Feel Free To Disagree January 7, 2014
Posted by nrhatch in Humor, People, Poetry, Word Play.trackback
When I’m not entirely sure
About what’s what
I want you to disagree with me
Your counter to my point
Helps me hone my thrust
So I know better what I mean
Feel free to disagree
Give it your best shot
Your point may become my counter
What is there to defend, after all?
Our glorious and fragile Egos?
Aah . . . that’s better!
Absolute certainty is a privilege of uneducated minds and fanatics. ~ C.J. Keyser
Related posts: “There’s Naught So Queer As Folk” * Shades of Gray Proliferate
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Spirit Lights The Way 
Well-said, Nancy. But it’s not always easy for some (like me) to disagree (although my husband would probably disagree with that statement:). Brought up in a home where conflict and disagreement were not acceptable, I did not realize I could speak up for myself and the world would not end. Age and experience have helped me to find my voice, thank goodness!
Glad you’re finding your voice, Vivian.
I think it’s all in how it’s done. If someone wants to counter “my truth” with “their truth” . . . I’m all ears. If they just want me to SHUT UP to protect their fragile Egos, I’m less inclined to comply with their wishes.
I often say “I disagree.” I try to refrain from saying, “You’re WRONG!”
There’s nothing wrong with respectful disagreements. What’s wrong is when it turns into personal attacks (like our government leaders 🙂 )
Yes! If no one ever disagrees with us, we might forget that there is always something new to learn. A lively debate of issues is a delight. In contrast, watching “leaders” engage in mud slinging is worse than watching pro-wrestling. 😐
Not just your politicians. Ours are making personal attacks an art form too.
It’s the same the world over ~ as soon as we engage in ad hominem attacks, edification flies out the window.
Hope you New Year is off to a cracking good start!
I think it was horribly wrong of you to invite disagreement! Except in cases where it allows me to demonstrate irony.
🙂
Haha! Whatever happens in response to my ill-conceived and horribly wrong invitation, I win! People will either take de bait and debate with me OR they will be polite and let me have my say as “benevolent dictator.” 😛
Benevolent dictator, huh? Be careful, people might start worshipping you.
Oops, did I type that out loud?
😉
Bow down when you address me!
I really real want to disagree with your here, but I can’t. Great post! I promise to be back to add my counter later on…..
Keep the invitation in mind, Val. Controversial posts are great to spark discussion . . . as long as people are willing to toss their 2 cents into the mix.
I promise I will.
Yay! You and I see eye-to-eye so often, It may be some time before your point becomes my counter.
🙂
For example, your post today about “The Urge to Pontificate” hit the bulls eye!
{{BOING}} -> {{THWAP}}
Yup…that’s the one that gets us all in a huff 😉
I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll blow that one away!
I have hardly seen respectful conversations with opposing views on the internet. It gets really, really ugly. I admit sometimes, I get entertained when I ocassionally peek in a thread. 😀
I’ve enjoyed some great debates . . . but I’ve also seen some UGLY arguments. I do my best to steer clear of the latter.
Meant to say “peek in a thread”… would be cool if WP allowed us to edit comments for a few minutes after posting.
All fixed. That would be nice. Typos always appear AFTER I post a comment . . . never before.
Thanks, Nancy! I sometimes see the typo after I press the reply button a little too quickly and it’s about to post my comment.
Yes! That’s the exact window ~ too late to do anything about it and too early to shrug it off. 😉
I don’t know if you find it to be true, but I find it’s really hard to find friendly disagreement anywhere. So many people seem to really hold back, and I think it’s because they have prior experience with being “attacked” for dissension! I love to surround myself with different points of view, but I so rarely find it possible to have a good discussion when there are multiple perspectives on the table. Perhaps it does all come down to egos! I loved the poem, Nancy.
I do find it hard to find friendly disagreement . . . especially in face to face encounters. Most people “play it safe” but talking only about “neutral topics” ~ I can discuss the weather, movies, celebrities, and sports only so long before my eyes glaze over.
We are trained to “get along” (part of the social compact) even if it means shading what we really think. Some bite their tongues out of “fear” of being attacked or ridiculed for not accepting the “party line.” Still others have noticed how fragile some Egos seem to be, collapsing into a pool of tears whenever someone looks at them askance.
I loved Law School ~ Socratic Dialogue in every class. One big Great Debate! 😀
I have just one question. Since I don’t understand Lawyer Latin, I’d like to know, what does “ad hominem” mean?
Ad hominem = an attack on an opponent’s character rather than by an answer to the contentions made.
Instead of debating issues, the discussion deteriorates into name calling.
I see too much of this in televised political debates. If someone with a conservative political viewpont says anything critical of liberal policies, he or she is called a racist.
“Did I say anything that wasn’t true?”
“True or not doesn’t matter. Your saying it makes you a racist, which means I don’t have to reply.”
Yup, and conservatives repay the favor by characterizing their opponents as “liberal communist sympathizers.”
I find it very hard to disagree. I usually keep my lip zipped especially around family. It rocks the boat and isn’t worth the motion sickness.. 😀 To be honest, with most people I know they get their panties in a twist and all defensive and it hardly seems worth it. I am still going to live my life, have my thoughts and do what I think is best for me. AND I’m very tactful about disagreeing too.. 🙂
Over time, we learn who engages in civil discourse even when faced with disagreement and who ends up with twisted panties.
With the later, we are wise to just “smile and nod.” 😀
I have those twisted panties people pegged.. 😀
I agree to disagree
PERFECT! It’s a deal.
I often times tend to disagree far too loudly because of exactly what viviankirkfield said. I have gone from a quiet little Southern girl to a loud Italian woman. I even have an accent for it. And no that is not meant to be racist or mean or anything against Italian women. I would be a great Italian woman. Just ask my husband. 🙂
Mangia! When we first find our voice, we may ROAR ~ perhaps volume is needed to clear the cobwebs!