Conformity

Everyone has opinions, some similar ones, some different ones. Its what makes this world great, and tolerable. Indivdual thinkers are often praised or criticized for their opinions with varying levels of agreement or spite. It is often times a good idea to voice yours in an attempt to show others your point of view, and to spread ideas. The reformation and scientific revolution is one of the most profound and documented times of this sort of widespread outspokeness and change in what is generally accepted; thus shaping way for current beliefs and moral codes.

But should you always voice your opinion no matter how off color or controversial it may be? Is there any point where your opinion doesn't and shouldn't matter, and you should just swallow your pride, as well as your tounge? At what point should people be prosecuted for their beliefs, if at any? And is there a certian limit of opinional differences where you should just shut up and dip into accepted conformity, going along with the common beliefs and feelings?

How different is too different? How controversial is too controversial?

Well I am a Young, Catholic, Republican who is Conservative. I go to a rather aetheistic dominant (most of the students) and liberal school. My teachers are all REALLY biased flaming liberals. My friends an I are all political...two are conservative including me...like nine are all liberal. Just for your background knowledge for you all.

In my literature class, my teacher loves to show both sides of a political argument. However, she outstandingly praises the one she likes and litterally laughs at things she doesn't like. The class laughs with her. Thus her own beliefs are subconsciencely being added to the students. She even laughs at white people being sorry for past injustices.

A little while ago we talked about the list of books most students must read. She claimed that the subconscience list of past great works was a sexist and racist idea. He "millitant feminist" stance alienates me quite a bit.

Off Bit: I am by definition a "femenist"...as I believe in equal rights for women. However I constantly disagree with femenist organizations for the fact they are so anti-male rather than pro-female.

Back on track: I speak out against her argument and am able to put up a good defense. She uses a cheap shot, causing nervousness by putting the spot light on me pretty much. She was trying to make a point but she instead proved herself not to be a "worthy opponent" to me.

Acutally if she saw this, she would kill me. She does not like "air quotes". And the fact that I am talking about her on the internet.

Thus I go against the grain and am outspoken but I can still disagree with you politically.

yeah i think u should always voice ur opinion, even it is so far fetch'd it gets u killed, like magellon (sp) and his "the world is round crap" who beleives that....oh wait its true....my life has been changed


well anyway if u truly believe in ur opinion you will stick with even on ur life...if that makes any since at all o_O

I think you should support your beliefs in your actions. People can be all hot air. When someone starts shoving their views in your face, its time for them to back down, though. I particularly dislike when teachers go into politics because they actualy do influence students. Any teacher that influences students in the way IS' teacher does deserves to be put into their place, no matter where on the political spectrum they are.

I think not enough people are confident enough. Ive never really had a problem just speaking, but others do. The best way to be more confident is to be more knowledgeable about the facts, and to understand them. I admit that I don't know nearly as much as I would like. Ideally I would be very well read, and have a keen knowledge of everything going on right now, but I don't. (Rule number one, never ask a question you don't know the answer to...)

You know what it all boils down to. Respect. Really.

Gecko, what if your beliefs actually hurt others....just a question. I am curious to your opinion.

I agree that your opinion should always be spoken, but I was wondering if there is ever a point where you just should keep your mouth shut?

An example could be you see a person at school who is wearing this really stupid and ugly shirt(-___-, bad example, but whatever), you don't necessarily have to walk up to them and tell them that their shirt is stupid and ugly. However, there is almost always no extent to this line when you are being confronted directly on a subject, or its an oppertuinity to go against you teacher, I agree.

Edit: My Social Studies teacher is very good at hiding his opinion about social issues, and I can rarely if ever tell which way he leans. However, my french teacher puts no effort into that sort of ambiguity. One example is that she constantly refers to Bush as "That Triggerhappy Cowboy." :p

Any opinion that can lead too the death or enslavement of a human being is to contraversial. It is these we need to throw aside. As for everything else lets just keep on arguing until someone finds the best opinion that every one can agree on.

I 100% agree with your final point there Bobslob.
That is the one thing lacking in most debates (heated ones anyway). It's the one deciding factor in what happens in the world IMO. Respect for another human being is what some people need to get through their heads.

Not meaning to bring religeon (sp) into this but think about how much better the world would be if everyone obeyed the ten commandments? Respect is one of them (I think :S) and it makes a relationship, of whatever kind, infinitely better.

Bobslob you are smart .


More on topic: Yes, you need to make sure that no one can force you to belive what someone else says. This doesn't mean that you need to go and tell everyone what you think though because that would be unltimately, doing what you don't want to happen to you. Kind of like only speak when spoken to, voice your opinion over an issue but don't go and tell the ugly kid that he's ugly. He already knows that.

We are different. Everyone cannot agree fully in one case. Someone chases for the ultimate solution ot a problem, an agreement that will satisfy each and every one, but that is searching for something that does not exist. Many political struggles are like this.

Irish Samurai, if your beliefs hurt others, there is nothing you can do about it. You cannot be cautious with everything you say and allways start "in my humble opinon..". Prejudice is also one of the elements that people try to solve and the world demands that you accept this and accept that. And a prejudice is a term that is often put to opinions that do not fit a majority's opinion. I still hold on to my so-called prejudices..

Respect is key to all knowledge and the transfer of such. Without it, we are pretty much lost to the world.

We can not share this knowledge. I am constantly insulted and feel disrespected, so thus I do not want to learn as much from her.

BTW, someone's grand father sent a letter to my teacher complaining about showing the movie "Bowling for Columbine" and not showing both sides. I did not mind watching it. I think Michael Moore is a horrible journalist. I think he is wrong, but I understand that he simply has a differing opinion to my own. So when she read this letter she asked "does anyone think that this guy is right." Many people looked at me, but I said nothing. I did think he was right, but simply was a horible arguer...he used gun owner's magazine as proof for his idea.

So I admit, I have not spoken out. However, this was mainly out of respect and nothing else. She is "older" (she is like 20 something even though she acts like a teenager...not a quality i like in a teacher) and thus deserves respect.

i have this theory about space-time. I believe all time is different in its relative position. ie. if you are standing on a side walk and you see a truck drive by, you are in a different time frame than if you had been standing in the trucks path. had you been standing in the trucks path you would have been hit and time would have been created. So you would have 4 dimensions, XYZ and the fourth one i like to call W. now point W determines where point X,Y, and Z start. so point W can be anywhere and determines where the other ones were.

does anyone understand?

I have opinions other people will find extremely hard to except. But you know what the sad part is.no one can tell me I’m wrong.

Research and facts are the backbone to a great opinion

ok.. what is your opinion? i want to know...

If i told you my real feeling towards the western propaganda machine, Trout, i would get banned form these forums for a life time.and we don't want that do we? The forums would be borning with civ.

a simple grammar mistake and you go all funny.Kediser Do you want a cookie for spotting my mistake.