Dana_Johnson

Last night I was laying in bed trying to get some sleep, pondering what I usually do before bed. Then a thought crossed my mind...what do I take for granted. What measly little act or luxury do I use or interact with each day? Things like the Internet, bathroom, running water, a bed to sleep in...stuff like that. Then I came to "Talking."

I thought...I talk everyday...I don't think (since I've learned) that there's been a day in my life where I haven't spoken a word or communicated with others (or myself ) orally.

So today, for 24 hours, I decided that I wouldn't speak, and make a tally for each time talking would have been rather useful or needed....asking questions in class, saying thank you at the gas-station, gretting people in the morning....things like that.

I guess my thinking over this whole thing was to better appreciate my ability to communicate with others through voice, since there's some people in this world who cannot (mute's, mentally challenged, people with throat cancer, victims of unfortunate accidents, some deaf people...etc)

So I was wondering, have any of you ever done so, or thought about taking a vow of silence or something of the like?

Take care,
Dana

Foxee

Hey, Dana,

It's an intriguing question that puts me in mind of an article I read. I can't remember who it was but they had tremendous damage occurring to their vocal chords (must have been a singer) and their doctor imposed silence in order to allow time for healing.

I wish I could remember how long of a time period this person wasn't allowed to use their voice but it was a long time. I think by the time the chords had healed it was about a year.

She found herself observing communication between people and commented on how often one person isn't listening to another and how often simple miscommunications occur because of speech.

Makes a temporary silence seem like a good idea! Plus, imagine how much smarter we'd all look if we said less...


~Foxee

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By trying we can easily learn to endure adversity. Another man's, I mean. ~Mark Twain

Der_Parvenu_Meister

dont take too many of these vows or they'll think you're a bit of a freak

Faustling

Interesting experiment. I wouldn't make it though, unless I completly isolated myself for the duration of the vow. I'm really bad at staying quite.

Mallignamius

If you don't use your voice, you'll increase your risk of voice cancer.



-Seriously, I think a fine approach is to ask more questions instead of tossing out opinions. I caught that from a physicist and where I remember to do it, works out great.

So, what was your tally?

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ClancyBoy

It's not really a vow of silence if you can still post on the internet, now is it.

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"Mother Hitton's Littul Kittons wait for you down there. Little pets they are, little little little pets. Cute little things, they say. Don't you believe it. No man ever saw them and walked away alive. You won't either. That's the final dash, flash. That's the utter clobber, cobber." --Cordwainer Smith, Norstrillia.

Lost in Some Story

People usually think I'm a pretty witty guy.


That is, until I open my mouth and prove them wrong.

Interesting experiment Dana_Johnson

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"The greater part of what my neighbors call good I believe in my soul to be bad, and if I repent of anything, it is very likely to be my good behavior."
Henry David Thoreau

Foxee

Until you pointed it out it was probably a loophole...

__________________
By trying we can easily learn to endure adversity. Another man's, I mean. ~Mark Twain

red lantern

I took a vow of silence at one place where I worked, some of the things people said made me want to talk at them in a brutally honest and irate manner... but thats just not nice.

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When you look into an abyss, the abyss also looks into you: Friedrich Nietzsche.

I live in a cemetery full of good will and integrity: Silverchair

Dana_Johnson

Haha, well as I stated...oral communication was the focus during this whole ordeal.

And I believe my tally came out around 47 or so.

Nicco

I wouldn't be able to last 24 hours. I tried not laughing for a day and couldn't get beyond the first couple of hours.

alanmt

A guy who can't keep from laughing for a few hours is a guy worth knowing!

Nicco

^

For the most part that's true, but I also have a habit of laughing during the most inappropriate times, and then need to force myself think of something awful in order to maintain control. I bet there's a pill I could take for that. I mean, they have one for restless leg syndrome so there must be one for excessive laughter.