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Drawing a line in the sand
Have you ever been in a conversation with someone and you disagree? I found out recently that some people draw a line in the sand as soon as you disagree with them. This tends to leave an awkward silence; thus resulting in the changing of the mood and of the subject.
Wether it be a conversation about a favorite movie or something touchy as politics, I have encountered peoples attitudes change as soon as I disagree with their opinion. Key word is opinion. Everyone has an opinion, but everyone does not have the social maturity to be able to process any other opinion but there own.
In order to sustain a healthy relationship, be it personal, family or business. One needs to be able to listen and hear the other persons thoughts and opinions in order to get a clear understanding of the other persons beliefs or ideas.
One may not necessarily agree, but to automatically put up a wall and draw a line in the sand is only showing an extremely closed mind. Of course, that is only my opinon.
Comments
Politics: Does your spouse agree with you? Did you find and marry a person who votes typcially in the same party?
Can two people peacefully coexist in a marriage if they are from both sides of the fence?
I have a very good reason for asking this. Just curious if anyone has had any experience with this, because everything stated in this blog post so far takes on an entirely different tone if you're talking about discussing differing opinions with a spouse.
Way too true. I've given up trying to discuss opinions with people because nobody wants to discuss anymore. What they want to do is tell you inarguable "facts," which are the bottom line to them, and anything you have to say back to them is ridiculous and a waste of their time. I think, especially in light of the current season, that partisan politics are partially to blame and are extremely devisive in a political system that was created to be inclusive of everyone. I'm historically a republican, but will be the first to admit that I don't know everything that EITHER party stands on. So I always listen to everything. Too many people simply follow the party line like sheep with no clue of what direction they are actually headed in... people on BOTH sides.
It's the cutlure we live in now; the "me" culture. People live by the idea that "it's my show and you're the audience."
More than that, how can anyone form a reasonable disagreement when they have not considered the other person's position? You can't. Whenever I run into these types of people I just start to ask them (there are a number of ways to do this) to articulate what my positions are. If they cannot successfully do that then how is it they know they formed the right opinion?
As an example, a neighbor of mine in Orange County brought up the point of how bad it was that President Bush did not sign the Rome Statute of the International Court. I asked him if he knew why the President did not do this. He said he did not know but "Probably because..." At that point, I saw his failing whether I knew about this Statute or not. However, I did know a little about the issue and suggested that what if I told him (a libertarian) that the reason the President nor the one before him would sign it because it restricted basic, fundamental rights we cherish as Americans (E.g., right to a trial by jury, etc.) He said that may be a reason to not sign it.
Fact was, the treaty was in Johannesburg South Africa and that was exactly the reason both Presidents Clinton and Bush refused to sign. He may still disagree with the decision after considering the explanations, but to never consider those explanations before forming an opinion does no one any good. If we stop giving answers and start asking questions, we will all be better served.
We can't be right on everything and the more we know, the less we know The only perfect knowledge and opinions are handed down from above. But we have nothing to do with that.
Great blog! This will work well in our upcoming "Politics as usual" issue. :) We could all use this sound advice.