Common Sense: Not So Common After All?

“Common sense is the knack of seeing things as they are, and doing things as they ought to be done." - Harriet Beecher Stowe

Have you ever heard yourself sigh and say, "Just use some common sense!" Yeah, me too. It seems like something everyone should have, this magical ability to navigate everyday situations. But here's the thing: common sense isn't always that common.

We think of it as a basic understanding of the world, letting us make good choices without needing a manual. Yet, how often do we see people miss the mark entirely?  Maybe it's because common sense isn't quite as universal as the name suggests.

The Many Faces of "Common"

Imagine two people from completely different backgrounds encountering the same situation. What seems perfectly reasonable to one might be baffling to the other. Our experiences, culture, and even race can influence how we perceive situations.

Throw in the ever-changing world around us, and "common knowledge" starts to look a little rusty. What was perfectly acceptable behavior for our grandparents might raise eyebrows today. Social norms shift, and what's considered "common" sense evolves with them.  Consider the etiquette of texting – what was once considered rude (constant pings!) might now be expected for immediate responses.

So, is common sense reliable? Not quite.  Common sense becomes more like a moving target, constantly adjusting itself to the ever-shifting landscape of society and experience.

The Rarity of the "Rare"

Here's the twist: despite its elusiveness, common sense is still incredibly valuable. People who consistently make sound judgments are problem-solving rockstars. They're the ones we admire and rely on in tricky situations.

Think about it this way:  common sense isn't some magical ability bestowed upon a chosen few. It's the product of a complex interplay between our background, experiences, and the ever-evolving world around us.  Someone who demonstrates good judgment in one situation might appear completely clueless in another, simply because their frame of reference doesn't match the context.

This doesn't make common sense any less valuable. It just means we need to acknowledge its complexities and understand that it's not a one-size-fits-all solution.

So, the next time you hear that familiar plea, "use your common sense," remember: it might be a moving target, but it's still a target worth aiming for.  Perhaps a better approach is to cultivate an open mind, a willingness to learn from diverse perspectives, and a healthy dose of skepticism towards what we might consider "obvious." In our constantly changing world, that adaptability might be the truest form of common sense after all.

~The Stressed Potato