By
Obododimma Ọha
A question. Not rhetorical. Very curious and seeking an answer. But, must I tell you what is on my mind? That would be naive, even indicating that I don't use that mind well! I don't seem to deserve to have it.
So, that question is a test, a trap! In Igbo culture, this is termed "ịdụ mmadụ olu" (literally, "prodding someone's voice), pushing someone to know the workings within.
As a teacher who is expected to be checking students' comprehension, I should be interested in the assumptions, expectations and implications of questions. I should also be interested in how questions focus on the use of the mind.
Generally, therefore, it is not good to start answering a question before weighing it. We are supposed to reflect!
Furthermore, when people discover that their thinking is being probed, they tend to make it very difficult, even impossible for any other person to access that mind. They become deceptive and look for strategies to hide the mind. Being indirect in approach is really good.
The question, "what is on your mind?" seems to be based on some of these assumptions:
(1) One is naive and would not consider the implications of revealing one's thinking.
(2) It is not possible to have access to one's mind unless one reveals it.
(3) It would seem that the teller of the mind is gaining whereas that person is losing. Free offers always appear so.
(4) Revealing what is on one's mind is very reliable for it is like a confession.
Of course, there are other assumptions. I believe the question is just a psychological test that an attempt to answer it means that one is making a serious statement about oneself.Whether I comment on an update, whether I share an image or write something, I am making a serious statement but I may not know it. The text reveals my thinking and speaks for me. This is very risky! It may also speak against, not only for me!
Yes; there are people who would not only vomit their private lives but would tell the whole world everything that is happening at their village meeting, even show photographs, and say who drinks palm-wine and who does not. "Ah, Facebook! That is the 'happening thing'! I hope you are there, chief. You should be there! I am now on Facebook!" There are actually those who are carried away by the idea that they can access the internet.
The question is a clever and an indirect way of finding out what goes on or has gone on on someone's mind. Other beings on other galaxies may have other ways of processing and knowing the other's mind. Humans do not have such ability.
Let us consider this scenario: two beings from another galaxy meet and in place of the usual human greeting ("How do you do?" "Hello, " and shaking of hands), each scans the other for experiences, motivation, pursuit, intention, etc. It's their own way of knowing what is on the other's mind!
The point then is that the question, "What is on your mind?" is a weak, human means of investigation. Human beings may be disadvantaged in investigating the mind. Other beings may not have this handicap.
However, the question is a very effective way of studying humanity and human tendencies.
But let us see if we could help the human being in the investigation of the mind. We have already stated that one's update or comment speaks loudly about one. Let us add more disturbing points.
(1) The type of update or comment that is often made has significance.
(2) The directness and indirectness of the comment or update also says something.
(3) The resemblance or sameness of sharings updates, and comments are also significant. Investigation could go in this direction.
There may be some ways that some cultures follow in trying to know the workings of someone's mind. The Igbo, for instance say: "Onye kpaa nka, a mara ka uche ya dị" ("If a person engages in a creative activity, we can tell how his or her mind works.") In this case, the creative activity becomes a revelation and a reliable witness. There are other ways, like appealing to the supernatural through the "afa" divination. There is also the simple process of asking the person, sometimes inducing the answer with drugs administered.
That means that it is far from being satisfactory to give up easily, saying: "Ama m uche ya?" ("Do I know his or her mind?"). That one does not know another's mind only requires that way has to be found!
What does not have a solution, there is a way around it. So, the question is part of the quest and is legitimate.
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