by Walter Barrett

Created on: February 23, 2009

I want to begin expressing my own view on this topic by mentioning a statement of fact that I heard my father use once. He said, "There is no such thing as a stupid question." It is sad to know think that human beings, who boast themselves as being the most intelligent species on earth, can be so impatient that they disregard the opinions, ideas and suggestions of others. Relationships fail because of one partner's inability or unwillingness to listen. To hear. To take the time to understand. Many fail to realise that taking the time to do this doesn't necessarily change your own stance or belief on any subject up for discussion. It simply gives you the opportunity to let the other person know that they can come to you again in the future, with anything, and you will be there to entertain their personal opinion without demoralizing them. Think about it for a moment. Are any of us so brilliant that we can't gain even more from the opinions of others? My stance on the issue of other people's values is basically two-fold.

Firstly, I believe that everyone is worth as much intrinsically as the next person. Despite educational, financial or social status, we are all valuable. And because of this, our opinions matter. If you have something to say, are you really going to allow someone to shut you up just because they have some credentials attached to their name, or because the cost of your entire car couldn't even purchase a single tire for theirs? If we view people as valuable, then automatically, their opinions will matter.

Secondly, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. We know that. Our problem usually comes when it's time for that opinion to be expressed. What is so hard in hearing someone out? I am certain that a lot of adult issues came about because of being shut down as children either by piers or by adults (sometimes members of our very own family), and being made to feel as if our opinions didn't matter. No matter how impatient we may be, we have no authority to force our beliefs on others, or to make them think the way that we do. As ridiculous as someone's thoughts may appear to us, that is their prerogative to think that way, and we should be respectful enough to honor those thoughts. We may not agree with them, but by no means should we belittle them, because without even knowing it, we are belittling the very mind that those thoughts originated from.

But hey. This is just my opinion. Take it or leave it.

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