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Linus' Philosophy & Me
Mar. 24th, 2010 08:40 amI have a killer headache at the moment, so this may not come out as clear as I would like, but I feel the need to clarify something, since I've been called on it more than once in the last few days...
"There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people: religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin."
-- Linus Van Pelt
All silliness and joking about the Great Pumpkin part of that aside, why do I try to adhere to a quote from a comic strip? It isn't because I have no opinions on political or religious issues. It isn't because I'm too afraid to bring up my opinions around anyone because I'm going to be ridiculed, mocked, or otherwise derided. No, it's because, in my experience, I have learned that, for the most part, in those two subject more than any other, people are not convinced by others' views. I would end up feeling like I'm banging my head against a wall, and, over time I've decided it just isn't worth the energy I could be spending on other things.
I try to live my life very much in a non-interference mode. If I don't like something, but it doesn't affect me or those about whom I care, and isn't something that generally interferes with the ability of others to live their lives as well, then whatever. Freedom until it interferes with the freedoms of others, I suppose is the most succinct way to put it. I realize that brings up many issues of deciding where that dividing line actually falls. Often, people have religious and/or political guidance for the placement of that line. I suppose I do as well, but that's why I feel I'm beating my head against a wall in trying to debate such points, even amiably. I've found that internet forums such as Facebook are the worst place to have amiable debates. I see too many biting, venomous attacks posted on both sides of too many issues, and so I usually fall back on Linus. It's not because I don't care or because I'm afraid to discuss it. It's because I don't want to waste the energy.
"There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people: religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin."
-- Linus Van Pelt
All silliness and joking about the Great Pumpkin part of that aside, why do I try to adhere to a quote from a comic strip? It isn't because I have no opinions on political or religious issues. It isn't because I'm too afraid to bring up my opinions around anyone because I'm going to be ridiculed, mocked, or otherwise derided. No, it's because, in my experience, I have learned that, for the most part, in those two subject more than any other, people are not convinced by others' views. I would end up feeling like I'm banging my head against a wall, and, over time I've decided it just isn't worth the energy I could be spending on other things.
I try to live my life very much in a non-interference mode. If I don't like something, but it doesn't affect me or those about whom I care, and isn't something that generally interferes with the ability of others to live their lives as well, then whatever. Freedom until it interferes with the freedoms of others, I suppose is the most succinct way to put it. I realize that brings up many issues of deciding where that dividing line actually falls. Often, people have religious and/or political guidance for the placement of that line. I suppose I do as well, but that's why I feel I'm beating my head against a wall in trying to debate such points, even amiably. I've found that internet forums such as Facebook are the worst place to have amiable debates. I see too many biting, venomous attacks posted on both sides of too many issues, and so I usually fall back on Linus. It's not because I don't care or because I'm afraid to discuss it. It's because I don't want to waste the energy.
