as we learn our own values.

Answer 6

i feel the same way. with each place comes a new picture of the world

Answer 7

Yes it opens your eyes. You realize different thing, it inspires thoughts...thats what i found anywyas. Its the best way to learn is to just get in to a different culture.

Answer 8

Without doubt. For the most part we see what we expect, and what we expect is determined by our past experiences.

Aloha