News channels today repeat the news enough number of times. They make sure no one misses the buzz. I have always been critical about the news channels showing same breaking news every day 24/7 and being proud about it. Let alone other flaws in the media reporting, this repetition of news can single-handedly put people off these channels. What is the purpose of talking about the problems over and over again? How much sense does it make? Do people really care and do they care more if they hear the same thing again and again?
In media situation very likely repetition serves no goal at all. Getting to hear about a small boy called Prince who fell into a pit and that too every one hour or flashing Aishwarya and Abhishek's wedding moments every 30 minutes doesn't really move people. Also those who care to do something about the social issues do it anyway and those who don't can't be changed by seeing the same news again and again.
What about in other situations? Say in your work place where you are assigned a task or in research you are thinking about a particular problem. Does talking about it over and over again, getting people to hear it often help? I think it depends on various factors:
1. How much have you thought about the problem between the two times you discussed it?
It really helps if between two 'thinking aloud sessions' you have thought about it at least fair amounts. On the other hand, it makes no sense to keep discussing the same problem over and over again without sitting back and thinking about it in complete solitude.
2. How well do you describe it every time you talk about it?
If every time your description is high level you might never be able to spell out the difficulties involved in the technical parts. Also going over all the details every time may result in losing the sight of the global issues. Alternating between the two will very likely turn out to be useful.
3. What are you expecting from the people who give you an ear?
Not expecting anything at all from the listener and giving a thought to everything that comes from the listener can make the experience most fruitful.
Can you think about other situations where repetition helps/ doesn't help? How about personal problems? I hardly like talking about them. Is that a good thing? Is repetition mandatory? ...
In media situation very likely repetition serves no goal at all. Getting to hear about a small boy called Prince who fell into a pit and that too every one hour or flashing Aishwarya and Abhishek's wedding moments every 30 minutes doesn't really move people. Also those who care to do something about the social issues do it anyway and those who don't can't be changed by seeing the same news again and again.
What about in other situations? Say in your work place where you are assigned a task or in research you are thinking about a particular problem. Does talking about it over and over again, getting people to hear it often help? I think it depends on various factors:
1. How much have you thought about the problem between the two times you discussed it?
It really helps if between two 'thinking aloud sessions' you have thought about it at least fair amounts. On the other hand, it makes no sense to keep discussing the same problem over and over again without sitting back and thinking about it in complete solitude.
2. How well do you describe it every time you talk about it?
If every time your description is high level you might never be able to spell out the difficulties involved in the technical parts. Also going over all the details every time may result in losing the sight of the global issues. Alternating between the two will very likely turn out to be useful.
3. What are you expecting from the people who give you an ear?
Not expecting anything at all from the listener and giving a thought to everything that comes from the listener can make the experience most fruitful.
Can you think about other situations where repetition helps/ doesn't help? How about personal problems? I hardly like talking about them. Is that a good thing? Is repetition mandatory? ...
Comments
Regarding discussing/sharing problems with others:
Its a personal view of an individual whether to share problems with others or not.
Some people like to keep their problems, solutions with just themselves. Some people like to share problems and not solutions. They wont listen to others but they like to share problems. Some people don't like to show their problems but if someone realizes and suggests solution, they are happy with it. Some are totally open.
In my personal view; I love problems, issues, complexities and solutions. I enjoy working in adverse situations than working in normal conditions. I like to understand problems, take them as inputs from myself and from others. I am always happy to help, provide solutions, take the person out of the problem. And I am more happy to describe solution than the problem at the end.
But when it comes to discussing my 'personal' problems, the settings are little different :-) I like to keep them with myself until I solve them. I ask others, take their help but not directly. And whether to accept the solution or not is entirely my decision because I am responsible my life.
While discussing technical problems, I use incremental approach. I never tell the problem directly. I'll rather create a situation and then introduce a problem in parts based on next person's feedback. If at certain point, I feel the next person is not capable of understanding it, I leave close the topic carefully instead of wasting time. If I feel, I got the solution then also I stop. The incremental approach of discussing problem gives this freedom.
Thanks for the comment... Incremental approach sounds good.... What do you mean if the person doesn't understand? How about telling again and trying to see if he/she understand?...
For TV channels, thats to keep up with the "24X7" tagline and the TRP ratings.
For humans, not at all. Once you cry and tell about your personal problems, ppl will sympathesize and give an ear. Second time you do, ppl will say 'its ok, don't worry, things will be fine'. Third time you do it, ppl will show their backs and say 'you always keep crying'.