“The man who never alters his opinions is like standing water, and breeds reptiles of the mind.”
– William Blake (1757-1827), British poet

I find it interesting when people ask for other people’s opinions but then either ridicule them, condescend to them, or berate them for supplying that opinion because it doesn’t match the original person’s opinion.

I’m seeing this phenomenon more and more on the bondage.com forums and it is usually in the postings with the most pages because the OP responds to nearly every response. They respond with either “Wow, you get it, thanks! Right on!” or “You’re wrong. You don’t get it. Go back to your momma’s skirts, boy.” There is no neutral ground where people exchange ideas and thought because that’s really not what is wanted.

A person posts his or her opinion as a question and asks the forumites for responses. This doesn’t really mean that he or she wants your opinion. It seems to mean that they want an opinion that agrees with them and that supports their view of the world.

Scary.

There is no room for growth when you look at things so myopically. There is no room for intelligent discussion. It quickly moves to the lowest common denominator and people start calling names or using arguments that have nothing to do with what is really going on.

I know that not everyone will agree with me. I value that. I often get a new look at an old issue and am given a different perspective. This helps me grow.

I say it’s better to grow than to stagnate in our own beliefs because we’re too stubborn to hear a different line of thought.