Where do your opinions come from?

[dreamer]

Ok, I've been dared to bring a topic of conversation public.

Here's the gist.

Do you believe your opinions are a product of your upbringing, studying, religion, collective experiences or just hearing what someone else said and digging it?

My reply....talk amongst yourselves...I'll be back later.

All of the above. I think it's an individual personality trait as to how much these different factors sculpt a person. For instance, there are people who just by their 'deeper' identity are easily swayed by what others have to say. "These aren't the droids you're looking for." "These aren't the droids we're looking for."

Hehe, and then there are those who have a need for a 'bigger' authority that eclipses humanity. They're the type that end up as clergy...or drinking cool-aid with Jim Jones...

Some people, maybe like me, have a tendency to believe things from a higher intellectual state. If it can be proven, or backed up is holds more weight than those things that can't.

Then again, I think my tendency to do that also makes matters of the heart OH so attractive...because they fly in the face of that.

Yeah...we should talk on this topic...I can go on and on...BUT another part of me is shyness...I get weird about opening up my inner workings to everyone.

 

[Parklife]

I would like to believe my opinions have been formed through the paradigms that have grown from my life's experiences. As new experiences add their knowledge, those paradigms shift.

So, I often can end up feeling, thinking, contradicting what I felt, thought, believed previously.


If we can adapt and change in a mental manner we are merely automita..

 

[Phoenyx]

I got opinions comming outta my ass.

 

[dreamer]

I got opinions comming outta my ass.

I know a couple people that would LOVE that. I myself never got into scat play.

 

[deliciously_naughty]

I would like to think that my opinions are the product of my collective experiences, my upbringing, my education, pondering shit out on my own, and other experiences I've had throughout my life.

 

[alexandraaah]

My opinions are sort of a work in progress. There are a few things I'm staunch about, but I take feedback and ideas on much of the rest.

I think upbringing is a huge factor for me. See, I think this is unavoidable no matter how you were raised. I was raised in a really liberal environment, to accept all people. My experiences have led me to confirm this as an adult.

What saddens me is this notion: did I have just as much chance at being a bigot as I did not? If my parents were bigoted (as an example of an opinion), and they taught me that way...would I still be that way?

I'd like to think not. I'd like to think that my views on bigotry are rooted in my belief system but I still wonder and it irks me.

 

[Never]

I'd say, hearing what others say and digging it.

 

[RosevilleCAguy]

The voices tell me what to say.

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

From years of mistakes, er um I mean years of experience - yeah, that's what I meant.

Seriously, I have always had a strong streak of independence, so that is what I admire in others, that is what I strive for, and that is why I hate it when people try to corral others into the boxes they think they should live in. I have always resisted attempts to protect people from themselves.

I have always had a strong beliefs in what was right and wrong, with regards to being fair, it just took a while to gain the "experience" (see above) to know that nothing is ever simple, but that you can work from simple rules and deduce what is right and wrong in complex situations.

I always felt and knew that the world didn't revolve around me, and that no one owed me anything I didn't earn myself.

What I didn't always have, and it took years to form, was confidence in myself and my views. It took me some years to learn what worked and what didn't.

Sure, some of my beliefs come from my surroundings, specifically my religious beliefs, but certainly not my political beliefs - those were formed from my stubborn streak (read independent streak).

 

[dreamer]

What saddens me is this notion: did I have just as much chance at being a bigot as I did not? If my parents were bigoted (as an example of an opinion), and they taught me that way...would I still be that way?

I'd like to think not. I'd like to think that my views on bigotry are rooted in my belief system but I still wonder and it irks me.

I bet you could have been...until you're intellect and beliefs (or as STG put it independence) overcame what you had learned. I feel sorry for people without the intellect necessary to excape this trap. But I feel confident in your case it wouldnt've mattered, because you like a lot of the people here frankly, think about things. MANY MANY people do not.

 

[alexandraaah]

It's interesting to think about how arbitrary racism is then, isn't it?

I mean, in this particular way.

Same goes for religion.

 

[WaxNWane]

I would like to think that my opinions are the product of my collective experiences, my upbringing, my education, pondering shit out on my own, and other experiences I've had throughout my life.

I echo this post.

 

[Diablogrl]

all of the above?

I believe that religious beliefs are probably those that are most likely to mimic your family's...mostly because that's what we are continually exposed to on a day to day basis. My political views are far to the other side of those of the rest of my family, but then again, I'm right, they're wrong. As far as everything else...as stated above, we are independent beings with independent experiences and each of those variables plays a part in shaping who we are.

 

[Never]

alexandraaah:
"It's interesting to think about how arbitrary racism is then, isn't it?

I mean, in this particular way.

Same goes for religion."

I agree with you to a point. If you were in an environment in which everyone hated a particular group and you never received any opinion to the contrary then you'd be a bigot. I can't think of anywhere in America in which that would be the case. Your parents and everyone in your town might believe that but if you flip on the TV you're going to get a different message. If you go to college you're going to get a different message. If you ever move you're going to get a different message.

Bigots come from the same background as tolerant folk. They typically need to feel as though they're 'better' than others.

 

[Mischka]

I get all of my opinions from television commercials. Oh, and radio commercials. And those cute little ads on the sides of buses. And in the train. And on my cereal box.

 

[Mischka]

And in the newspaper.