Why can’t people agree to disagree?

Hey out there,  it’s time for another random thought.  This one came to me when I was discussing a topic with an associate.  I was told how a discussion she had with a neighbor resulted in him not speaking with her for close to 3 weeks now.

She explained that it was a pretty passionate discussion because both of them had really strong opposing views on the subject.  She shared with me that,  although they did not end the conversation in agreement,  she was not expecting him to become angry and stop talking to her.

So,  my random thought for today is why can’t people just agree to disagree?  Why is it so hard for some people to have productive dialog without getting their feelings involved?

Anger and Frustration

From what I can gather,  from my associate,  her neighbor became increasingly annoyed as she expressed her views that did not match his.  She said that his normally friendly demeanor changed every time she countered his view with hers.  She also said that the more she debunked his theories the more frustrated he became.

Agree to Disagree

Now,  I’ve thought about this ever since then and I can’t say that I fully understand it.  I do understand that people can be really passionate about their views,  myself included.  But,  what I can say is that I am always willing to listen.  Many of us can’t seem to do this.  We become so focused on getting our point out that we stop listening and it’s no longer a two way conversation.

Listening is just as important as talking.  Trying to understand the other persons point of view can do two things.  It gives you the opportunity to “See” a different side of things,  the side that you’re not privy to.  And,  it can help you to understand “How” and “Why” the other person came to these conclusions.  You might learn something as well.

Still don’t agree?  Agree to disagree and move on without grudges.  “Empathize” and respect the opinions of others and they will respect yours.

So the next time you find yourself in a disagreement,  try listening.    You might just find that misinformation is the cause of everything and there’s no need for the disagreement in the first place.

Anyway,  be blessed and do everything in your power to make life sweet.

Love,

Toni