Can you accpet?

[Xiola]

When someone talks to you about their views, do you listen? I mean *really* listen?

Do you sit back, consider and appreciate the way they see something?
Do you accept that that's how they see the world, do you compare it to your own?
Do you talk about your own views?
Do you understand that all people see everything differently?

At the end of it, do you step back and appreciate they are different, that you agree or disagree?
Do you leave it settled if you disagree, do you leave it open for more discussion?
Do you let them feel you've taken on board what they have said?
Do you respect their views regardless of agreeing with them or not?

I've noticed and thought about recently the lack of respect people seem to have when people share their own views. Not only on christian forums, but in general.
People seem to be so damning of others who hold opposite views. So set in stone on what they think, they forget that others need to be heard and to be appreciated. People don't seem to hear other views... they stride ahead thinking they know best. When quite clearly no one really knows, or they do.. but that's there sense of the world, that's there map of it, that's what they choose to understand.

Its important, I think to appreciate every way in which something is viewed. To see it from all angles... to enforce what you believe to be true is true for you or to question what you believe, is there truth in what others say?

At the end of the day we see the world all so differently, I think we forget sometimes to stop and listen. We can better understand ourselves/our beliefs/ideals if we try to understand others.

What do you recon?

 

[orange_dragonfire4]

I was replying to a poll about the biggest problem facing marriages today and it had turned into fullscale warfare about homosexuality. How ever, it's very comforting to go to the debate room and hear the excellent ways people share their opinions there.
Acting Stupid isn't the way we sould be showing how we behave at Christian Forums. We should be helping Newbies like posing advice or instruction for confused Newbies and meeting new people, Old and new. That's why I started the THread Tips and FAQ for Newbies and the Generally Confused in the relaxation room. It's open to anyone who has advice for newbies.
Give back, instead of being stupid and havig war on the forums. After all the dogs do the same.

 

[Xiola]

Hmmm, the debate room you say?! I shall go post this there also and see what they have to say!

But I was talking more about accpetance than 'acting stupid'

 

[SAPguy]

I agree with you.

So many people are not open to other opinions or viewpoints other than their own. Listening is a lost art. As soon as somebody has a different opinion, many people stop listening or attack the other person for their views.

It's sad really.

I'm not saying that I will lay down and just agree with somebodies opinion or insight on something if I don't agree, but I am more than willing to listen and try to understand their point of view. It's nice when they are willing to do the same and not bite my head off

 

[fishstix]

I will agree to disagree with people and I believe that everyone is entitled to believe whatever they want and have whatever opinion they want. I cannot and should not force anyone to agree with me. That has to be their own decision. However, I will not treat everyone's opinion as equally correct. There are absolute truths and just because someone has an opinion on something it doesn't mean that they are correct. And just because I have an opinion it doesn't mean that I am correct. But ultimately, some opinions are correct and some are incorrect. Some beliefs do not deserve to be accepted as reasonable.

 

[Kepa]

As my signature says. I'm opinionated and narrow-minded. But this generally only applies to stuff concerning religion. Stuff that falls away from that category though, I'm fairly open-minded. But as I said, anything concerning religion, and Christ, I make sure everything is taken back to the Word of God.

 

[shout2thelord]

yeh this is very true i am very bad at not respecting others when they get angry at me and i just tend to not listen. ive had a couple of threads closed for arguing with a certain person.

 

[TJoelChris]

Oh, I listen to them, until they say something wrong. JK I listen to them, then if there's anything that needs to be said after, I say it.
Joel

 

[eutychus]

I generally listen to a person's view until they begin to sound repetitious. I then try to guide them toward my opinion (aka "THE TRUTH" ) by asking questions that I try to make as unslanted as possible. After the argument gets circular...that's when I walk away from it. For instance, it's necessary to defend the Truth lovingly in apologetics, but there's only so much heresy one can hear before having to walk away from the discussion.