How do you respond when someone has a different opinion on a subject than you...

[FlockOfSeagulls]

It seems like lately that many individuals take offense when another person doesn`t share the EXACT same opinion as they do. It`s like I am taking my ball and going home because I don`t get my way. Isn`t being able to disagree yet keep a certain level of civility the essence of BEING AN ADULT? Rather than taking the stance that I can`t take any criticism so I won`t log in anymore; how childish is that???

 

[cloudgazer2k]

some people are so passionate about what they believe in, any disagreements with their stance on a subject, especially ones they view as negative, hits harder than most.

 

[Leo tickles]

I ask why and learn from it, and if they have no point because they don't understand what I'm saying in the first, I call them idiots.

If they understand me and still disagree and show me why, I try to learn from their ways and mix them into mine. If I can't get anything out of it, we agree to disagree and move on to the next topic.

 

[ChosenofMystra]

That is in the eye of the beholder.

I for example, am quite simplistic in how I handle things of this nature. If the topic at hand is irrelavent to me, or holds little to no interest, or I have no real personal stake in it, I give my thoughts and move on, no damage done.

If though, the topic is near and dear to my heart, or in some way applies directly to my personal life, I again give my two coppers on the matter, albiet a bit more grandiose than normal for my character. I really don't care if someone's opinion differs from mine, it only irks me when they hold that pompous, self-rightous "I'm right, you're wrong, fuck you" attitude and refuse to see the other side of the coin.

 

[asutickler]

How do you respond when someone has a different opinion on a subject than you...

First off, I'll generally become so furious that I shit in my pants. Then I pound out a long winded, angry response using all capital letters. Then I'll tack on four or five shorter posts, also in all caps, to further demonstrate how pissed off I am.

Then I go and eat a gallon of ice cream.


Anger management: Who needs it? NOT ME GOD DAMN IT!!!!! GRAAAAAHHHH!!!

Etc, etc.

 

[brianspencer66]

Ive had arguments with total idiots who like to make up their own facts as they go along which I find infuriating. The other day I was in the middle of making my point and the other party simply said he did not want to hear it. I asked him how we were supposed to have an intelligent discourse if he did not want to hear a differing point of view. But somehow this was beyond him and he simply insisted his point of view was simple fact pure and simple. I dont plan to talk to this person much anymore.😱

 

[minerva]

I very much agree with ChoseofMystra here.

I do like a good discussion or even argument as long as it stays on topic and doesn't result in personal insults just because of disagreement.
There is a lot one can learn from such a discussion after all.
How much I get myself involved will totally depend on how emotional I am about the topic and on the person I'm discussing with.

If I feel it finally doesn't make sense to discuss any further I will say so, agree to disagree and move on. This can happen very quickly though, specially with people who are plain stupid, stubborn, obviously don't even know what they're talking about, or those who wont even listen to your arguments and aren't able or willing to answer any questions you ask them regarding their opinion. Guess, that's the 'No matter what, I'm right, You're wrong - type' and those make me sick.

Then again, if someone here on the forum decides to not log in anymore for whatever reason, it's their decission. You will simply have to let them go.
You never know, they might be back sooner than you think anyway 😉

 

[drew70]

How do you respond when someone has a different opinion on a subject than you?

It depends on how that different opinion is expressed. If it's expressed in an equalitive manner, like "you're welcome to your opinion but mine is radically different" I'm okay with that. I'll work hard to make certain my responses are equally cordial.

However if the differing opinion is expressed by someone in such a way as to condescend, ridicule or deride, I find little motivation to maintain diplomacy. I will attempt to highlight that person's ego, hypocrisy, and transparency in whatever way I can within the boundaries of protocol. Of course, that can be a little frustrating when said protocol is deliberately and admittedly obfuscated by those who establish/enforce it, but that's another topic entirely. 🙂

 

[Horatio]

It seems like lately that many individuals take offense when another person doesn`t share the EXACT same opinion as they do. It`s like I am taking my ball and going home because I don`t get my way. Isn`t being able to disagree yet keep a certain level of civility the essence of BEING AN ADULT? Rather than taking the stance that I can`t take any criticism so I won`t log in anymore; how childish is that???

You know, I'm struck by how different people's interactions are between "real life, in-person" and internet forums (or, more specifically, this board).

To your point, I don't know if people here, for example, are collectively (I said collectively 😉) more socially backward than a group of friends you might hang out with in person, or if they are somewhat normal people who allow themselves to become socially backward because of the anonymity of this medium. I kind of think it might be both.

I posted a note a few days ago - and people were not hesitant to weigh right in with their opinions (really my post wasnt even an opinion, but a recap of something that happened to me - but whatever). There was one dude whose opening line was "You're an idiot!". I didn't respond to him (why bother?) but I remember thinking, if this dude was saying this to my face in real life, he would either by apologizing as profusely as he could or he would be on his hands and knees looking for his teeth.

So, I applaud you in trying to keep conversations civil over here. It's appreciated!

 

[Horatio]

First off, I'll generally become so furious that I shit in my pants. Then I pound out a long winded, angry response using all capital letters. Then I'll tack on four or five shorter posts, also in all caps, to further demonstrate how pissed off I am.

Then I go and eat a gallon of ice cream.


Anger management: Who needs it? NOT ME GOD DAMN IT!!!!! GRAAAAAHHHH!!!

Etc, etc.

Well done 😀

 

[Tamia78]

In regards to this forum.....

Some people just like to post a different opinion to stir up trouble, play devil's advocate or what have you. Others really do have a different opinion because of life experience and actaully do know what they are talking about. If someone's opinion differs from mine, I usually agree to disagree. I posted a thread about spanking, and got MANY different opinions, many way different than mine. I did learn alot from the people whose opinions differed from mine, and that was my goal.

Hopefully, with so many personalities and so many opinions here, we can learn from each other instead of being so quick to jump on someone and call them names for typing something you don't agree with. That just lack of maturity. This is an ADULT DISCUSSION FORUM. Let's act like it.

--T

 

[Anna6-9]

First off, I'll generally become so furious that I shit in my pants. Then I pound out a long winded, angry response using all capital letters. Then I'll tack on four or five shorter posts, also in all caps, to further demonstrate how pissed off I am.

Then I go and eat a gallon of ice cream.


Anger management: Who needs it? NOT ME GOD DAMN IT!!!!! GRAAAAAHHHH!!!

Etc, etc.

LMAO! I just wish people would be able to see things from somebody elses point of view and just agree to disagree rather than trying to shove their oppinion down my throat!

 

[tcklft]

Anyone on this forum posting an opinion contrary to my own is a negative nelly who should be banned for life after being given 100 lashes with a wet noodle. That'll learn 'em!

Now where does asutickler keep his stash of ice cream?

 

[Helena]

How do I respond when someone has a different opinion on a suject than me?
Hmmmmm.....
I think it depends on the post.
If the OP is just venting about something that annoys him/her, I will not post in the thread if I have nothing to say that is nice.
If the OP has started an extremely long-winded thread, regarding something they feel passionate about, I never add a post until I can collect my thoughts. Most of the time my interest dies after a few minutes.
I respond to threads I disagree with when the subject is something important to me.
I try not to post if I feel angry. Every post I've ever made while angry I've regretted.

 

[GirlWhoLikes2Laugh]

That is in the eye of the beholder.

I for example, am quite simplistic in how I handle things of this nature. If the topic at hand is irrelavent to me, or holds little to no interest, or I have no real personal stake in it, I give my thoughts and move on, no damage done.

If though, the topic is near and dear to my heart, or in some way applies directly to my personal life, I again give my two coppers on the matter, albiet a bit more grandiose than normal for my character. I really don't care if someone's opinion differs from mine, it only irks me when they hold that pompous, self-rightous "I'm right, you're wrong, fuck you" attitude and refuse to see the other side of the coin.

I basically agree with what Mystra said. However, I think that if someone's opinion is different than mine that's okay as long as they don't make me feel bad or wrong for the way I feel. I mean people should try to agree to disagree if they have different opinions on the subject.

 

[theshire]

On pure matters of personal taste such as music or whatever, I'm pretty tolerant of the opinions of others, although I do believe there is a line drawn where something becomes OBJECTIVELY good or bad and I maintain that I know where that line is...

However, on matters such as politics, I'm a lot more stubborn. I can accept being corrected if I have got facts wrong. But regardless of what anyone says, I'm never going to change my overall opinion or worldview. I'm too set in my ways and I believe what I say too passionately to ever drop it when it comes to matters of political opinion. Like I said, facts I can concede, but it would take something extraordinary to change my overall opinion about anything like that. This is because I believe that a person can be wrong about certain facts that they are basing their worldview on, but still have validity to that worldview.

 

[Capnmad]

It seems like lately that many individuals take offense when another person doesn`t share the EXACT same opinion as they do. It`s like I am taking my ball and going home because I don`t get my way. Isn`t being able to disagree yet keep a certain level of civility the essence of BEING AN ADULT? Rather than taking the stance that I can`t take any criticism so I won`t log in anymore; how childish is that???

Oh, that ain't the half of it, man. I've seen a lot. When people realize they don't have the facts on their side, they'll make up their own. When they realize that their basic premises are so faulty that they can't win a debate, they refuse to discuss, refuse to listen, and even refuse to stand by and defend the statements they just made. And when they're passionate about something, no matter how apart from or totally irrelevant it is to what you were talking about, they'll issue threats. ...but only in private. If they did all this in the open, they'd just look juvenile.

The art of civil and calm discussion with some people is a lost cause, I'm afraid.

Some mourn the loss of childhood. I mourn the loss of adulthood.

Oh -- but as to your question... How do you respond? They've already indicated that they're unwilling to listen or try to understand, so continuing to discuss is pointless. Break it off courteously and leave.

 

[FlockOfSeagulls]

I basically agree with what Mystra said. However, I think that if someone's opinion is different than mine that's okay as long as they don't make me feel bad or wrong for the way I feel. I mean people should try to agree to disagree if they have different opinions on the subject.

I agree with you completely; and not try to cahnge your stance on said subject

 

[Redmage]

I agree with you completely; and not try to cahnge your stance on said subject

That's interesting. So when someone disagrees with you, do you attempt to explain why you believe they're wrong? If so, do you make it clear that you aren't encouraging them to accept your reasons (which might lead to a change of view on their part)?

 

[Headsnap]

How do you respond when someone has a different opinion on a subject than you...

I run. I run so far awaaaaaay....

HURRHURR A FUNNY!

Ahem. Yeah normally if someone is of a different opinion than me about a subject they're wrong, so I open by telling them how they're wrong and shitting on their wrong opinion from a great height using as bombastic an invective as I can summon forth from my massive vocabulary, ocassionally throwing in a few obscure references from either fantasy literature or actual human history to make myself seem more intellectual and in so doing further cement my rightness in the minds of other readers. As I've said before this "internet" approach does differ a great deal from how I deal with conflicts of opinion in real life, because on the interwebs you don't get the opportunity to stab people with lock-knives.

 

[steph]

I agree. Wondered this m'self a lot, especially lately.

If they're this thin-skinned on forum, what are they like in real life? Holy crap. If you post a question and only want answers from people who agree with you, maybe you should say that. But, if you have the guts to ask the question, you'd better have the guts to hear the answers you WON'T like by the same token, methinks. If you don't understand a response, ask for clarification.

I mean, the very fact you're posing the QUESTION indicates to me that you're not sure, right? Or are you just insecure and looking for validation? (Not that we don't all have those moments at times, but if that's how the gen pop here perceives you most of the time, maybe there's an issue.)
XOXO

It seems like lately that many individuals take offense when another person doesn`t share the EXACT same opinion as they do.

 

[LindyHopper]

Dude...

I understand your frustration, and I sometimes share it. But unfortunately, no one is going to see themselves in your complaint. And no one's going to change, because no one thinks they're to blame for any of the nastiness or stupidity that we see around here. Everyone thinks that what they posted was justified, because the other guy was being an a**hole. There are no bullies here - everyone's a victim.

Yeah, what you said... it's a bummer. But the sheer pointlessness of posting complaints in generalities like this struck me solidly enough that I felt compelled to comment on it. It's probably because I'm an a**hole. 😉

 

[drew70]

Of course, on the other side of this coin, there is always one or two people who you probably wish WOULD walk out of here in a huff, and never ever come back again. I try to look at it positively, and see that even an a**hole can teach us something, even if it's nothing more than how not to act in a social environment.

 

[Mz Chaos]

Opinions are like assholes, everyone has them and sometimes they appear full of shit.

Life is too short to sweat the small stuff.

So what if someone disagrees with someone else? We are ALL different people (thank goodness!) We just need to learn to agree to disagree and we'll get along just fine.

Besides, it's cool to hear other points of view. It's called interaction and helps us learn.


that being said... Flock... it's my opinion that you're just a shit-kicking feather brain!

 

[FlockOfSeagulls]

Opinions are like assholes, everyone has them and sometimes they appear full of shit.

Life is too short to sweat the small stuff.

So what if someone disagrees with someone else? We are ALL different people (thank goodness!) We just need to learn to agree to disagree and we'll get along just fine.

Besides, it's cool to hear other points of view. It's called interaction and helps us learn.


that being said... Flock... it's my opinion that you're just a shit-kicking feather brain!

I guess your first opinion must override your second opinion