I am pleasantly surprised to see myself getting good at avoiding controversy and contradiction with other people. All it takes is hearing a keyword or two, and I know to steer clear of a certain topic, be it politics, religion, food phobias, global warming, or whether plastic grocery sacks are the most evil thing in universe. And can transgender chickens still lay eggs? (Answer: yes, but only if they are cage-free.) If nothing else works, I will just remain silent.
Actually it is strange how emotional people get over their opinions. Surely the thought has occurred to them that "their" opinions come from the school system or the media. For instance if somebody starts going on about their Trump Derangement Syndrome I am tempted to shrug off "their" opinions, and then ask them how many hours per day they watch television.
So it isn't as if opinions are some kind of sacred, inviolable property that must be defended at all costs. If anything, it is their emotional resonance with the opinion that is really and truly "theirs."
For the most part I am content with controversy-avoidance, despite it almost being an admission that conversation can be nothing more than a brief and innocuous exchange of pleasantries. And yet the image comes to mind of dogs at a dog park. They can play rough with each other and still seem to enjoy it! Why is it different for homo sapiens?
Wouldn't it be nice if we could check out a new acquaintance's opinions with the same relaxed casualness as a dog sniffing the other dog's butt.
Actually it is strange how emotional people get over their opinions. Surely the thought has occurred to them that "their" opinions come from the school system or the media. For instance if somebody starts going on about their Trump Derangement Syndrome I am tempted to shrug off "their" opinions, and then ask them how many hours per day they watch television.
So it isn't as if opinions are some kind of sacred, inviolable property that must be defended at all costs. If anything, it is their emotional resonance with the opinion that is really and truly "theirs."
For the most part I am content with controversy-avoidance, despite it almost being an admission that conversation can be nothing more than a brief and innocuous exchange of pleasantries. And yet the image comes to mind of dogs at a dog park. They can play rough with each other and still seem to enjoy it! Why is it different for homo sapiens?
Wouldn't it be nice if we could check out a new acquaintance's opinions with the same relaxed casualness as a dog sniffing the other dog's butt.
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| From VetDepotBlog |
Comments
Not really.
We have been intentionally turned into a hyper-polarized nation.
Our ‘leaders’ teach us , by personal example, to revile each other. To bully. To throw rocks.
They divide us by race, by creed, by national origin, by city vs country, conservative vs liberal, rich and poor.
As you pointed out, there is no middle ground, no room for compromise, no negotiating .
Like you, I can see it coming and simply excuse myself and wander off to have a pleasant conversation with my dog.
Life is too short to put up with the hyper-polarized types.