Um...I'm basically a pacifist. But I believe in the value of discussion and argument, conflicting beliefs, exchange of ideas. I don't think they're contradictory. Arguing doesn't make me want to hurt anyone. I think if I saw that I did that in actual, real-time, physically-present argument, I would immediately stop. But...it goes for both sides, sometimes. I feel like some people (not you) get upset just by the fact that someone else thinks they're wrong, can't have someone stand up for an opposing viewpoint or else they just cower and sulk. And I think that's mostly their fault, even though they're only hurting themselves.
Jason's not committed to kniving people, and I kind of resent the term being applied to me as well. Tara, however, might well be...I still haven't figured out how to argue with her. She treats it like a competition, will say whatever it takes to win, and fast. I can't keep up with her--only in writing. Jason...well, he demands that people are stubborn about their beliefs. Anyway, we are capable of having less animated discussion, though. I don't think we've argued like that in awhile. A few brief tiffs, but nothing major.
I don't like just straight up attacking people's beliefs, but I do like questioning them. Like with pro-life second Steve, about abortion. I feel like I learned something about my own beliefs from that discussion, even if i didn't convince him of anything. Maybe I (mistakenly) think that with my friends, mutual like and respect is more assumed.
Of course you have opinions about things, and I'm glad you do. Exactly, what's most important to me is that people actually care about these issues. It's what I like best in profs, in fellow students, and in my friends. Like Jon and Steve totally disagree about anthro, but they both think that it's really important and worth teaching, and I appreciate that. I think it makes them better teachers.
Didn't you just say that you were more stubborn about your beliefs than most of your friends?
I'm sorry. It's true, I think, that we don't disagree on that many things...
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Date: 2008-10-26 04:52 am (UTC)Jason's not committed to kniving people, and I kind of resent the term being applied to me as well. Tara, however, might well be...I still haven't figured out how to argue with her. She treats it like a competition, will say whatever it takes to win, and fast. I can't keep up with her--only in writing. Jason...well, he demands that people are stubborn about their beliefs. Anyway, we are capable of having less animated discussion, though. I don't think we've argued like that in awhile. A few brief tiffs, but nothing major.
I don't like just straight up attacking people's beliefs, but I do like questioning them. Like with pro-life second Steve, about abortion. I feel like I learned something about my own beliefs from that discussion, even if i didn't convince him of anything. Maybe I (mistakenly) think that with my friends, mutual like and respect is more assumed.
Of course you have opinions about things, and I'm glad you do. Exactly, what's most important to me is that people actually care about these issues. It's what I like best in profs, in fellow students, and in my friends. Like Jon and Steve totally disagree about anthro, but they both think that it's really important and worth teaching, and I appreciate that. I think it makes them better teachers.
Didn't you just say that you were more stubborn about your beliefs than most of your friends?
I'm sorry. It's true, I think, that we don't disagree on that many things...