most people online tend to be very opinionated, so here are a few beef tips on sharing and shaping opinions:
1) if you're gonna have a strong view on something, do quality research. just because a parent, professor, author, website, or some meme said it, doesn't make it true
1) if you're gonna have a strong view on something, do quality research. just because a parent, professor, author, website, or some meme said it, doesn't make it true
2) having a "growth" mindset is usually healthier than having a "fixed" mindset. you'll always be learning. maturity is being able to admit uncertainty and especially admit being wrong. you're never going to have it all figured out so stop pretending that you do
3) all points of view have complex context, many of which are predetermined by chance of birth, biology, and environment. there's no such thing as, "I only believe (x) because of (y)." our brains like simple, binary thinking, but real life is constantly challenging that impulse
4) study ideas/ideologies outside your confirmation bias so you can see the world through multiple lenses. we learn so much from others when we allow ourselves. most people can exist together with big differences if we create better mutual understanding within the right systems
5) unless you're an expert in a given field, you're only able to grasp a very watered down version of that field. we live in a world where everyone thinks they're experts on everything. try to stay humble in your opinions, especially toward those with specific expertise
6) you are inevitably molded by who you follow online and surround yourself with in life. if you want stability, find more people who think like you. if you want change, find more people who don't think like you. staying aware of how people are affecting your views is important
7) personally attacking someone you disagree with often shuts down any opportunity for an exchange of ideas. healthy conversations or debates create the space needed for that. of course not every interaction can be perfect. human nature is full of misteaks, so be easy on yourself
8) we often forget who we were 10 year ago, 5 years ago, or even 1 year ago. we're always changing how/what we think. remembering that can help you leave room for optimists, cynics, critics, or anyone else who processes thoughts differently from you at any given time
9) if you must choose between being "right" and being "loving" toward someone you care about when exchanging views, choose to be loving as often as you can. being right in some situations is vital, but in the end if we don't have relationships, what do we have?
Steak-umm bless
Steak-umm bless
