Jonah+B’s+2016+OpEd+Article

Please Don't Be Mad At Me

I’m here to expose a habit I’ve seen quite often, including among Foothill students; the habit of getting angry at people who disagree with you. Now, obviously this is a natural human tendency, but I believe it’s a bad habit due to the fact that it is almost always useless or even counterproductive.

One of the great things about or school is that it has an atmosphere that is very open to discussion and debate. However, an issue with this is that the discussion will often lead to conflict, especially along liberal-conservative lines. Often, these arguments become emotionally charged, resulting in both sides becoming more and more belligerent.

I have participated in several arguments like this. One trend I’ve noticed is that after any argument I have, nobody's opinion changes if I get angry. If I react emotionally to someone else’s arguments, they typically become defensive, making them unlikely to listen to what I have to say. Once one person gets angry, the other gets angry as well, and the discussion goes nowhere.

I’m not saying you have to like what everyone has to say. Most of the time, you're arguing with someone because you disagree with them, so if you're a little biased against what they have to say, that’s fine. But at least hear them out respectfully. Remember, they probably have a reason for having their opinion, just like you do. If you find yourself getting angry, just remember that their opinion probably isn't a personal insult. If you think they are ignorant, then it is job to make them learn! You won’t be able to do that if you can't have a reasonable discussion. In that case, what’s the point? Continuing to argue would just be a complete waste of everyone's time.