Comments on: What To Do When You Have A Strong Opinion

By: Are you Killing or Creating Comment Conversation? | Men With Pens

Are you Killing or Creating Comment Conversation? | Men With Pens — Fri, 08 May 2009 10:00:58 +0000

[...] or operating. In these moments, the best bit of advice is “approach with caution”. Avoid a strong opinion. Be gentle, be friendly, be open-minded and willing to listen even as you try to guide the person [...]

By: Naomi Dunford

Naomi Dunford — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 13:09:11 +0000

See? Didn’t that feel good?

By: James

James — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 11:38:29 +0000

@ Naomi – Hm. Now I will have to think about that all day and ponder a perspective I never thought of. Thank you for that.

By: Naomi Dunford

Naomi Dunford — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 05:15:38 +0000

“It reminds me of going to that type of party where you have to go…”

My two cents, because my battery is flashing Very Scary Warning Signals… The thing is, you DON’T have to go. There’s just as much honour in staying home.

By: James

James — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 18:14:05 +0000

@ Shaun – *pats on shoulder* You’re a very strong man. Or very determined.

@ John – I try to make it a point to never sound ridiculous – even when I’m coming off as a complete idiot

By: John

John — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 17:40:56 +0000

LOL James. Persuasive talking / negotiating is on my to-do list of blog articles (and speaking someone’s language is part of it).

Hey, if you try it and stumble enough with your words or just sound ridiculous, maybe the person will feel sorry for you and go easy on you and your opinion!!

By: Shaun

Shaun — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:52:17 +0000

Luckily, I run a handful of websites based on politics, religion and philosophy. Nuff said.

By: James

James — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 11:50:19 +0000

@ Jay – I’m a man on a mission. What would you know about it? You’re just a walking banana – Or is it your week off?

I have to admit that I’m puzzled at times by how to communicate. I’m being open and just disgreeing, and people think I’m attacking their self-worth or personality. Cripes. It reminds me of going to that type of party where you have to go, don’t really know anyone, are completely out of your element, and you stand there with a drink in your hand making banal, polite conversation. What’s wrong with the backyard party where everyone can just be real and drop the uber-manners and stiffness? (Within reason, of course. Jay must keep his pants on.)

@ John – That’s a really interesting tactic and I’m going to test that. Ha, I can just see people trying to figure out why I’m concentrating so hard on what they’re saying: “I’m trying to figure out if you’re a smeller or a seer!”

By: Jay F.H.

Jay F.H. — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 06:00:30 +0000

I can write 500 words in 60 seconds.

Granted, it’s in a language I made up and only I can understand…but to hell with everyone else, I know I write good shit, and I don’t need you people to validate me!

I enjoy the “say what they think, and feel free to disagree” type of people, they rattle the monotony of typical blog comment barf. And, I bet we can rally up enough people who do as well. Enough to feed us, stroke our egos and ignite the fires of our hearts for many a year.

P.S. Seriously James, you could start about 47 new blogs with the amount of comment-ry you leave elsewhere. “Comment Whore” indeed. ;o)

By: John

John — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 04:55:08 +0000

What to do when you have a strong opinion? Yeah that’s a tricky one. If you have a strong opinion about, well pick anything, someone will either take offense or strongly disagree with you.

I find that when talking with them (in person), I try to use the language they use. In other words, if they keep saying “I see,” I try to talk or debate with them in a more visual way. If they say stuff like “That stinks” and “Something smells rotten,” I try to use those sensory words in my debate.

As for on the Web. That’s a little harder because emotion and tone is limited to 0s and 1s.