Why People Hate The Opinionated

31May/1010

Why People Hate The Opinionated

Most of my friends are "difficult" personalities. In fact, most of the people I like to spend time with are as well.

Of course I find them curious... these difficult people... I love to be around them. I love to argue with them. I love to observe them. These agitators, troublemakers, pot-stirrers... these forceful people who will not suffer the fool. These awful people who won't just STFU. People who would rather lose everything and retain their dignity than gain everything and lose their independence. I love those that refuse to comply for compliance sake.

I think these terrible people deserve better than to be loathed by the geldings of the world. Those who "go along to get along."

I think the true freemen and freewomen of today are the same sort who when a culture finds itself in a jamb become heroes.

Those that hate the opinionated likely do so because they haven't the same bravery, force of will, endurance, or conviction. Opinions reflect beliefs. Beliefs that are offered are subject to challenge and scrutiny, where they are vindicated or laid to waste. A man who claims beliefs that he will not expose to scrutiny casts those very same beliefs into suspicion. There is an economy of thought in the world. And we are charged with the prudent management of this economy. To withhold - nay, to hoard - one's opinion, while often the safest route - is selfish and unbecoming. Sure, there is the matter of the appropriate time and place to do so. But this confirms that not all times and all places are inappropriate for doing so.

I love courageous people. Even when what they espouse is so much bullshit. To throw one's opinions/ideas/beliefs into a cage-match is not just invigorating - it is the most charitable thing we can do for our fellow-men and women. For future generations. For the economy of thought and the salvation of souls.

It is oft cited that "opinions are like assholes - everyone has one." But, the crucial aspect of this simile is rarely afforded the light of day: "people who don't express their opinions are - ultimately - full of shit." At least in my book.

Enoch_Root

Person with kids,a beautiful wife, a job. Catholic of the Latin Rite.

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Filed under: God Bothering, Ni Una Idea Leave a comment

Comments (10) Trackbacks (1) ( subscribe to comments on this post )

Tom Usher
May 31st, 2010 - 08:10

We no longer have the luxury of silence. We fight or die.

Oh, by the way, cause and effect comes into play when we realize that all of our friends are as argumentative as we are. No one else will hang out with us.

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- Enoch_Root
  May 31st, 2010 - 08:28
  
  shhhhhhhh…. not listening…. must… go … to… safe… place…
  
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Meep
May 31st, 2010 - 10:03

Meh, it depends.

I don’t talk politics or religion with most people, b/c it gets tiresome. I’m surrounded by atheists who think that I’ve never heard their clever demolition of Christianity, and then I get it from the other side where I’m going to hell for worshipping statues.

Anyway, I tell most people here in liberal yankeeland that they really don’t want to know my opinion about x,y,z as I’m probably the most conservative person they’ve ever met, and yes, I do really believe transubstantiation and all that crazy Catholic stuff. At which point, they admit that yeah, they don’t want to know my opinion about stuff.

….and so I blog. The people who come here are asking for it, and so they’re gonna get it. ;)

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The Big Feed
May 31st, 2010 - 10:04

I think I agree with just about every bit of that. Personally, I’ve never had time for the apathetic and disinterested. They bore me.

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Joe
May 31st, 2010 - 10:08

It must have been “fun” at Collins family gatherings.

I am just guessing here.

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- Enoch_Root
  May 31st, 2010 - 10:32
  
  Ummm – if by “fun” you mean people getting annoyed, arguing, fighting, getting pissed off, and lots of kids making lots of noise and people at the ends of their respective ropes… then, yeah, definitely “fun”
  
  … for about 20 minutes.
  
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Joe
May 31st, 2010 - 10:57

…for about 20 minutes?

Was that when the police were called?

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- Enoch_Root
  May 31st, 2010 - 16:14
  
  hmmm – we didn’t need no stinkin police. mostly things were resolved the old fashioned way
  
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Blackiswhite, Imperial Consigliere
May 31st, 2010 - 18:26

As the blacksheep of my family, I agree with this. In the past few years, I’ve lost friends because I didn’t agree with whatever MSNBC or DNC talking points they were spouting. Funny how that works.

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enoch_root
June 1st, 2010 - 05:35

it’s ok – the overly-agreeable aren’t worth keeping in the script anyway.

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