DOPCANDY

I have been totally sidetracked and engaged with the fantastic mobileyouth web site that studies how young people consume media in the 21st Century. Whilst looking through many of their presentations I came across the concept of “uncommon sense”. This post goes a long way to explaining how it works in practice.Graham Brown’s post expands the notion further… here is what he says:

What is Uncommon Sense?

Perhaps the best way to describe the uncommon is to describe what it is not.

So let us first examine, what is common sense?

As Einstein said “Common sense is but the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen”

Common Sense is the rationale behind a boring marketing decision to aim for the safe option or marketing by committee

Common Sense tells us through the media that we are “not enough” but the pain can be removed by this next purchase – a BMW or Olay’s wrinkle cream

Common Sense propels business owners to constantly seek “more” growth, “more” market share because that’s what everyone else is doing

Common Sense is health and safety, litigious culture and the 4 page disclaimer

Common Sense means our organizations encourage us to be “busy” and spend our days chasing our tails, checking emails and reacting to other people’s agendas

I’m sure that some of these resonate with you, because these are common symptoms to a common problem – that is we live in fear of making decisions, taking risks and being guided by our principles

So what is uncommon Sense?

Uncommon Sense is when you take the plunge and aim to work less in order to begin enjoying life more

Uncommon Sense is when Jones Soda aims to take on the largest brand in the world by launching product lines such as “Turkey & Gravy flavoured” soda.

Uncommon Sense lies behinds Starbuck’s decision to compete with the price sensitive fast food market by charging nearly double for a premium cup of coffee

Uncommon Sense gave us John Lennon, Mohandas Gandhi, Martin Luther King and many more individuals who had the bravery to make a decision, take the risk and stand up for what they believed in – the power of the creative individual

Uncommon Sense encouraged Radiohead to give away their album for free – or as much as the downloaders were willing to pay for it

So what about you and your work with young people? How does “uncommon sense” work in your ministry to young people. Perhaps this scripture may stir you!!!

1 Corinthians 1:27 (New International Version)

27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.