Those who call me friend, probably already know this about me (and I thank you for understanding). For many of my Facebook "friends" it is probably not so obvious, and to those who really don't know me at all I am sure it has been, and will continue to be a source of gross misunderstanding.
When I post things online that seen outrageous, inflammatory, or insensitive, I am NOT trying to offend or convince any one of anything. In our overwhelmed and mentally numb electronic social culture I often use these "hot buttons" in an attempt to snare the attention of people who might otherwise just scroll right past without really noticing. My INTENTION is to invite intelligent discussion of the topic. Not to convince anyone that my view (or the viewpoint implied by the inflammatory post) is correct and should therefore be adopted by all. No, I am actually asking (in my own way) if anyone wants to discuss the topic with me. I value the thoughts and opinions of others, and appreciate when they are shared with me in a rational way. I see this sharing of thoughts and opinions as an opportunity to better understand the topic, my own views, and the people who are participating in the discussion.
I LOVE INTELLIGENT DEBATE.
I appreciate discussing sensitive and provocative topics with people, I find it intellectually stimulating, thought provoking, and entertaining. I was always taught that, "You don't discuss politics, religion, or sex, in polite conversations"… but I've always found that these are some of the most fertile topics for interesting conversation to be had. I've always been more interested in being "real" than in being "polite".
I also find it fascinating that most of the time, even when at first it seems that my opinion on a topic is RADICALLY different from the opinion of the person I am discussing it with, very often after a good discussion we find that our opinions and thoughts are more similar than dissimilar, and that semantic issues and sensitivities to personal experience have only made it seem that we disagree on the surface. This may be quite close to the root of all social strife, and is very close to the reason why I love debate so much. I think in truth we are all much more alike than is apparent in our "flash card," "sound bite," "headline," "hash-tag" driven modern communication, which while making the world more "connected," is likely driving us all further socially and emotionally apart.
I am NOT a person who refuses to give fair consideration to a contrary point of view. In fact I will gladly give full consideration to any information which is presented in a rational, intelligible way. Having my perspective change due to being exposed to new and persuasive information is one of my favorite things in the world. This doesn't mean I will instantly be persuaded by your views. More likely is that I will consider your input, and offer a rebuttal for YOU to consider, hoping that you will do the same, and the conversation will be able to move forward…that is how debate WORKS.
I am, however, a person with many well formed opinions. A well formed opinion is one that has been shaped by careful consideration and examination of all available information. If you are a person who gets angry or disgusted when another person doesn't agree with you, or accept your opinions as "correct," you are not a rational person, and are currently incapable of intelligent debate… you might want to work on that. A knee jerk emotional reaction to information is NOT a well formed opinion. Neither is a belief based on a preference for a particular perspective or answer.
Opinions seem to be thought of as offensive in our culture, which I have never really been able to understand. Opinions by definition are something that can change as new information is learned. What people refer to as BELIEFS, on the other hand, are more often nearly concrete in the believers mind, regardless of what information is presented to the believer, that to a critical thinker might alter or contradict the held belief. To me that makes opinions seem like a GOOD thing, even if I disagree with them, and beliefs seem like a kind of frightening lack of interest in truth and the development of ones understanding of reality.
So to summarize-if anything I post has upset or offended you in the past, or does so in the future, I apologize for stimulating your negative feelings. However I would encourage you to speak up, and join in a conversation that you CLEARLY have feelings and opinions about, and lets both EVOLVE our understandings about the topic, instead of just assuming that you have fully understood the point I was trying to make, that your current opinion is infallible, and choosing to be offended.
If you are incapable of doing any of these things, please block me so that I don't make you uncomfortable in your bubble. Causing upset to those individuals who are incapable of considering the possibility that information may exist which would alter their previously held beliefs and opinions is not actually my goal. Its more that Im looking for intelligent, rational people with whom I might enjoy a lively debate/conversation.
Thanks for reading.
When I post things online that seen outrageous, inflammatory, or insensitive, I am NOT trying to offend or convince any one of anything. In our overwhelmed and mentally numb electronic social culture I often use these "hot buttons" in an attempt to snare the attention of people who might otherwise just scroll right past without really noticing. My INTENTION is to invite intelligent discussion of the topic. Not to convince anyone that my view (or the viewpoint implied by the inflammatory post) is correct and should therefore be adopted by all. No, I am actually asking (in my own way) if anyone wants to discuss the topic with me. I value the thoughts and opinions of others, and appreciate when they are shared with me in a rational way. I see this sharing of thoughts and opinions as an opportunity to better understand the topic, my own views, and the people who are participating in the discussion.
I LOVE INTELLIGENT DEBATE.
I appreciate discussing sensitive and provocative topics with people, I find it intellectually stimulating, thought provoking, and entertaining. I was always taught that, "You don't discuss politics, religion, or sex, in polite conversations"… but I've always found that these are some of the most fertile topics for interesting conversation to be had. I've always been more interested in being "real" than in being "polite".
I also find it fascinating that most of the time, even when at first it seems that my opinion on a topic is RADICALLY different from the opinion of the person I am discussing it with, very often after a good discussion we find that our opinions and thoughts are more similar than dissimilar, and that semantic issues and sensitivities to personal experience have only made it seem that we disagree on the surface. This may be quite close to the root of all social strife, and is very close to the reason why I love debate so much. I think in truth we are all much more alike than is apparent in our "flash card," "sound bite," "headline," "hash-tag" driven modern communication, which while making the world more "connected," is likely driving us all further socially and emotionally apart.
I am NOT a person who refuses to give fair consideration to a contrary point of view. In fact I will gladly give full consideration to any information which is presented in a rational, intelligible way. Having my perspective change due to being exposed to new and persuasive information is one of my favorite things in the world. This doesn't mean I will instantly be persuaded by your views. More likely is that I will consider your input, and offer a rebuttal for YOU to consider, hoping that you will do the same, and the conversation will be able to move forward…that is how debate WORKS.
I am, however, a person with many well formed opinions. A well formed opinion is one that has been shaped by careful consideration and examination of all available information. If you are a person who gets angry or disgusted when another person doesn't agree with you, or accept your opinions as "correct," you are not a rational person, and are currently incapable of intelligent debate… you might want to work on that. A knee jerk emotional reaction to information is NOT a well formed opinion. Neither is a belief based on a preference for a particular perspective or answer.
Opinions seem to be thought of as offensive in our culture, which I have never really been able to understand. Opinions by definition are something that can change as new information is learned. What people refer to as BELIEFS, on the other hand, are more often nearly concrete in the believers mind, regardless of what information is presented to the believer, that to a critical thinker might alter or contradict the held belief. To me that makes opinions seem like a GOOD thing, even if I disagree with them, and beliefs seem like a kind of frightening lack of interest in truth and the development of ones understanding of reality.
So to summarize-if anything I post has upset or offended you in the past, or does so in the future, I apologize for stimulating your negative feelings. However I would encourage you to speak up, and join in a conversation that you CLEARLY have feelings and opinions about, and lets both EVOLVE our understandings about the topic, instead of just assuming that you have fully understood the point I was trying to make, that your current opinion is infallible, and choosing to be offended.
If you are incapable of doing any of these things, please block me so that I don't make you uncomfortable in your bubble. Causing upset to those individuals who are incapable of considering the possibility that information may exist which would alter their previously held beliefs and opinions is not actually my goal. Its more that Im looking for intelligent, rational people with whom I might enjoy a lively debate/conversation.
Thanks for reading.
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