Why do people hold such a passionate point of view so extreme, that they cannot have a civil discourse to hear both sides of an argument? Why must someone feel it appropriate to do the equivalent of ridiculing another or holding their ears and start screaming "LA LA LA LA LA" to drown out the person playing 'devils advocate' or just having an opposing view?
![co-workers-294266_1280.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmWPR43kkU7aiAiWWfq4ojtEa6wYYuxRvZDaHPbHrA6dJo/co-workers-294266_1280.png)
Image: Pixabay.


Don't get me wrong, I like passion. Once a course is set and true, by all means strive to follow its conclusion as you see fit, but at least try to hold an open mind for those who do not believe the course is true. You would want to know if you had an incorrect or incomplete course wouldn't you? 

Think of being the captain of your own ship (as you are). You have different potential navigators (ideas put forward)  and you are in unknown waters. You think you know the way but ask for opinions. One says hurricane ahead, one says clear skies and the other says Icebergs are a certainty, now would you say "well, I'm not entirely sure but without looking at the evidence and making decisions any further, John has been reliable in the past... clear skies it is!"

I am fully aware of my own fallibility. I question things I have held to be true and said, but can only steer my life by my own beliefs and judgments after hearing points of view from my innate self and others. Unsteady waters abound, but still I plot a course through it, at least with the knowledge they ARE unsteady and newer ideas may make the crossing smoother. I do know though, that what I believe should not be summarily foisted onto someone else. Who am I to tell someone else how to live their life? Who am I to tell others what to believe? Who am I to judge my opinion is the only way? I'll certainly give you my opinion if asked, but only expect the thanks for offering it or a polite decline if it does not hold true to you.

Now, yes, I understand I am using my own values to judge others, in this post. However, if they do not agree, that's fine. I am not going to brow-beat or finger point them into submission. I will agree to disagree based on lack of evidence, true evidence itself or my own feeling or opinion. There is no need to make another feel small because I am 'holier than thou'.

I'm going to bring up a couple of ideas that I've seen lambasted recently.

The attacking of a person in a vegan post with a counter argument that was plausible about meat eating.

The attacking of a 'flat earther' about their beliefs such as water always finds level, where their arguments were passed over with 'everybody knows....' and 'what an idiot' rhetoric.

Now, I know many may not agree with one side of the argument or another.  I do though; believe my mind can go either way on the above topics if someone would just state provable facts or convincing articles instead of conjecture or 'everybody knows'. So if I was to voice the arguments above, I would hope to be debated with a person who has an open mind.

Are we so self indulgent that we must stand like an immovable mountain on others foundations? Are we so arrogant to suppose we have all the answers based on how we were taught by someone who may now be incorrect due to new information or the passing of time? Can we not open our minds to other possibilities any more?

If we can't open our minds I hold no hope for science, Government or medicine to name but a few. There is no real debate and therefore there is a rigid doctrine, one where points of view are mandated. One where the earth is always what we are told, one where laws are what are enforced without question, one where there is no longer imagination or one where vaccines are forced with no choice.

The closed mind would see all bow down. The closed mind would tell you what you should do. The closed mind would force you to conform. The closed mind is not content in believing its own thoughts or changing its own point of view, but must project their beliefs onto others and try to enforce them.

Perhaps one of the diseases of modern day society is the closed mind and blinkered points of view encouraged by so called 'education' today.

 I bet they would not be interested in hearing about my own vaccine to prevent it all from infecting others.