Learning; kindness

[azekeil]

Ever since starting university I've stopped reading books. This has been a source of mild annoyance at myself, but I don't see that changing any time soon. I was driving to work yesterday listening to banal drivel on Radio 1 (I usually listen hoping to hear some music, but seemingly not at that time) and changed the channel. The radio found Radio 4, where I listened to some stuff and then a programme I now know as "Start the Week".

The show this week was talking about kindness, and how the UK seems to be full of people being unkind. The guest argues that actually it's because we're afraid to be kind, as this brings us closer to people in a way that we might not be comfortable with.

It occurred to me that this is actually a very clever piece of psychology. By showing that being kind is actually showing strength, rather than being a weakness, it empowers people to be kinder. In theory. If you have a moment, I urge you to listen to the programme - see what you think. I didn't get to finish as I finished my commute before the programme did.

I know it's not much, but it occurred to me that although I don't read books to learn more about the world around me, I do read stuff online (and take that with the large shovels of salt it deserves) and I could also now listen to Radio 4 during my commutes to get intelligent debate on current and relevant topics. It's certainly making me think more, in a positive way, which is good.

Comments

[meltie.livejournal.com]

R4 is absolutely fantastic; I listen to PM on my way home from work for the same reason.

[air-bizkit.livejournal.com]

I always listen to radio 4. In fact, I'm listening to it right now.

[gashinryu.livejournal.com]

Quite by accident, I listened to the same programme.

[beeby.livejournal.com]

I was just about to post a message asking if anyone had seen or heard of my son when up pops this entry. Oh I hate to crow - or actually love to gloat - but you're growing maturer if you can appreciate R4. Sorry, sorry, I know that's ghastly but I really love spoken programmes since I started listening to the radio - some of those around 8 or 9 at night are really thought provoking. The trouble is that one is usually settled watching telly or in my case playing bridge at that time. It's not the Archers you know.............. (good thought that is).

[azekeil.livejournal.com]

I did realise I'd be putting myself into the 'maturer listener' by making this post :p

There is always BBC iPlayer to listen to them again.. but I don't think I'm that bothered.

[samoth.livejournal.com]

Well done for discovering R4, it's a huge improvement on everything else on the radio, I find it makes long car journeys a great deal more bearable