Bella Caracappa: Thinking Outside the Box

    We previously discussed in class that we put things into boxes that people understand, and we discussed that what we can do instead is to open ourselves up to the other. I consider this to be easier said than done. Historically, humans have always been afraid of the unknown or “other,” and often seek to destroy and condemn people who do. An example of this would be the hundreds of centuries fight over what we constitutively consider to be the “god” that we must worship. Across the world people have been hesitant to put their faith in a new religion, as they consider the “other” to be something dangerous. 

I also believe that people putting things into boxes so that they better understand things is not necessarily bad. For example, in education, there are certain strategies or activities that students learn best, this is the box that most students need to stay in in order to effectively learn. However, I do believe that viewing most things in such a narrow sight such as this can often be detrimental to a person, as often some students begin to become stagnant in their learning if they continue with the same method. 

When we open ourselves up to the ‘other’ we do step beyond the confines of society and their rules. This is also not always a good thing. We have rules in order to keep the peace, keep people safe, and conduct a society of fairness. The ‘other’ is also something that people are not sure actually exists, as if this sense of faith turns out to be wrong, they live outside the box that they are comfortable and safe in with no way to go back.