07-29-2019, 11:36 AM
(07-29-2019, 11:13 AM)hollodero Wrote: Not to take away from the beauty of this story, but instances like those are the rare exception to the rule.
Most people are dead set in their ideas and beliefs. And a good listener seldomly gets any credit (most people don't even notice, since sending - not the reception - is the only thing they're interested in anyways).
Also for most people, agreement with them equals a good and smart person, disagreement equals a dumb and bad person. I wish folks were more subtle and open than that, but they just are mostly not.
I listened to a lot of folk, and rarely did I call someone names because of his opinion, but I don't think that changed anyone really.
I will grant you that not everyone's mind can be changed. However, I would advance the idea that listening to them instead of shouting at and castigating them is still the smarter route. Attacking them is still likely to cause them to dig in their heels and further entrench their opinions. It also is likely to drive them further in the other direction as they equate "the other side" with being attacked and called names. If you need a prime example look at the US today. It's all name calling and no listening.
