are you hesitant to speak your piece until you know my position on an issue?

Question

it's easy to preach to the choir... possible to sell ice to the eskimos... not so much fun to sell oil company executives on global warming.

do you hold your tongue until you know where another person stands on an issue, then agree or disagree? or do you avoid the verbal dance and let loose with your take on things first?

more: has your approach ever gotten you into a sticky situation? can you backtrack well if you need to?

Answer 1

I am not a confrontational person,so I do tend to avoid it whenever possible. However I don't change my mind easily and am not swayed in the direction of another person's opinion without a lot of consideration and knowing ALL the facts.

Backtracking is always easy if you tell the truth about how you feel. If you are honest in your opinion,then you don't have to worry about forgetting what you said just to appease someone.

I have been known to compromise on more than one occasion in my life. I don't necessarily hold my tongue but I don't let it loose to go off on a tangent either.

Hmmm...I guess we have probably all been in sticky situations before when our tongue just seems to have a mind of its own. You know...the times that your brain is telling you to shutup and your mouth just keeps going! Usually a PMS thing though so you might not understand that one. :)

Answer 2

Now, Patz, you know me well enough to know the answer to this one already. I absolutely never hesitate to speak my piece, irrespective of what you or anyone else thinks. I've always been a straight shooter, never afraid to express my views and opinions in any forum. And boy, have I ever paid a steep price for it! LOL...

Mind you, that has not and will not change me one whit. The concept of "holding my tongue" isn't even in my lexicon. In fact, I actually think it much better to "let loose" with my take on things before knowing the other person's stand on a particular issue. Why? Because I think it's always better to be true to yourself and your own point of view than to even be tempted to allow the opinions of others to influence your own.

Hell, I never preach to the choir. I'm actually much more inclined to take on the opposition, head on. And damn the consequences! (I'm thinking this is the feisty Celtic blood rearing its ugly head, lol.) Better to be open, honest and up front than to hold one's finger to the wind and play to the crowd. It's not just about respect, it's also about self-respect. I can be no other way.

Yes, of course my approach has gotten me into a whole host of sticky situations. But again, I cannot be other than how I am, innately, instinctively, truly. If the expression of my viewpoints gets me into hot water, so be it. I can take the heat and dish out better than I have to take. No fear. :)

And finally, as to backtracking... Sorry, no can do. It's just not in me to backtrack and flipflop and otherwise compromise my personal integrity. However badly things go for me, I stand firm, always. Would my life be easier -- certainly less stressful -- if I were more flexible, more compliant, less expressive of my opinions? Without a doubt, yes. Would I not be more popular and beloved if I "held my tongue"? You betcha! But would it be me? No, it would not. For good or for ill, I am who I am and ever shall be so.

Cheers, mon ami!

Answer 3

i will speak my peace on any subject. as a matter of fact, 9 times out of 10 i will pick the view with the lest supporters because arguing will often cause everyone involved to reexamine the facts and the reasoning for their views and it promotes a better understanding of the subject at hand. I will rarely backtract on an argument as a matter of pride but can generally do it quite well if need be.

Answer 4

We are all afriad of what others will think of us..so we don't speak out.

The sad thing is that our schools and education develop this line of thought where we are trained to sit still and be quiet, or we get into trouble...Also people are scared of new ideas, because these invariably lead to discussion and then association and back to being in trouble.

So what happens is that the rude, cocky, students get to speak their minds because they aren't afraid of the teachers or authority, and the rest of us sit there in silence and take it all.
So we grow up keeping out of the way of trouble and also fail to speak up when we should.

Now, every so often there is a great school and a great teacher that gives students voices, and helps them develop their right to express their view....but sometimes even these teachers get overwhelmed by the negative students who somehow can dominate a school if the leadership is weak enough.

Get the message...we are actually trained to hide our free views and that is sad...

Stand and speak your mind...and you get pointed at for it.. Can you handle that????Thats what you have to train yourself to do...

Start thinking you have the right to have your views and don't be scared to express them..Greatness is being able to share what you believe..especially if it is for the good of Mankind.

Answer 5

I used to be very timid with regards to sharing my opinions, but it probably had more to do with not having well thought out opinions, than being afraid to offend.
Today, I find I do know what I believe but I do welcome dialoue. Unfortunately, many times I've been involved in conversations where another person (s) believe something different, I've found that others are not willing to be as open minded as I am when I listen to their beliefs. So i've come full circle and just don't say what I think because people say they want dialogue, but what they actually want is to hear their own opinions regurgitated back at them.
I've started dialogues with a dissenting opinion and the conversation quickly becomes personal and derogatory by others.
I don't care what others think, as long as they respect my right to think what I think. I don't care what others think as long as they don't force me to believe what they do.

Answer 6

I always try to take a stand in an open minded way not so much one sided; i try to look at it both ways. This way i can express my thoughts without making others feel like they're wrong.

Answer 7

I pick and choose who I am discussing what with. I don't hold my tongue and don't backtrack.

Answer 8

You had me, until you said "My postion". Omit that part and yes, I am hesitant until I know someone's postion.