Thinking...underrated
"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.
posted by Murdoc @ 7:11 PM
9 comments
9 Comments:
Childhood rejection issues can leave the adult thin-skinned, emotionally reacting to a differing opinion as though they are somehow invalidated as a valuable human being . . .
But that's just my opinion . . .
This is a good subject, Ben and I continue to think about it . . .
It seems to me that the more a person values themself, the more they will value another person's opinion . . .
I agree with your first point. I also agree with your second, however, this doesn't constitute groupthink.
I think that how a person reacts when debating/arguing depends on the manner in which it's done. If it's done in a respectful manner then I think that yes, it's just a differing opinion. It's when name calling and ridicule come into play that I think that people will dismiss the person as a moron, idiot or might feel like it's a personal attack. Good topic.
we were just talking about perceptions and email and blogs...written can be taken much differently than how it was meant, and you forget that some of your audience will take it how it's meant, some will not. this is not meant to be a veiled comment.
Given that, people live different lives, and that is hard sometimes go wrap your head around if you are passionate about something that someone else sees quite differently. I appreciate very much the ability to discuss openly. Those kinds of discussions have given me a very different view of life in general and the ability to have lots of different kinds of friends whose opinions mean very much to me, whether I agree with them or not. I think it teaches you how to love regardless and try to control only what you are able to.
and, this is stuff that I am still learning, but am happy to be going through the process. Next, I will look into diplomacy.
Hillary- I don't think it's as simple as that. What I'm getting at is people will automatically go into defense mode (which more commonly means attack mode) when someone throws out a contradicting belief or opinion. I think it has alot to do with how people were raised. It's not necessarily a choice, its a reaction.
Trista- I agree emails & blogs are less than optimal when it comes to having an actual conversation, much less a debate. So much is missed. People write things in emails that they wouldn't have the intestinal fortitude to say to someones face in conversation.
Technology is wonderful isn't it?
3 and 1 on your list are interesting. i think one of the problems of american society is this weird idea that all opinions are equally valid in all cases.
saying "well that's my opinion" is almost viewed as a trump card in our society. opinions can be wrong, and not all opinions are equally valid. i would go as far as to say that you have to be a moron to have some opinions. and these invalid opinions change depending on time and circumstance. for instance, you are a moron if you believe the solar system revolves around the earth. 600 years ago, that wouldn't be the case.
if you're not quite sure where i'm coming from, go ahead and raise some teenage girls in today's wussified every opinion is valid, every discussion must end in a tie where every party respects each others opinion, belief trumps fact society that we live in currently.
Nice Shontell. But that's just your opinion.
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