On "getting" or "not getting it"

It’s a common cultural tone these days and it is supposed to make you sit up and pay attention.

“I didn’t get it!”

With such a cry, the toddler slams down his spoon, sending bits of meal everywhere, as he asserts his rights to refuse to eat the porridge set in front of him.

Yet, there is a surprising twist to this story. You see, it isn’t a toddler but a fully grown adult who is adopting this posture.

“I didn’t get it!” he barks. “Therefore you must be wrong in trying to speak to me!”

“I didn’t get it!” — he emits again. Therefore you haven’t managed to scale the mountain of my intelligence, to communicate to me!”

It may be true that the teacher lacks the fortitude to get the message across. However, taking up the challenge of conveying information to an inborn genius who’s never going to “get it” anyway, is hardly ennobling.

Motherhood may be conventionally considered a low status job — but at least the mother is inherently driven to convey what she knows to her own flesh and blood. The school teacher is one step removed from this level. Pay her a certain amount of money, and she might seek to assure that your progeny “gets it”. However, if some of the geniuses fall by the wayside due to a lack of application or ability, she may well turn a blind eye. After all she is only being paid an average wage.

A person who responds to you on the Internet is even less likely to care whether their listeners “get it”. Sure, they may want to impart their ideas and knowledge. But don’t be under any illusion that they are absolutely driven to assure your growth.