I had written a completely different article for this week, but due to the controversial content of it, I decided against posting it. Which sparked this post along with another incident. Earlier in the week, one of my fellow Odyssey writers got bashed for writing her opinion. This sparked me simply because we watch people get bashed for their opinion all the time.
Listen, I know it’s extremely hard when someone has an opinion different from yours, especially when you feel strongly about the topic. But here’s the thing: people are going to have a different opinion. In fact, they are ALLOWED to. If people didn’t have their own opinions, the world would be very boring. We need diverse opinions and ideas. Nothing is wrong with sharing your opinion either, and you shouldn’t be scared too. Sometimes people shove their opinion down your throat, also. Making it very difficult not to say something. What we need to remember is, we can tell someone we think they’re wrong, but we can do it in a polite manner.
Nothing is wrong with telling someone, “I understand your view, but I believe it’s this way because…” Nothing is wrong with that. What is wrong is when people start attacking you for your beliefs because they disagree with it. A lot of people preach about being “tolerant of all opinions” but yet, when someone else speaks their opinion, suddenly that whole statement is gone, and the person is getting attacked.
DO NOT attack people for stating THEIR opinion, or THEIR story. The key word here is THEIRS. It’s not yours. You may have a very different opinion, and that’s okay. But don’t attack someone's appearance or attack them personally simply because they believe something you don’t. That’s completely wrong and shouldn’t be tolerated. If you’re going to attack someone personally, DON’T COMMENT. Think about it to yourself. Don’t comment to them. It’s hurtful.
No one should be scared to share their opinion. No one should feel like because their opinion doesn’t match what most peoples are, that they can’t voice it. That’s completely unacceptable and I’m sorry to anyone whoever got attacked for their beliefs.
So, please, if you’re someone who has issues with someone having different thoughts than you, please check yourself before making a personal statement towards them. Please just sit back and think. Please think about how people are going to think different, maybe you’re right, maybe their right. But it doesn’t matter. People have the right to voice their opinion regardless. Please don’t bring them down for it.
