"You should respect others' opinions."

GuyInWhite

This mindset confuses me just a little bit.

I understand that you shouldn't get into big fights because of small differences in opinion, but how exactly can I respect an opinion that's different from mine if it makes me so angry?

DonZabu

I think what these people are referring to IS the "angry" part.

-doesn't necessarily believe in this idea myself-

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I think it means that you shouldn't put other's opinions below your own in terms of value.

Not that most people even follow this anyway though, at least not completely.

Vorpy

I think it means that you shouldn't put other's opinions below your own in terms of value.

But what is the value of an opinion you think is bad?

DYRE

If you're following it, which many people don't of course...  other people's opinions shouldn't be making you angry in the first place.  If you disagree, you're just supposed to acknowledge that you disagree and that other people are entitled to their opinion exactly as much as you are.  Doesn't mean you can't necessarily argue with them to try to get them to change their opinion, but you definitely should accept that they have the right to hold that opinion, even if you don't like it.

Vorpy

What compels a person to address an opinion they think is wrong? Is this an acquired behavior?

MillerCross

You should respect other people's opinions. this is: When someone disagrees with you, it doesn't mean that the person who is disagreeing ith you is inferior nor his opinion is inferior, no matter how far fetched this is.

However, this kinda fails as...well, apart from matters like arts/media where everything can and will be appreciated by a different set of people with a different set of values, most matters can have...some sort of wrong opinion. Like nazism in politics, to go the godwin's way...

^ It's because when it comes to a discussion, you can address A) the argument the opinion and/or C) the person.

The third one is ad hominem, which is considered both rude and a phallaceous way of debating (You are a dick, therefore you are wrong)

the second one is the core and the base of what your opponent is saying. If you manage to disprove it, then you disprove all his arguments and you win the discussion.

Of course, to ge to disprove the "opinion" you have to disprove the arguments...

JHM

Basically, I think the message is, "Be the better person and don't be an ass."

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...wouldn't being the "better" person contradict the point? Unless you don't think the opinions themselves matter in this situation, which would make this an even worse life lesson name than usual.