Why do people find different opinions so hostile?

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Right or wrong is an emotional thing?

That seems a sensible strategy to take and a very responsible one. You're essentially taking responsibility for the emotional well being of others.

As I said I rarely disagree with anyone, if someone says something I don't agree with, I tend to keep quiet unless they question me. Then problem with this is that a lot of people tend to assume that you agree if you don't openly object.

Internet forums are a little different and I fell less restrained than in real life.

Sorry if I'm not responding well to people's opinions but I am reading everything and respect people's views even if I don't agree.

In my opinion, yes. Being factually correct is being right. Believing one is right and being right are two different and not necessarily identical things. I believe that God doesn't exist. This is an opinion and is neither right nor wrong.

I know that I am male. This is factually correct and therefore right. I hope I'm not being too confusing. I read a lot of philosophy and sometimes assume others know similar thing to me.

To me knowing and believing are too separate and incompatible concepts. Knowing can be right or wrong, believing cannot be either right or wrong as it has no inherent truth value. Applying concepts of right and wrong to beliefs is emotional and not very clever.

Ok, I see what you meant now. Thanks for clarifying.

Very true! I lost count how many jobs, friends etc. i've lost simply because I said something like "Well, I think you're wrong and here's why...."

Instead of them listening and then saying "Interesting, not thought of that angle, but what about...." they just get all hurt and that's the end of that.

Surely people can hold opposite views, explain them to each other and enjoy the process and still remain friends! I really don't get it!

Arguing with a friend (or anyone) is one of life's great pleasures. It's not personal, it's fun, you can get enthusiastic, you can learn something and I might even be wrong! Prove me wrong and you've done me a service.

But you're right... not many around that seem to be able to divorce the subject from loyalty. Well, if you're wrong, i'll say so. And then do you the courtesy to explain why i think you're wrong. You're welcome to refute my points and i will listen hard so i might be able to point out the fallacies in you're argument. Or even accept that you have made me think and i could ask you some questions to a few points.... It's the way it should be and doesn't mean we're not getting along!

It really is sad. I've been physically threatened for expressing contrary views. University is the only place I've found an openness to new ideas.

I admitt I physically threatened guys when I was going threw my femenism stage but they kicked me right down to the ground again
(literally) I would go crying to the cops and they would just drive off laughing at me. NOT FUNNY

Bloody hate men... get tarred with the same brush... this from my blog.

Walking back from the shop on the corner late at night a few days ago. I was perhaps ten paces behind a young woman. She sensed someone behind her and looked back. She quickly turned back to avoid eye contact and doubled her walking speed... I crossed over to the other side of the road so as not to freak her out, you could read her fear in her body language.

This is what i mean by tarred with the same brush. She was right to be fearful, but not of me. But there is no way she could know that. Just by inhabiting this body i trigger her fear. It's horrible!

I know it's not all men... but just take a look around the planet and make a mental note of which sex is causing most pain and hurt. There were no women in the 911 aircraft, no women taliban, Bush, Blaire, Hitler, Mussolini... all men. Since the birth of the three Abrahamic religions the dominance of men and the subjugation of women has been engrained into society and is to this day. The bible, torah and qur'an are testament ( no pun intended ) to the paternalistic sky gods of bronze age society. Men as the only true conduit between their invisible friend and humanity, women seen as unclean and as little more than chattels. Fantasies invented by men to retain and sanctify their dominance.

It's about time things changed... long, long overdue.

This mechanism of engendering fear and triggering memories of abuse in women by the simple fact of my gender depresses me greatly. I'm at a total loss how i can change this.

Same here Les but by the way Lesbians can be pretty scary too can get the cord and tie it around your wrist if you say the wrong thing to em or dont do what they say. Best just sit there and smile n be loved
NOT FAIR NOT FAIR

Got to ask yourself what religion and the society it produced does to their heads Lucy, can't be easy being outside the christian taliban's idea of normalcy.

Gay girls are just people too, good and bad and all shades in between. Most of us are all three simultaneously...

Find it easier when I'm in the right frame of mind to have faith in MY thoughts, ideas and PoV. I have ad/hd and Ritalin really helps with that. Then i really don't care that others think i'm mad, bad or just plain wrong. I know I'm a good person, have thought about stuff and this is the way i see it.

It's very freeing, but you have to remember to listen, others might have better, different ideas. Always the chance to learn...

L X

Well guys can be pigs I know that, I was picked on priamarely by guys and see the disgusting things they can do, but I am a guy though I prefer the company of females from males. At times I have wondered what if I was a girl and how different I would be, but I think I might as well be one of the decent guys. I have thought maybe it is testosterome that make men mess up but that should not be an excuse, I know that me recieving testosterome during puberty has caused me to do bad things. I infact I feel terible about a lot of sexism, and my ideas of things that boys should be alowed to do also have gotten me in trouble or have at least made me sound like I wanted to get a sex change.

Quoting Les:

By your excellent and insightful post, you are helping to do that (change that oppressive, patriarchal mentality) right now.

to know
To be honest Ive always shyed away from men like that cause ya dont know what theyre playin at but obvisously theyre not playn
anything. Its kinda weird
Like limbo

You just made me the owner of a wide and unexpected smile, thank you

So you mean some girls are so distrustful of men that i could never convince them i was sincere, didn't want anything they were not willing and happy to give and the more i tried to be "un-male" the more they'd think i had an ulterior motive?

Can't blame them to be honest Lucy, i'd be bloody suspicious of me too! How many men say "I'm different from all the others!" and how to spot the ones that actually are? Much safer to assume we're all in need of careful watching until we prove otherwise... or try to prove otherwise.

I don't like ice cream too much, its too cold and I allways end up sort of licking it slowly when others take big bites. So people look at me like I'm really strange when I say I don't want any ice cream and if I do eat it, they think I'm strange because I eat it so slowly...