To understand others perspectives is the key to successful social dynamics. Your own perceptions and opinions are of limited value when compared to other peoples perspectives. And understanding another person's point of view is essential to understanding others perspectives.
The first step in understanding others perspectives is to realize that your own perception and opinion are just that - perceptions and opinions, in the absence of perspective. The next step is to see the world through the eyes of the person who is being judged or critiqued.
If you cannot see the world through their eyes, then you will not have a perspective on the situation that will help you understand others perspectives. It is true that the eyes are what we see, but they are not all we see. Our friends, family and coworkers may not see the world as we do; they might see something else entirely.
This is an important issue because the eyes of the beholder are a major determining factor in whether or not the beholder's perceptions and opinions are based in reality. As an example, let's assume that you get a cut on your lip after you bump into someone while playing tennis. Now assume that the cut you have is the result of a tennis ball, and the doctor says that it was caused by a hard smack. What does this have to do with your perceptions?
In this example, the doctor can say that the cut was caused by a tennis ball, but you will find that the cut was not caused by a tennis ball, and it was not caused by a hard smack from someone with whom you were playing tennis. In your own words, "I did not see the hit, and I do not know what happened. My perception was that it was a tennis ball that caused the cut."
How does this apply to a baseball game? It applies to every aspect of life in general, not just sports.
Another way to look at this is to consider that your perspective is the one that you hold in common with the other person. What would you think if your best friend said to you, "You seem depressed today. Is there anything that I can do to help?"
If you looked over your shoulder and saw him walking away from you, how would you interpret this? Your perception of his intent could be one of two things. You could perceive him walking away because he had lost interest in you, or he was going to do something else. Your perception is based on your knowledge of what you know about him and how he interacts with others.
The same principle holds true for the people's perceptions that we bring into our interactions with others. Your perceptions will determine how you react to others.
Take the situation in the above example again; this time, if you turn around you will see him walking away, you will see him as interested in you, and you will see him as something other than a distant bystander. Your perception will tell you this. Your interpretation tells you that the thing that caused the cut in your lip was a tennis ball.
How would you feel if you knew for sure that it was not a tennis ball? How would your knowledge of the physics of the situation change your perception of his intent and actions?
Understanding others perspectives is essential to learning to appreciate them. Taking a moment to consider what others are experiencing and seeing, in order to give them your attention and care, is an important part of human interaction. And that is why understanding others perspectives is so important!