Repetition
Repetition is a potent tool. With it, many kids are drilled repeatedly, helping them to remember the knowledge necessary to understand so many other things. Pedagogues have long made their students recite math tables in order to start learning mathematical concepts.
On the other hand, repetition is a dangerous tool. Many people repeat themselves because they’re not prepared or they don’t know what they’re talking about. In the end, those that mindlessly use repetition are pawns, unknowingly wasting the time of so many other people.
Like any tool, the use of repetition can be good or bad. If I chose to take a hammer and hit your hand, you would most assuredly say that is bad (even if Mr. Kevorkian were involved). And the red mark on your hand undoubtedly proves your point. But repetition isn’t so easy to diagnose.
I propose that repetition falls into two categories: intentional and incidental. Rote memorization or didactic teaching would be examples of intentional repetition. Intentional repetition is both healthy and good. It is an effective method of teaching and learning. On the other hand, speakers that endlessly repeat their points or people that ask the same questions fall into the category of incidental repetition.
You see, people who ask silly, unneeded questions, or lose their train of thought and start at the beginning only serve to waste everyone else’s time. This has long been a pet peeve of mine, and I am continually exasperated trying to discern what causes incidental repetition.
And the best answer I’ve found is this: people don’t care about other people. Of course, this is a wide-ranging statement and cannot be universally proven true, but I’m making generalizations about general societal trends—not universal truths that apply to everyone.
We get into this terrible habit of feeling like we exist solely as individuals. We forget the interconnected nature of mankind, so when someone sleeps through class and asks the same questions that were posed during class, their actions say that they don’t care about their classmates’ time. The same applies to meetings: if the leader of the meeting doesn’t plan adequately and directs a circular meeting, he (or she) is not respecting his peers (or subordinates) time by endlessly repeating himself for no good reason. Teachers fall into the same trap, but I’m sure you get the idea, so I’ll move on.
So you ask, “Are you saying that not paying attention in class is disrespectful of your classmates?” Yes, I am. “Does that apply to meetings as well?” Absolutely. “Are you saying that unprepared teachers or meeting facilitators disrespect those in the meeting or class?” I couldn’t have said it better myself. It is generally easy to distinguish between those who are prepared and those who are not.
Every day I realize more and more how much your actions describe who you are. And everyday I see that incidental repetition is another sad indicator of pride and/or apathy. Perhaps I get the best view because I see my own life first hand.
Time is a fleeting and precious resource. It continues on, unimpeded by man’s best intentions. And as such, incidental repetition wastes what is undeniably one of life’s most important features.
So what to do with this diatribe? Think about others when you lead. Think about others when you ask questions. Think about others when you choose not to pay attention. Stop thinking about yourself so much and start considering those things which are outside of you.
And please, don’t waste our time with unnecessary, incidental repetition.