Complex Issues Require More Than Simplistic Either-Or Choices
(Susan Knight | SGP Health & Wellness Featured Columnist)
Written by Susan Knight for Sankarsingh-Gonsalves Productions.
At every turn, we’re bombarded with simplistic either-or framing of highly complex and multifaceted issues.
When it comes to politics, we’re pressured to pick from the left-right divide, with total rejection (and disdain) of the other side. On abortion, we’re told there are only two positions to choose from, pro-life or pro-choice, with nothing in between and no other options. Regarding vaccines, you’re either pro-vax or anti-vax, no wiggle room allowed. Cancer diagnosis? Once again, two choices: the “sensible” approach of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation; or some not-so-sensible alternative approach.
This kind of overly simplistic framing places these issues on par with a visit to the ice-cream parlour and being told you must select either chocolate or vanilla ice-cream, when in fact there are many more flavours to choose from. Likewise, there are many more responses to these issues than the rigidly divided either-or options presented. Context and extenuating circumstances matter. It’s also possible to find yourself noticing elements of truth and valid points on both sides of a contentious issue.
So, regarding politics, someone might lean predominantly to one side, yet still embrace policies from the other side. Regarding abortion, someone might eschew taking a definitive pro-life or pro-choice stance altogether, preferring to engage in a broader, more nuanced and fulsome discussion. Vaccines? Maybe someone is neither pro-vax nor anti-vax; they would rather examine the risks and benefits of a specific vaccine in a specific situation to make an informed choice.
And when it comes to a cancer diagnosis, or any health issue for that matter, perhaps someone just wants the freedom to explore all available options, including less conventional ones, before making a final decision that quite literally could mean the difference between life and death. That doesn’t sound unreasonable, does it?
Beyond the hot-button issues previously mentioned, life is filled with many other complex, multifaceted issues. When viewed from a distance, it can be easy to take an absolute, unyielding, and often idealistic stance on these issues.
But what happens when things hit a little closer to home, as you watch a friend or colleague being impacted? Closer proximity enables you to see more facets of an issue. As your viewing point changes, and as you witness things playing out in real time with people you know and care about, black and white issues don’t seem quite so unequivocally black and white anymore.
And then there are those times when a situation hits you directly. Where once you perceived a straightforward matter, it now seems anything but straightforward as you’re forced to wrestle with all the complexity yourself. You struggle to balance short-term concerns against long term consequences. Moral dilemmas ensue and your perspective changes. Ideals get pushed aside as you focus on what seems realistic given the immediate circumstances.
Dealing with shades of grey. Navigating along a spectrum that has “bad” at one end and “worse” at the other. Planning your next move when fallout is inevitable and damage can perhaps be minimized, but not entirely avoided. Agreeing with elements from two seemingly opposed views; or rejecting both views and searching for something entirely different. This is reality, messy and complicated, often with no easy answers. We do ourselves a disservice when we ignore this reality and succumb to external forces that would have us reduce complex issues down to simplistic, either-or choices.
About the Author: Susan Knight| SGP Featured Writer | Contact the author: http://skfreelance.com
Susan is certified health and wellness coach with a focus on personal growth and inner wellness. She was a regular contributor to Social Work Today Magazine and is a featured Health & Wellness Columnist for SGP.
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