Blog #5- Furthering Ourselves is as Easy as Listening

Furthering Ourselves is as Easy as Listening

Throughout my life, specifically the past several years, I have come to realize that people have a hard time accepting things they do not wish to believe. That unwillingness to overcome these thoughts can carry to many aspects of their lives; including but not limited to personal relationships, political beliefs, perceived relationships, and outlooks on their lives. To me, it is important to hear and understand all sides before making a decision, but to others, it is simply too hard to change their perspective to see the other side. Furthermore, what does the other side consist of? Is it rumors, fact or simply someone else’s opinion? I think that it can be a combination of them all, depending on the situation and what is occurring. The real issue is whether people want to see opposing viewpoints or completely shut it out.

Rumors, as well as gossip, happen for numerous different reasons, some purposefully and others out of human error. When faced with these rumors, or the perception of a rumor, I believe people choose either one of three responses: 1.) They become engulfed in the rumor and continue its pathway towards others, 2.) They flat out deny or refute the claim, oftentimes with anger or frustration or 3.) They ask questions. We all know people who have succumbed to each of these responses in our lives.

Unfortunately, politics and religious beliefs, are two of the “taboo” topics not to talk about with others. I find this to be ridiculous, as well as annoying, as these topics, specifically politics, are something that I try to stay up to date with. The news is part of my everyday routine and I believe it’s important to stay current with what is going on. How am I, as a citizen of the United States, able to further my understanding of what is going on in our country, and world, if it is frowned upon to talk about? As rumors and other beliefs circle through social media outlets it is becoming increasingly more important for people to talk about what is going on. Not only is it important to understand fully what is being said, but it is equally as important to understand both sides to further develop in our future.

Whether we are in the same social network or not, it is important to hear all sides of what is going on. To not have the ability to listen and understand an opposing point of view is only doing a disservice to yourself and the topic you are trying to understand/develop/promote/etc. The flow of information should not be limited to others who have the same thoughts as you, but instead should be promoted and understood on all levels. Yes, we will always have “elite” users who are able to get a message across to a wider audience, but it is not required to accept what they are saying at face value. I do, however, believe that it is our responsibility to further communicate respectfully and graciously.

I am a firm believer that everyone has their right to think, feel, believe, act, etc. however they choose, and honestly, I find it absurd for others to think they have the right to tell people otherwise. There is no reason to become angry with rumors, facts or other opinions simply because you do not agree with them. It is important to further communication with one another so that we can come to a better understanding of all sides.