Re: Re: That damn vulture!/words v. images

[Guest guest]

Re: That damn vulture!/words v. images

>> I have been conjuring up the "bird of peace on my shoulder" analogy whenever I am feeling calm and peaceful. I don't grab at him or try to make it stay. But my mind immediately goes to the next scene: A huge bird of prey swoops down and sits on my other shoulder, and the peace bird flies away in terror. The bird of prey does not seem to be within my control, but I'm just supposed to notice him and go about my business, right. How can I, when he is crapping all over me and is painfully pecking my flesh?> > Helena>Hi Helena,I've read the thread following your post with interest. As a linguist I can understand the reactions to individual words that might make individuals maybe not just those with a different mother tongue uncomfortable. However, I have to say that your image really spoke to me. I don't know whether you would consider my reaction appropriate but I had to laugh at the picture you painted especially that last question. And I'd like to stress that that doesnt mean I don't empathise with what I am sure is real distress.I've been realising that maybe one of my reactions to ACT is that I find some of the imagery used to illustrate it (I was going to say explain but realise that is probably the wrong word)difficult to take in.I am someone who is much more comfortable with words than with pictures. I think this is probably just a personal thing rather than an objection to ACT<G>For example when visiting an art exhibition recently I realised that I spent a lot more time reading the notes by each picture than looking at the pictures themselves. I also remember the information more than the pictures. As a teacher I also used to find that pupils could often "read" the cartoon strips used for teaching languages much more quickly than I could. Sometimes I would have to ask them to interpret what was happening for me! Maybe this is a sort of disbality I have? I wonder if anyone else can relate to it? I do see that language has its problems as far as getting us stuck in dangerous thinking patterns is concerned but to me it always seems like the reverse. I see language as a resource I can use to explain my dilemmas which I often see in the form of inexplicable worrying images.Your image really spoke to me though!Yet whatever word you use for crap it's actually the image that bothers me. I can let the words go over my head <VBG> as long as I manage to avoid imagining the substance falling on my head! Yucky contamination OCD!Thanks,Louise

[Guest guest]

Hi Louise,

Your saying that you had to laugh at the picture I painted is a compliment! And that the image spoke to you, as an linguist, is also a compliment.

I find that I am equally responsive to words and imagery. In fact, I seem to need both in order for something to really sink in. But when viewing an art exhibit, I find myself totally absorbed by the picture, and not by the plaque that "explains" it. Same thing at the zoo--I look at the animals and pay glancing attention to the plaques that explain them. I find explanation enough when I gaze into the picture, or at the animal, and allow it to speak to me.

I would like to ask why you are more comfortable with words than with pictures. Do you mean intellectually, or emotionally? Or both?

Final thought: Crap does fall on your head, whether you like it or not. 'Crap' is just a word for negative stuff happening in your life. A rose, by any other name, is still a rose. Crap, by any other name, is still crap.

I would like to hear more about how your word focus contributes to OCD. Or avoidance, if the images are too powerful for you to handle?

Helena

Re: That damn vulture!/words v. images

>> I have been conjuring up the "bird of peace on my shoulder" analogy whenever I am feeling calm and peaceful. I don't grab at him or try to make it stay. But my mind immediately goes to the next scene: A huge bird of prey swoops down and sits on my other shoulder, and the peace bird flies away in terror. The bird of prey does not seem to be within my control, but I'm just supposed to notice him and go about my business, right. How can I, when he is crapping all over me and is painfully pecking my flesh?> > Helena>Hi Helena,I've read the thread following your post with interest. As a linguist I can understand the reactions to individual words that might make individuals maybe not just those with a different mother tongue uncomfortable. However, I have to say that your image really spoke to me. I don't know whether you would consider my reaction appropriate but I had to laugh at the picture you painted especially that last question. And I'd like to stress that that doesnt mean I don't empathise with what I am sure is real distress.I've been realising that maybe one of my reactions to ACT is that I find some of the imagery used to illustrate it (I was going to say explain but realise that is probably the wrong word)difficult to take in.I am someone who is much more comfortable with words than with pictures. I think this is probably just a personal thing rather than an objection to ACT<G>For example when visiting an art exhibition recently I realised that I spent a lot more time reading the notes by each picture than looking at the pictures themselves. I also remember the information more than the pictures. As a teacher I also used to find that pupils could often "read" the cartoon strips used for teaching languages much more quickly than I could. Sometimes I would have to ask them to interpret what was happening for me! Maybe this is a sort of disbality I have? I wonder if anyone else can relate to it? I do see that language has its problems as far as getting us stuck in dangerous thinking patterns is concerned but to me it always seems like the reverse. I see language as a resource I can use to explain my dilemmas which I often see in the form of inexplicable worrying images.Your image really spoke to me though!Yet whatever word you use for crap it's actually the image that bothers me. I can let the words go over my head <VBG> as long as I manage to avoid imagining the substance falling on my head! Yucky contamination OCD!Thanks,Louise