Use Your Energy Wisely - The “Limits of the Parrot” Test.

SUMMARY: This little piece will help you with a very easy test to learn where to engage in discussions and where not - you will use your time and energy more effectively.

STARTING POINT: Those of us who engage openly in discussions, respecting the counterpart, often learn something new and come out of discussions enriched. But what if your counterpart has little to offer besides a few lines of content and once you try to discuss shifts away to other acquired lined of content. You will then engage in circular discussions and the content on the other side will never change. Why ? How to detect this ? What to do ?

THE PARROT TEST: Nicely in this case the problem includes the solution nicely. A parrot has learned a few lines but cannot explain the content. So if you are afraid of being in discussion with a parrot, take a central point of their statement and drill down a level. (1) If your counterpart goes there with you and you agree or disagree but in any case might learn tougher - great: no parrot. (2) The counterpart could simply not know the facts of the next level - that happens to all of us, we admit it and learn together. That was worth it: no parrot. (3) A parrot will (a) repeat the original content in the same words, (b) try to shift to new content it has learned or (c) tell you that you are just to stupid - cut your losses in time and energy. A parrot can repeat content but not explain it. If professionally or personally important to you make the parrot behavior transparent - especially of there is a wider audience that might be influenced by the parrot. Show them this little article and let them conclude themselves ??

WHY DOES IT MATTER: I will quote Paul Martin’s comment below here verbatim as I cannot say it better: ...The problem here is that you ignore the fact that others are listening. If we abandon the discussion floor to the parrots, the parrots win- and confuse other people who are quietly listening rather than engaging in the discussion. Those people out number us, and the parrots- 10 to one. And their opinions are open to change and are worth changing. As it has been said, a lie told loudly and often enough which goes unchallenged can become the truth in the minds of many... (https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/paul-martin-195763b).

WARNING 1: Do not confuse a genuine opponent with a parrot. An opponent will make you better, will make you work harder. The opponent might even be right and you might learn a lot. NEVER confuse an opponent with a parrot - the test will tell. Here is a great example for an opponent you should honor and appreciate: https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/wilhelmgraupner_rush-ending-scene-living-each-day-like-activity-6595568011963322368-PL02

WARNING 2: You will encounter parrots in many situations. In written discussions it is easier to make the behavior transparent - just send them this little link: https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/use-your-energy-wisely-limits-parrot-test-wilhelm-graupner/

REQUEST: If you had parrot encounters let me know, kindly without naming the parrot. We want to learn and not blame.