Opinions

You have them. So do I. Opinions. A way of seeing things, ideas, happenings, people, relationships, a whole host of ‘things.’ Much of the time we don’t give vent to these opinions. Too often we do. Offer them up to whomever is available to listen.

We might see a reaction. Maybe not. Ours is a polite society for the most part. Only lately have we become a vituperative, sassy, argumentative social order. Social media did that, I think. It made anonymity possible. We could like something, laugh at it, or select a different emoji for anything and everything we read on social media. Sometimes we were moved to comment on someone’s opinion piece.

Reaching out to comment does not automatically invite discussion, but trolls love to snare a commenter into a downward spiral. Best leave them alone. Just ignore them. Just because they say something doesn’t make it reasonable, factual, or even correct. Most likely it is empty headed. Even somewhat likely it was written to excite a reaction in you.

Don’t fall for it. Continue to think as you do. Gather ideas and weigh them against your own. In time your position, your conclusion, may change. This is good. This is flexibility. This is reasonableness. 

Just don’t count on others being reasonable.

Opinions in public spaces are tricky. Many organizations craft opinions carefully to support or destroy a position of others. They do this because they believe this benefits them in some way. Often it does. Sad but true.

In today’s world in America, we don’t know who is making a public statement. We cannot check up on them, or their statement. Best leave such to the dust bin of idle chatter. It only means something if you let it. Don’t.

In a coveted space of trust and calm, talk with those you know. Let them hear your thoughts; ask for feedback. Let them help you articulate your understanding of an issue. Learn how much you don’t know about the topic, or how much more there is to learn about it. Let the ideas settle in. Their factuality. Wonder if they hold value. If so, share them with others.

In this way we find our way in the world. Change makes all things different moment to moment. Take your time. Be patient. Trust those you know to trust. Avoid all others.

Now, my opinion is...  What’s yours?

January 27, 2022

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Intimacy

As we mature, we become deeply involved in relationships. Some of this is basic family relations – siblings, parental – and the like. Next is friends who enter our homes and we theirs. Neighbors, classmates, mutual hobbyists and so forth. Then we develop friendships that go much deeper. We comfort one another when we are hurting physically or emotionally. We discuss the matters of life and learn much more about ourselves and each other. We can even anticipate how others will react to various situations and stimuli. Good friendships do not spread to everyone we know. No, good friendships are special, close and deeply personal. We focus attention and brainpower on these few friends. Some special relationships focus on specific topics of interest and importance. Yes, we have specialized friendships. Most common. But one day, we get to know one person very well. An emotional connection forms with deep roots. A need to know the person more fully expands in personal ways. We sense this b...
Read more

Bits & Pieces

Pie: Apple pie more specifically. With Thanksgiving just passed, many of us enjoyed a good apple pie. Sure, there was pumpkin to accompany the turkey, but in our family multiple pies are offered in the holidays. Apple is surely one. Pecan, pumpkin and others, too. But I almost always choose apple. When I was in college, I was asked what kind of pie did I eat most often. In front of my mom, I answered apple, because I was always looking for a pie as good as mom’s own. Of course my mother was pleased, but it was a true statement just the same. When I was married, Ann’s pie was darned good. Her mother’s recipe. But we fiddled with the recipe until it took on its own generational name, and boy, was it good! Today I still order apple pie for dessert because I am always looking for a great pie to challenge our family recipes. I rarely do find such a prize. Do others do the same? Do you search for a great pie of choice, continually? If you do, what’s your story? Why do you do this? ...
Read more

Remembering Tom Sherlock

Tom Sherlock died on Wednesday, April 3rd. He was 65 years old and did not survive a heart surgery. That was his unexpected end and sad enough. But there is more to his story. Tom joined Dan Schuyler and George Safford to create what became the Village Chronicles, a weekly newspaper serving Warrenville, Illinois. That paper expanded to serve Winfield and then West Chicago. The paper published for eight years and built a good reputation for itself. Tom served the paper in several ways. He was our information technology guru, provided hardware and software to support the paper's operations. He was our sole bookkeeper, accountant and financial manager. He designed our distribution process and provided office space for meetings and layout and typesetting. His efforts supported the work of 32 volunteers who wrote and reported on the communities we served.  The newspaper broke even financially most of the time, but it was a struggle. Tom managed to find money to keep the newspaper afloat...
Read more