Out of Context

Blog post #351 of 365

I was reading the other day when I came across the phrase, 'Birds of a feather flock together.' It was a part of the book that was trying to say people stick together. But as I remember it the phrase is from the poem.
Birds of a feather flock together as do pigs and swine,
Rats and mice will have their choice and so shall I have mine.
It isn't really talking about people sticking together. It is about species that are alike sticking together. Then I looked it up online and discovered some people thinking it was somehow racist. I don't see it at all as racist. Birds generally feel safe with other birds, as do pigs but that mice and rats because of their size difference might not want to share the same space. It is saying we have a choice of who we hang around with. I think it is more about being safe and smart.

The online talk also spoke about people always shortening the poem to fit the need of the situation. I get that. I see things taken out of context all of the time. And I imagine it could be seen as racist if it were used out of context. That is kind of why I believe in looking at the whole picture rather than focusing on a tiny word or phrase out of context.

One more example. There is a photo floating around FB of a couple of young girls, teens, holding rifles. Both are held the proper way which tells me they have been taught how to hold them. The captions talks about kids taking guns to school. On further inspection you can see an adult or two in the back who also appear to be holding guns. Without having read the caption I thought it was of photo taken at a gun event or perhaps a shooting range. Also in the background is an empty stroller. A friend shared the photo with a small small rant stating kids should never be allowed to carry guns in public. I have no idea where the photo originated but I didn't get the assumption the girls were just walking around a park alone or anything. The photo was obviously taken totally our of context.

If you took much of my writing out of context it might possibly be a problem so always let me and anyone else convey the entire message. If you look at some of my photos without knowing the background some could be taken rather poorly. Like the one of my brother and son sort of sitting way too cozy, leg thrown over a lap in a hug. But actuality it is my son goofing around with his uncle. Remembering when the kids were all young.  It is much safer not jumping to conclusions. It is much kinder not to share a snippet of a conversation or captioning a photo in a way that is obviously not true.