"If everybody's thinking the same thing, then nobody's thinking..." George S. Patton
In a world full of groupthink...or...nothink...
I've been contemplating differing opinions. I read this book called "Meet the Rabbis." It was really insightful, good, exciting...pick a word to describe a book you enjoyed. In one chapter, it talked about the value that the jews placed on having a friend "haverim" that they could argue/debate with. This debating & arguing was looked at as a good thing that mentally sharpened & helped them to formulate & articulate arguments & ideas.
It seems like people look at opinions differing to theirs in a few ways:
1- Some people dismiss others as morons or idiots
2- Some people view differing opinions as a personal attack
3- Some people view differing opinions as just that, a different opinion
I can see how & where I've fallen into each of these categories at some point in my life. I know I'm not the only one, but what is it that makes it hard to deal with opinions & ideas that are different? Pride. Fear. Insecurity. These are pretty isolating & destructive, especially when you're making attempts at relationship.
