Can't We All Just Get Along?


Not everyone thinks alike, nor does everyone share the same views and opinions. We can learn a lot from each other as well as have interesting discussions based on our own unique perspectives. We just have to realize our differences don't rank us as better or best. They are simply our differences.

 

I'll start out by saying I'm a pretty open-minded person, but there are many things I do not and will not ever understand. There's a small part of me that thinks I might have been born in the wrong place and time because I just don't get certain things most people do. It honest to goodness doesn't make one bit of sense to me. One example of what I'm talking about is a person's need to put another down.

What is the purpose of insulting someone else? Bashing their opinions doesn't make yours any better. Disagreeing with someone doesn't make them wrong. What do you gain by attacking and criticizing someone on a public forum? If you don't like or agree with something, why bother with insults? It doesn't change anything except the opinion others have of you. It showcases your immaturity and lack of respect for others, which isn't exactly a positive thing.

Despite popular belief and proof of the contrary, it is possible to respectfully disagree with someone and voice your side. There is an appropriate approach to express your differing thoughts and opinions in a way that equates discussion rather than argument. However, the problem for most people, in my opinion, comes from the fact that everyone tends to believe they're right and everyone else is wrong, therefore needing to be set straight. It's easy to become defensive and/or offended with this manner of thinking. Anything resembling the slightest bit of dissonance is taken offensively, which is the perfect foundation for starting an argument.

Just because somebody disagrees with you or has an alternative way of thinking doesn't mean they should be judged based off of that alone. Let me say that again, because this is important: People should not be judged negatively because they have a different opinion. Calling someone stupid, idiotic, clueless, etc, etc, because of that is wrong, plain and simple. It does not make them any less intelligent, nor should they be treated as such.


I've seen this kind of blatant disregard for other's opinions on a couple of different threads now, and it makes me both sad and confused. This is a site for nurses. We aren't all the same, but that doesn't mean we don't all have something to offer. We learn from each other. We express our thoughts and ideas, share our experiences, ask and give advice, and most importantly, we support each other, or at least we should. If you disagree or have another idea, by all means share it, but you can accomplish that without putting everyone else down.