Default Settings

.
Have you ever noticed that now when you buy a television, computer, appliance, or even an automobile, it is pretty much usable right out of the box. Colors, sounds, volumes, brightness, speeds, temperatures, and time zones are all preset by someone else who thinks they know what's best for you. That's what default settings are. For those that want to venture into the unknown, those defaults can be changed to some degree to optimize the gadget's performance to your perfection.

Well, we all have defaults right in our own bodies and minds as well, but most of us don't even know it. Our bodies are individually defaulted to prefer certain climates, foods, activities, and an abundance of likes and dislikes. And, many times we choose our friends, leaders, and even spouses from our own default setting without ever realizing it.

Default settings are wonderful. Well, most of the time. Because when defaults are used, objectivity is removed. And, objectivity is really important in decision making; for without it fairness can not be imposed, and bias prevails.

As an example, most parents have defaults that cause them to defend their child's actions even though they are wrong. Women will most often support another woman in most any issue. Men do the same. A person of color has a default to support another colored person, and even deeper, a Black male will almost always by default, support a brother. Christians support Christians just as Muslims support terrorists. It is all in how your default settings are programmed.

But, just as in televisions, people can change or override their defaults if they are aware of them. A cop's default forces him or her to beat an aggressor, and that default left un-managed, results in disaster, because he gets over beaten. A female judge must over ride her uncontrollable urge to support wives over husbands in a divorce hearing. And, our racial defaults need to be controlled in making race decisions without bias.

According to Physiologist Steve King, our President's default setting was apparent when he immediately supported his Black friend's disobedience over the actions of that White cop. Defaults are instinctive, automatic, and are made so quickly that we don't even realize how we came to that decision. Until later. When we realize what we did.

So, take a look at yourselves. How are your decisions affected by your default settings. Many of mine are. Are you a parent who will always defend your child's drug addiction? Do you defend your husband's aggression against you? Will you defend your drunk buddy's decision to drive when he had that accident? Will you always hire the one most like yourself? Do you look down at the hobos and bums because you were defaulted to work all your life?

Be aware of your default settings if you can. I have been trained to recogize my defaults and I really try to not let them be a factor in critical judgements. And, be aware that those settings can be over ridden if you like. And, if you can over ride them, you might be a better person. Not that I have done so with every one of my settings, but at least I am aware of how they are set.

Just sharing another Thought Dock thought.
.