In your professional opinion?

Question

I was having a conversation with a relative about how people care more about things like basketball stats than they do about issues that effect the human race. She said that was because Basketball is more important than Physics, Math, or issues that can change the world. My brother agreed with her, saying that there is no point thinking about things you can't experience. Can this be true? Is the rest of the world really so....aimless? I try to share things with people that interest me, like a good book, a theory or philosophy, or even a thoughtful movie- but it seems that I get frowned upon unless the topic of the conversation is one that abandons deeper meanings. Your thoughts.

Thanks for taking the time- your responses were genuinely helpful, and much appreciated.

Answer 1

Oh how I agree, I am always saying this, most people I talk to could care less about anything but how much money they make and who drives what car. I play classical guitar, am into books, chess, computers, current events, movies, philosophy, theory, learning new things, but like you I am looked upon as weird. I think that you and I are among the minority, we're the odd balls of the world but you know what I don't care, I'm happy and most of them are not !!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 2

Personally I enjoy both deep intellectual questions and professional sports, though I am a professional in neither! I believe that many people prefer the instant gratification sports can provide and are unwilling to invest their time and energy to appreciate the deeper issues in life, which is too bad because this world would be a far better place if more did. Unfortunately, I believe this problem is getting worse. Universities, once the repositories of intellectual thought are slowing transforming into technical schools, the difference between a Tech school and a Liberal Arts one is eroding rapidly. I know people from the previous generation who attended the same university I do that were required to study the classical literature and take basic philosophy, but today the requirements are minimal and seem to be decreasing. People appear to be much more concerned with quick pleasure than the slower but deeper pleasure of discovering the intricacies of philosophical and ethical matters. We're heading down a dangerous path, I hope others see this too before it's too late.

Answer 3

I can totally relate to your dilemna. I spent a great number of my younger years trying to rail against the brainless banter, and trying to engage people in what I considered to be meaningful conversations. But as I have grown older, I have found that it is much more difficult to find people to discuss such issues with. I have found refuge in the Universalist Unitarian faith - one which is based on logic and reason, and does not ascribe to any particular dogma. I am not trying to proselytize here - I am just sharing my experience.
I think the reasons people don't like to talk about these issues are two-fold:
1. People have been talking about them for 1000's of years, and we still don't have any definitive answers, so they don't see the point
2. They are hopeless that anything will ever really change, so why talk about the way things could or should be
I'm not sure if this helps, but know that you are not alone. By the way - if your relative thinks that basketball is more important than physics, math, etc, tell her to call up Kobe Bryant the next time she gets sick, or her computer crashes!

Answer 4

Many people just go with what is the easiest, they take the path of least resistance.
I teach languages and study philosophy and there are times that I would much rather talk baseball with a teacher friend who is also a baseball fan because talking about work all the time can be a bit boring. Talking about philosophy is something that is much more interesting but a lot of people get looks on their faces like cattle doing algebra problems.

So I change the subject to A-Rod, Bonds, and what will happen with the Red Sox and the Yankees.

Answer 5

In my opinion, and I am somewhere in the middle. I probably could not hold a candle with half of these people on a talk on physics, math or the like, however, I'm not a sports fan either. I follow one sport and it took me years to admit it was a sport!
Regardless, being an in-between, i can tell you Joe Normal would rather watch a sports game, movie, or play a video game than open their eyes to what's going on around them and expand their knowledge because people crave escapism.
After a long hard day, unfortunately, many people would rather lose themselves in something that is either completely fantasy (movies or games), or trivial (sports) that won't truly matter in 10 years then invest the time and energy in learning something new or expanding their horizons.

This has been great... but i gotta go, the games about to start!

(Just kidding. ;) )

Answer 6

I am not a "professional philosopher" so my answer is far from professional. But I don't believe basketball, or any other sport, is more important that physics, math, etc. I think people are just too lazy to care more about issues that effect the human race. To care about those issues, one would actually need to be educated about those issues, and that would take research (which is work). So, they just watch mind-numbing sports, tv shows, etc.

Answer 7

Sometimes I feel the same way. I like to talk about deeper things. I really want to hear what people think and what they care about and why. I dislike small talk and am not very good at it. Some people look at me like I'm weird b/c of this. But I just smile and keep asking the meanful questions because that's who I am. I would love to hear your thoughts. Maybe someday we will meet each other and can talk about deeper things. Till then just be yourself.

Answer 8

Just as children are at different levels of intellectual development, so are adults. You just need to find a place where like minded people are. School, clubs,etc. Just accept your relatives for who they are, and occasionally try to talk to them about their interests. You sound like you might be able to understand the integration of the two. That is, basketball involves physics, etc. This may help you be a little more interested in it.

Answer 9

People tend to not care about things that they think they do not have the power to change or understand. So it is much easier to devote ones attention to other "more entertaining" things such as basketball.
This is not to say following game/player stats is wrong or anything, but people should get more involved in important things such as physics, math and especially politics!
Your relative, in my opinion is wrong, basketball is NOT more important then those other things that you listed.

Answer 10

Hi,
I'm not a professional philosopher but I would like to answer your question.
The point is most of the people live with in the radius of their surroundings and can imagine till that point where their interests are placed.
You can't expect more from them, if everyone is a great thinker and philosopher then there will be no value for the great people.
Everyone have their limitations which you need to accept and go along with them to live in harmony and peace. Pick people who think like you and discuss those things with them, but not with everyone you see or meet this don't change the world.

Let them live in their worlds.