Don't argue with fools?

asked 2016-11-04 13:44:26 -0500

strongKaur
1688 ●51 ●63 ●80

updated 2016-11-04 16:48:39 -0500

9730 ●15 ●53 ●121

When someone is actually performing an action that is unjust i can understand the total importance of intervening. But what about when that is something that is spoken instead of an actual action? So for example saying poor people don't matter, or people with disabilities aren't important, or saying things that are racist and sexist.

When do you just stay silent, having understood this person is not going to change their opinion and that their life and how they live it is their own responsibility, and when do you speak? Do we just leave it at "don't argue with fools?" The worry i have is that by not speaking up you appear to be in agreement even though you aren't.

edit retag flag offensive close merge delete

add a comment

2 answers

Sort by » oldest newest most voted

answered 2016-11-04 15:39:07 -0500

Guruka Singh

9730 ●15 ●53 ●121

Yes, don't argue.... but rather shift the conversation. You can always elevate the conversation by shifting frequencies. It is that you never react to what the other person is saying but rather shift the frequency of the conversation. Example:

Other person: "Black people are lazy."

You: "I just bless everyone that they may live in their own excellence."

In order to do this effectively, your neutral mind must work so that you don't get "caught" in the polarities of argument and can calmly shift the conversation.

edit flag offensive delete link

Comments

Thanks for giving that example, it helped a lot. Our lecturer said to the class that poor people don't matter. i was so horrified i didn't know what to say and some people were nodding! My neutral mind definitely wasn’t functioning. I'm going to have to work on that.

strongKaur ( 2016-11-04 16:35:54 -0500 )edit

plus i guess it was a teaching environment so it was a bit different than being around friends/acquaintances. i just need to remember not to argue or even get caught up in a mental argument.

strongKaur ( 2016-11-04 16:37:52 -0500 )edit

OK, in class.... well that's different, but still no argument. That's where you can ask questions such as, "In what context do you feel they don't matter?" or "Matter in what way?' It's an opportunity for the whole class to learn and participate.