this is for everyone. all opinions welcomed?

Question

why is it when someone makes a remark or asks a question we patently disagree with, the popular gut reaction is to flip out?

moreover why do we try to convince them that our point of view is the right one? is it possible we could truly change their minds?

i'm not calling anybody out. i mean, i'm guilty myself. i'm just wondering what your motivating factor might be.

so long.

Answer 1

As far as I'm concerned, I quite seldom "flip out". Only in occasions when I feel my view of the world is somehow threatened, which means that somewhere deep inside I'm not so sure about that matter under conversation... So basically when I'm most frantically trying to convince someone to believe something, I very often notice afterwards that I was merely trying to convince myself.

Then there are those occasions when I actually want to be proven wrong, but just don't know how myself... But that's totally another story, and usually it's me who starts this kind of arguments.

Oh, and if you refer to all kinds of conversations in Internet (message boards, blog comments, yahoo answers...), then I stay out of heated fights. I only participate if I want to annoy or make fun out of someone (yes I know, I'm evil sometimes). It's almost impossible to convince anyone in arguments that get "hot", and it's totally impossible to do so over the Internet. There's just no point. After all, the old saying (from the times when the Internet was still young) tells the truth: Arguing in Internet is like running in special Olympics: even if you win, that doesn't change the fact that you are retarded. (Sorry for harsh wording, no offence meant, and I truly appreciate everyones value as a human being).

Answer 2

I think some people have experienced some of the issues and they are trying to help others but, in the long run it is up to the individual to decide right or wrong. I think some stuff can be helpful to others but many take advantage of a situation to act inappropriate to other. Occasionally their are stupid questions asked or some that would piss off any one especially when they can hurt other people. Good Question

Answer 3

Well, I think we 'flip out' because we feel our views are threatened by the opposing views of someone else. We try to change their view to eliminate that threat and to further justify our own view. The more people we can convince the more 'right' our opinion is. I think it's a part of human nature.

Answer 4

i give opinions, whether they want to accept it or not is none of my business.
also, i dont just decide to disagree with everything..its something that just came up to my mind..
i THINK the reason why ppl always disagree is becoz the chose the topic that they disagree upon..i mean what is the benefit of agreeing with something..there is no argument..no excitement.
only ppl trying to increase their point will answer for the sake of the getting the points..
my motivating factor..to listen at other's argument and then judge back at my own conclusion..

Answer 5

If someone is asking a question, they should be looking for answers and other perspectives-not thinking they already know. In a way, using a question as a means to preach your dogma, is kinda like picking a fight. Those who do it are intentionally baiting people who will disagree with them.

If someone already knows the answer, then they should answer questions, not ask them. Maybe that's the problem.

Answer 6

i think this is a good question, it doesn't just happen on here it happens everyday in our daily activities. it's really amazing, i think that everyone wants to convince others to believe what they have to say even though we're all different with our own set of thoughts. it seems like ppl feel offended or belittled if others won't accept their beliefs. we are so different but very similar since at some point in our lives we do exactly what we don't like to others which is trying to convince them that your way is the best way

Answer 7

For me i try no to flip out . it hard to take so much sometimes ,, ill tell a story about the last time i flipped on someone ,,I had a friend come over the other day , i told hI'm im working on a PC , and i got to go to yahoo QA ,,for a answer.about a PC . So he says he needs to start a sight like that so he can help people out with heating systems for the house , I said yea that's what yahoo qa is for , He said Chris they don't know what there talking about ,, I'm certified mechanic ..SO I SAY ALL THE PEOPLE THERE JUST GO THERE TO WAIST TIME AND GIVE OUT FALSE INFO THAT THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT ,,And he never been here ,, can argue with this guy

Answer 8

my view on this is: i think that alot of people tend to be closed minded. they cant see outside their "world", their little box. sad sad sad. so naturally, they think that what they believe is right and they wont hear another side of it. if people would only be open to hearing multiple sides of EVERYTHING they would realize that it would only help to better themselves and expand their minds. also i believe its in the way we go about doing this as well, we cant just shove opinions down peoples throat ya know? i also think that this is why so many relationships fail. we need to be more willing to listen to the other person and actually put ourselves in their shoes. see it from their side. i see so many couples fighting and that can all be eliminated. but thats just all MY OPINION :)

Answer 9

i think the reason we tend to freak out when someone states an opinion we don't agree with is that we are convinced we're right and we want others to agree with us for some reason. we try to change their minds b/c 1. we want the credit for changing their minds and 2. we want people who are like us and think like us around us so we try to make that happen by trying to change other people's minds.

i'm guilty of it too and it sux, but i do think you can change a person's mind but it's only if they want to change and are willing to listen to you.

Answer 10

The motivating factor is self preservation. We all have an ego bias believing we are truly the smartest and that our opinions are best.

It is inherent in our human nature to defend that. There are actually books on it.