On daily basis, I observe that people are constantly ridiculed and labelled fairly offensively for the opinions that they have. The web reeks of academic arrogance, usually when the people on both sides of the argument aren't willing to understand a different opinion, rather to shove their own ideas down the other person's throat.
Most of us feel entitled, as though the world should always agree and accept our ideas. Hence, we lack the ability and patience to defend our thoughts with reason. And then, we go around angrily attacking people with our opinions and intensifying our attack if our attempt to be accepted fails for some reason.
Feminists ridiculing non feminists for not accepting their opinions which they expressed poorly in the first place. Non feminists ridiculing feminists by giving them the persona of angry, viscous women which in turn severely distorts the important agenda behind the movement of gender equality. Atheists ridiculing theists for believing in something they think is a delusion. Theists in turn getting angry at atheists and ridiculing them for being too blind to feel the presence of God. It seems like every one of us belong to some group and as if abiding by an unwritten law, we slap the person with opposite opinions with our words to feed our ego.
Arguments are rarely a way to change minds. Why don't we curiously listen to what people with different opinions/beliefs have to say instead of continuously trying to prove our righteousness? I understand losing the belongingness of a group can be terrifying. Perhaps, we just believe our ideas are the rights ones and are too important to us.
We speak because we want to be heard, is attacking unfamiliar minds the best way to deliver a message? Does shaming or ridiculing people make them more prone to giving us an ear or more prone to be defensive? When you label yourself as a feminist, as an atheist, as a theist, as an educated person, as a person who wants to make a change, as a person who wants to be heard, is verbal offense the best way to express our thoughts?
I believe the main point of being educated is to use that knowledge to do something constructive, to give back to the community that raised and educated us. Rather than to call it uncivilized and stupid. After all, the main point of having a tool is to do something with it. Since merely having the tool has no importance if it is not used. The web would've been amazingly informative if it wasn't such a hostile place where constant trivial fights happen, further widening the gaps between several social, ethnic and political groups. To some extent, that is a waste of an amazing opportunity.
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I believe, writing usually helps us to express our thoughts in an articulate way and also helps to avoid falling in to the trap of heated arguments that rarely result in positive change.
Thanks for reading. Until my next post, stay safe and remain blessed.