One thing that I find baffling when I argue with people online is when they complain that I'm not being open-minded.
I happen to think I'm a fairly open-minded person. For example, even though I'm very pro-choice, I can absolutely see the point of view of a person who is pro-life. I mean, they think we're murdering babies! I would actually find it very hard to argue with such a person (unless they said abortion is okay in the case of rape and incest, because that totally is inconsistent).
But being open-minded doesn't mean that you have to agree with everyone else who argues against you. I consider what the other person is saying, and sometimes I concede some points, but sometimes I still disagree. That's my right. And sometimes the other person will acknowledge this and say, "We'll have to agree to disagree." Because you can't always expect the other person to come around to your point of view.
(If you say that to me and I say, "I don't agree to that," it's not because I don't agree, but because it's a favorite Simpsons quote of mine.)
But sometimes people go off the deep end and start yelling at me for not being open-minded. I find this entirely hypocritical. One person actually said to me, and I quote:
"I would be very happy to debate this with you, if you are open-minded enough to admit it when (not if) I prove you wrong."
A true sign of open-mindedness, don't you think?
You are wrong, just sit there in your wrongness and be wrong you little wrongety wronger.
ReplyDeleteMeet the Internet. Nobody is ever wrong on the Internet.
ReplyDeleteNo! You're wrong!
DeleteOoh... them's fightin' words.
DeleteOh dear...you just mentioned abortion on a public site. Prepare for the back lash!
ReplyDeleteI'm serious.
You're braver than I thought.
But, yes I totally agree with what you're saying.
I agree with you. I usually won't discuss "hot topics" because most times it's somebody trying to convince me they are right and I am wrong. I can almost always "see" both sides of an issue, and consider myself open-minded.
ReplyDeleteAnd "C" - your comment made me lmao.
Everyone should be open-minded, so long as their brain doesn't fall out. I think people's definition of "close-minded," especially on the internet, is often wrong. While the world is filled with shades of gray, many times there IS a right or wrong answer (opinions notwithstanding), the online world is such an echochamber that "close-minded" has become synonymous with "doesn't agree with me."
ReplyDeleteNow that you said that. Perhaps people think you are not open minded because of your tone. You sounded mockery and almost rude when fielding some comments about cry-it-out approach (for example), you trashed opinions that differed from yours.
ReplyDeleteReally? I just looked at my comments on that post and I don't see how I was mocking anyone in the slightest. I'll even link to it if you can point out to me what I said that was so rude because I'm genuinely confused:
Deletehttp://doccartoon.blogspot.com/2013/01/cry-it-out.html
Might I suggest, without intending to be rude, that English is not your first language and maybe that's why you misunderstood the tone of my comments?
This is what you wrote:
Delete"Exactly. Parent how you want to parent, but don't act like a martyr. That's what really bothers me. What inspired this post was some women I know posting something on facebook about children needing comfort and how she was sooo grateful she didn't do cry it out, that she couldn't live with herself if she had.I mean, if you're going to think that way, at least keep it to yourself."
That wasn't rude to the person I was replying to.
DeleteI've had lots of mansplaining in my life, where some idiot male has that presumptious attitude. Makes me like the mansplaining tumblr!
ReplyDeleteIf I might ask (and I really want to start an open discourse on this) why would you see someone saying abortion is okay in cases of rape and incest but otherwise unacceptable is inconsistent? This is my (simplified) position: if someone becomes pregnant due to general irresponsibility they should have to suffer the natural consequences of their actions. After the birth they could give the child up for adoption if they didn't believe they were in a position to raise the child well. However, if someone becomes pregnant due to forces genuinely outside of their control (such as being raped), they should not have to carry the product of that event to term.
ReplyDeleteBecause the abortion debate should not be about punishing the woman for her actions. When someone comes to the ER from a drug OD, do we not treat them because they were irresponsible? Maybe lung cancer in smokers shouldn't be treated b/c they caused the cancer with their bad choices? We can't judge a person before deciding to offer medical treatment.
DeleteIf you believe in the sanctity of life, that's different. If you feel abortion is murder, it is ALWAYS murder, no matter what the circumstances of the pregnancy.
Okay, that makes sense. Yes, of course we treat somebody with a drug OD when they come into the ER, even if we strongly believe they will only relapse again due to past history. It's the ethical thing to do; we must always treat patients to the best of our ability.
DeleteUpon closer examination my views on abortion stem from the fear that will be abused; that's obviously an issue I need to work out for myself.
Thanks for taking the time to answer honestly and with respect Fizzy.
Well, you have definitely demonstrated being open-minded :)
Delete