I've seen some memes before which states that when people get older, arguments are not worth the energy or effort anymore. Like whatever someone says, you'll just tell them, "you're right," and get on with your life. Lately it seems like I am finally seriously getting the hang of it.
As any avid reader of mine would know by now, I am direct to the point and frank. Unlike most people who are always sugarcoating their words, I just tell it like it is. Unfortunately being such a person is offensive to some people. (As the song goes... 🎵 "Honesty is such a lonely word. Everyone is so untrue." 🎶)
(Also, I do not back down and will exert my rights when I know I have a justifiable reason to. However over the years I learned lessons like everyone else. One of them is, if I know something is a waste of time and effort, I will be quick about it and not engage much at all.)
Does it bother me when people get offended when confronted by the truth? When I was younger I think it bothered me but not that much, really. As I grew older I've become used to such reactions that I'm now indifferent to it.
I just saw the post about it yesterday. It's almost June and yet I am only writing something now. Haha. At first I couldn't even think of anything to write. My mind couldn't grasp the concept because I'm not really quite an indifferent person at all.
Of course I have many feelings and emotions like everyone else, but indifference is not such a common topic to talk about. So I thought maybe I wouldn't be able to write anything. Good thing while I was about to sleep something popped up in my head that I just had to write this.
You see, on another platform there's someone who would often respond to my religious posts. Lately I've been posting more of such after Lent (if you noticed I do so here on Hive too). For some reason the person would always reply and show the world how much they know about the topic. This person, who I will call A for Atheist and use a pronoun of "they" for more anonymity, indeed has that kind of belief.
In the beginning (like maybe a year or so ago), I would sometimes get irked. There were times when it seemed like they are angry and making me take the heat for what they don't like about the world or whatever. Like hello, am I the person responsible for such a big issue? 😂
As we all know, everybody's got issues right? But we don't need to be angry with someone with a different opinion just because we have an opposite one. You've got a big problem if you're unloading your anger on someone else instead of the thing/situation/person you really should be mad about. I too know what that's like. 😂 Unfortunately not a lot of people realize it when they do that.
After Lent I feel like I've really become a much better version of myself. (You can read my past posts about it to know why.) And so whenever A would respond these days and have lengthy replies I would just "go along with it". Maybe I'm just humoring this person more often now. 😅
So anyway A and I got into another online discussion last night. Yeah I posted something related to religion. At first it was ok but then there it was again, I got bombarded with various information they know about the topic. The "I'm always right" person that A is came to the surface again. (Oh boy, I'm so glad I've already outgrown that phase. 😂) Thankfully because I know better, whatever A did I would just not bite into the barbs being thrown at me. 😆 This is where the best kind of indifference comes in.
As mentioned in the beginning of this post, I have already become one of those people who would simply not engage with useless energy wasters. Yes sir. No use getting into arguments with someone who's already made up their mind about something. Close-mindedness is not pretty. (So is being snobbish or dismissive of others.) All we can do at that point is pat them on the back and let them go on and on if they still want to.
And so what we can do in those situations is to just let the person vent. And if they have a problem to be resolved, then calmly help them. (Yes, thanks to my customer service skills I know what to do in such situations. 😉 This is why I get frustrated when there is a lack of it but hey such is life. Not eveyone gets trained to work in customer/member service or even acquire proper leadership skills.)
At some point we can even console them after they've said whatever they had to say. Why? Because that person having an outburst is hurting, that's why they want to hurt other people too. Most of the time they are unaware of it but they are angry because of it.
Truth hurts you know. Like that popular movie line goes...
Sometimes when all has been said and done they would realize their mistake and apologize. But of course if they have too much pride or are simply unaware of themselves they will (1) just scoff it all off like they did nothing wrong or (2) continue doing the same thing to everyone.
With A's case, it seemed like they don't have anyone else to talk to about their religious pet peeve. (A has mentioned several times about not having any friends.) Why else would they be replying to anything religious I post? 😆 Any normal person would just scroll away but noooo. Haha. They just have to say something about what I posted, most of the time. It's like A is always looking for a fight, raring to go and defend their honor. Lol. But who's attacking when it's a personal annoyance of theirs?
It's like when someone is walking and they see a flower they are allergic to. That flower is just there looking wonderful under the bright sunlight, spreading its petals and aroma for all the world to experience but then boom! The person cuts it off, even the entire shrub and all, just because he/she is allergic to it. Instead of talking to the owner, or maybe complaining to the village leader, the person went directly to the flower bush out of anger. Tsk tsk, poor flower. Good thing it is indifferent (although already dead and cut off from the stem). Not a good example on the part of the flower/receiver but you should get the point.
As you can see, A is another example of someone already set in their ways. No way to change that person's mind or opinion at all because they are too intelligent, always right or supposedly knows everything about that topic. So what's the point of arguing or talking with them about the subject, right? Anything you say or do will always be wrong when you are talking to someone like that. (Sounds familiar? Haha.)
In the end, thanks to my indifference to such behavior, A and I finished that online conversation with laughing emojis. Isn't that amazing? Instead of getting into what could have been a potential thread of rage and endless insults I was able to keep everything civil and chill. (Win-win for everyone?)
Now that's the best way indifference can be applied. Having presence of mind and being indifferent when someone is on a rampage is the best thing we can do for world peace. 😆 Don't forget about empathy too. Seriously.
I'm not saying we should ignore other people all the time. Everybody just wanna be heard and seen. If you don't give that to the person and throw them stones instead, you are just adding insult to injury. And what does that produce? All this hate online will drag us all to hell you know, for sure whoever goes there won't be happy. 😂
Tolerance can get you so far but indifference can be useful too. Of course this is on a case to case basis. It is best to use this for the good of all.
On another note, 5 years ago I even wrote an article/post about Why People Hurt/Hate Other People and What To Do About It. I wrote this based on personal experience. Also because at the time an online troll in another writing site was bothering a lot of people and me. No it doesn't have anything about indifference but if you are looking for answers related to hating and hurting others then feel free to read it.
How about you? Any thoughts on indifference?
XOXO,
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