[wolfgang]

I can't believe you all are beliving all that in the blog! Accepting someones else's position is a weak minded way of caving in and letting someone run all over you! --OK, I wrote that just so you can notice how easy it is to polarize, I really like the article. I'm shaking now after writing that little bit from the devil's advocate. I wonder how many of you were ready to jump on me.

I like that part that being accepting of someone's position opposing you is part of the equation to defuse the polarizing defense. I'd like to add something I carry - seek first to understand. Like how do you accept someone's position unless you know what it is? Maybe the understanding is implied, between the lines, but I think we should try to understand what it is they are opposing.

I tried that with that argumentative bix poster. I was reflecting back to him what he was saying - "so you mean you have no fear and there's no value in looking at fears that interfere with goals?" I wanted to understand him first so that I can accept where he was coming from, instead of just jumping to conclusions about what he was opposing. I tend to not want to believe much of anything just so I don't have to defend anything, but really it's more like the blog entry - anything I might believe is not so hard and part of my identity that needs defending.

I believe most beliefs are a form of attachment - and I'm attached to that belief. So try to tell me I'm wrong and I'll defend that belief!