The journey

[Megan.]

I often use the analogy of a journey in respect of life, and that exploring our gender identity is just a part of that. We can choose to open our eyes and let the experiences (good & bad) along that road enrich us; or close them and remain static, closed off to new ideas.

I believe that recognising and respecting others views and opinions is a very important part of our own development, whether we agree with them or not.

The risk that all communities face is that they can become inward looking. That experience becomes tradition becomes dogma.

For this site to continue to be a relevant and valuable resource to others, it's important that is members embrace and respect the changing scenery and landscapes of society.

I choose education over militancy, openness not isolation; I hope those who read this will too. X

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[Northern Star Girl]

I often use the analogy of a journey in respect of life, and that exploring our gender identity is just a part of that. We can choose to open our eyes and let the experiences (good & bad) along that road enrich us; or close them and remain static, closed off to new ideas.

I believe that recognising and respecting others views and opinions is a very important part of our own development, whether we agree with them or not.

The risk that all communities face is that they can become inward looking. That experience becomes tradition becomes dogma.

For this site to continue to be a relevant and valuable resource to others, it's important that is members embrace and respect the changing scenery and landscapes of society.

I choose education over militancy, openness not isolation; I hope those who read this will too. X

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@Megan.
Dear Megan: Wow, very nicely written...
...I do not know how anyone could argue with the points that you brought up in your posting.   
Certainly what you stated is aligned with my thinking.   
I appreciate you posting and sharing with all of us on the Forums...
...hopefully it will be an encouragement to those that need to hear what you had to say.

Hugs,
Danielle

[Megan.]

Tnx Danielle, the energy and positivity you've brought to the site is very welcome. X

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[Breeze 57]

I too agree.  I love Journey.

"Just a small town girl".  Classic

[TonyaW]

I believe that recognising and respecting others views and opinions is a very important part of our own development, whether we agree with them or not.
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Um I have to disagree here. 

While I do and should respect everyone's right to have differing views and opinions, I will not respect those views or opinions if they are just flat out wrong. Mostly I'm referring to people that ignore scientific evidence.

Examples:

The earth is not flat.
Vaccines do not cause autism.

And I will not respect an opinion that being transgender is not real or  those that will hate me merely for existing.


You can respect a person right to have an opinion without respecting said opinion.
Which is where the last part of your post comes in

"I choose education over militancy, openness not isolation"

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[Northern Star Girl]

Um I have to disagree here. 

While I do and should respect everyone's right to have differing views and opinions, I will not respect those views or opinions if they are just flat out wrong. Mostly I'm referring to people that ignore scientific evidence.

Examples:

The earth is not flat.
Vaccines do not cause autism.

And I will not respect an opinion that being transgender is not real or  those that will hate me merely for existing.


You can respect a person right to have an opinion without respecting said opinion.
Which is where the last part of your post comes in

"I choose education over militancy, openness not isolation"

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@TonyaW
Dear Tonya: In my experience as a debate captain in high school and in college debate teams, the possible exception perhaps to what you stated is that if we are in just a a conversation or even in a deeper discussion, negotiation and/or debate with someone, making it known during the meeting that we do not respect their opinion because it may be obviously full of errors, shuts down any possibility of coming to an agreement, consensus, or even a compromise....  the debate, negotiation and discussion and the conversation is then OVER with no happy ending and then we have just shut the door to being constructive and persuasive with our views and comments.   It would then be time to walk away....

Thanks for sharing your views and your thoughts on this thread.   
My stated views are just my opinions, that is all they are.
Hugs and well wishes,
Danielle

[Megan.]

'wrong' is often just a matter of perception. I'm an engineer, scientist and atheist. The scientific method is a good one, maybe the best we have so far, but also far from fallible.

The unbreakable speed of sound, the constant speed of light....

Many of the old tenets of science were later proved wrong, and there is nothing to say that many we hold now to be utter truth will some day be proven false when our perception broadens.

We can educate, but must also be open to education ourselves. X

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[TonyaW]

Danielle, by disagreeing with some one are you not saying that their opinion is wrong?
This can be done in a way that does not close them off to changing their minds, such as we are (hopefully) doing know.  I agree that belittling them or name calling will rarely if ever help someone to change a view.

Yes some views can be a matter of perspective, but that would not be what I am talking about.

To use and absurd example,

I do not need to respect a person's opinion that 2 plus 2 equals 5, even when they have been shown otherwise and yet still refuse to change their opinion because they just know it or someone has told them that it is?




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[MaryT]

I see where Megan is coming from but I also agree with Tonya. 

Some opinions are harmful to others when the holders of those opinions have power.  Would we say to someone "I respect your opinion that homosexuality should be criminalised" or "I respect your opinion that people of different ethnicity should not be allowed to vote"?  Some people have had such opinions while also holding power.

However, it is never necessary to be harsh, rude or insulting, for whatever reason.  As Churchill put it after declaring war on Japan in less than harsh terms, "... when you have to kill a man it costs nothing to be polite".  Nor is it necessary to take someone's opinions or suggestions out of context and demonise them in order to weaken their position or strengthen one's own.

It may not be necessary to respect opinions but it is necessary to respect feelings.

[TonyaW]

It may not be necessary to respect opinions but it is necessary to respect feelings.

Yeah, this.

  It just bothers me that so many people think that their uninformed opinion is as valid as any other opinion just because they have the right to have it. 

I am certainly not trying to say that anyone here has been like that. I think that Susan's in general is relatively free of that, which is one reason I participate in the non trans related threads also.

So now if Megan wishes to redirect this thread to where she intended, I won't fuss anymore.  Sorry if I took it off track.

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[Megan.]

Nothing wrong with a robust debate! [emoji3]

I wasn't expecting my OP to be quite so incendiary, but while all here feel happy and able to express their own thoughts, then our community has a good future. X

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