Is Observation or Assimilation the Greater Detriment to yourself?

Answer 1

observation.

Assimilation would be me absorbing other people's or cultures' habits and such....

I have a problem with just being envious from seeing what other people do and have.

Meaning my problem is that I see what other people do and I envy them for it, but I just don't have the courage to actually try to achieve the same thing.

Answer 2

I observe, yes, because I want to learn more. Observation helps a person weigh things with himself. You don't just grab anything and swallow it. You examine it with great curiosity before you make the decision to take it.
I assimilate, yes, ONLY THAT which I think is beneficial to my being...like the thought of wisdom from The Most High. I could let myself be absorbed by THE WORD... if I'm worthy of it. And then I'd know for sure that assimilation wouldn't bring detriment to me at all.

Answer 3

Since to be observant means a sharp eye for detail, a keen ability to detect the real meaning of a situation, to notice details another person might miss--I can't see it as being detrimental at all. Of course, if someone wants to extrapolate the meaning of the word into some rare/bizarre incident, I'm sure they can come up with one.
I'm not comfortable with assimilate. "The taking in of one thing by another." It's too often used in the context of--"Why don't those @#!!** fur-i-ners assimilate!" which usually means, bury your culture, your language & beliefs & become exactly like US or go home. "The process implies the complete transformation of the absorbed into the absorbing medium"--precisely. I could NEVER be assimilated, but observation has served me well.

Answer 4

Assimilation is the greater detriment. It indicates a lack of expression of an individual being, becoming the same as everyone else and not daring to be different. If we all stood back and observed this phenomena, we would see that it lacks depth, it lacks a soul.

Some say resistance is futile. But I will not be assimilated. I choose to remain a free man.

Answer 5

Assimilation is the greatest detriment to oneself, because then one is no longer their self, they have assimilated into something other than what they were before. On the other hand, in observing one learns, studies, understands things. This is a benefit, it makes one stronger and wiser providing basis for decision making in situations, yes, changed too as in the one who assimilated, but changed based on individual choices of one's own . This seems like a question of rebel or stand in line, so to speak.

Answer 6

By assimilating oneself into a culture or society there is no opportunity for individuality. Whereas by observation one can maintain objectivity while viewing what is around them. Which is the most detrimental - like with anything - say the reporters who 'in bed' themselves w/ the military as mere 'observers' - suddenly finding themselves getting shot - there is your indication that 'observation was detrimental'. Or - the college kid who goes to Israel to work on a kibbutz - and soon embraces his alleged Jewish ancestry... the next thing he is in the new city of Jerusalem and gets killed by a Palestinian bomber - there is an indication of someone who assimilated themselves to their own detriment.

Answer 7

For your soul and integrity, observation is the key and assimilation is the danger. For practical survival it is the opposite. I don't think one is a greater detriment than the other; they both simply need to be mastered.

Answer 8

Assimilation. That means losing yourself, stifling who you are to fit in with the masses. Nothing wrong with observation. You have to pay attention, look around you. That's how you learn...

Answer 9

Neither. However, if I do have to choose, it will be assimilation. I am not *** imitable. However, I do have a detriment. It is my constant search for reality.

Answer 10

Assimilation, for better or worse.

The will to choose WHAT you will assimilate from what you observe is what makes you who you are.