| Current mood: |  thoughtful |
Letter 2: On Stupid People
Dear Kid,
The world is full of many different people, with many different ideas and beliefs. And the world is full of many different facts, some of which seems to contradict others.
Here's the tricky part.
Some people base their beliefs on facts. (Facts, afterall, are things that can be proven.)
Some people present their beliefs as facts.
Some people take beliefs, and refute them with facts
Some people take beliefs, and refute them with other beliefs.
Some people take facts, and refute them with other facts.
Some people take facts, and refute them with belief.
Almost everyone resents having their beliefs refuted by others.
Where am I going with all this? What am I trying to say?
I'm trying to say:
If you don't agree with someone, you can tell them so. You can point out what you see as the flaws in their argument. You can even point out the superior strengths in *your* argument.
But for pity's sake, don't be mean about it. Don't go out of your way to antagonize.
And should the person you disagree with call you names, insult your heritage, attack *you* rather than your argument, just shake your head and walk away. Say that you're sorry, but you're interested interested in having a discussion or a debate, not an argument or a squabble.
Insults and violence are much, much easier than thoughtfulness and compassion.
Easier is not the same as "better".
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