Why are stories important?

[Steve 6,664]

This is something @Dolores Lima has brought up a few times, the importance of stories and how we use them to relate to each other.

Why are stories important to YOU?

[Varsha 257]

Lavie Tidhar said it best in Martian Sands 😊

“What joins humans and Others is stories. Intelligence is story. Otherwise life just happens, a series of isolated presents, disconnected moments.”

 

And he elaborates in Central Station

“It is, perhaps, the prerogative of every man or woman to imagine, and thus force a shape, a meaning, onto that wild and meandering narrative of their lives, by choosing genre. A princess is rescued by a prince; a vampire stalks a victim in the dark; a student becomes the master. A circle is completed. And so on.”

 

Also important for me is the traveling places in my mind aspect of stories… which I shall once again lean on Lavie Tidhar to explain for me  

 

“When I came to Earth.” Those few words evoked in Achimwene a nameless longing. So much to infer, so much suggested, to a man who had never left his hometown.

[Paromita Mukherjee 1,219]

Stories are important to me because they allow me to occupy worlds I never would be able to otherwise and learn about perspectives that widen the horizons of my mind. 

Sometimes I feel that the only thing linking us is a large web of interconnected stories - the bonds may be fragile, invisible even, but they are there, and every time we share a story, we strengthen these connections. 

[Ric 218]

•  To immerse myself in places and times that I will never experience in real life

•  To contemplate situations, concepts and ideas that I might not come across otherwise

•  To see things from another perspective, empathise and reflect on my own views

•  To experience a range of emotions

•  To learn something about myself

•  To stimulate my imagination (for the story itself, to speculate where it’s going and other things the story makes me think about)

•  To learn something new

•  I get to experience a tale that I couldn’t imagine but somebody else has

•  I get the chance to share thoughts with others who know the story

•  They bring me pleasure

•  They might present values that resonate with me, or raise issues which become important to me

[Jozua B 108]

All of the above!

To never forget those who are no longer with us, keeping their memory alive through stories.

[Paromita Mukherjee 1,219]

32 minutes ago, Jozua B said:

To never forget those who are no longer with us, keeping their memory alive through stories.

This brought tears to my eyes. So true! 🙏🏽

[Dolores Lima 130]

Stories convey morals and can be a reflection of society's expectations and standards. Stories are a way to bring people together. 

[Susana Imaginário 118]

 

On 3/18/2023 at 12:52 AM, Varsha said:

What joins humans and Others is stories. Intelligence is story. Otherwise life just happens, a series of isolated presents, disconnected moments.”

 

And everything else everyone said.

Stories are what make us human. No other animal tells stories. They are the very foundation of civilisation. It's how we connect, teach, play, escape, trade (even economy; the very concept of currency is a story). We learn and live through stories. Everything needs a narrative because it's through narrative that we forge meaning.