we don't listen when we should?

Question

I am just sitting watching a question asking Christians if they respect others
the Christians were saying yes and I believe most of them were answering honestly
and some non Christians are saying they don't
I have seen questions to Atheists about morals etc , the Atheists reply that they have good morals
while some non Atheists are answering for them and saying they don't
and Muslims saying they are peaceful while some non Muslims saying they are terrorists
this one also applies to homosexuals , when asked if it is a choice ... they will say no
and some hetrosexuals will tell you that they do choose it

why is it that some people don't listen to the people in question ?
I am sure they know themself better than others know them
just a pattern that I have noticed .... have you noticed also ?

it is time to start listening to those in question , don't you agree ?
maybe if we started listening , we could end a lot of this hate

Answer 1

It reminds me of this funny thing I said one time when I was a kid, and was very mad at my Dad over some silly thing. I yelled, "But I know you better than you know you!" Apparently, that's what we tend to think sometimes! Obviously, we only THINK we know better. I think we owe people the benefit of the doubt when they say they think or feel a certain way, that that really IS how they think or feel.

Answer 2

Sorry what were you saying? I wasn't listening.

Only joking. I agree with you to some extent but in the end the most important opinion is always your own. Nobody will ever change any ones opinions just by stating theirs. Opinions should be based on facts not on what someone else thinks but in questions like these there are no facts.
These questions are asking us to find one definitive bite sized answer that can speak for the beliefs and experiences of a billion people. To answer these questions we must lump all the people they involve into one easily describable entity. This means we can never give an answer that truthfully applies to all. So of course we will have disagreements and doubts, you even say yourself that you believe MOST of the Christians were answering truthfully, so you must doubt at least one of them.

Answer 3

I agree. The problem is that this forum is a competition for nonsense points. Many people know that if you answer the question fast you will enter in the top of the answers. Being the first or second answer is a better position to get more thumbs or best answers in the voting system. A lot of people answer in a superficial way or repeat the same thing over and over again.

I have friends here from different believes.

Answer 4

No, not entirely.

Yes listening to another point of view is a good thing and there is quite a wide range of opinion that should be tolerated and respected. But every point of view should be challenged.

Not every point of view is valid or even deserving of equal attention. There comes a point when something should not be tolerated because it is so ridiculous or vile and there is no point in listening any longer. You can easily think of examples.

We all have our views on which opinions have no merit, but obviously many of us are wrong. Therein lies the conflict.

Answer 5

folk who don't listen are too interested in hearing their own voice and thoughts. That is not meant just negativley as the most positive example I have is when I get together for a blether with a certain good friend of mine. We bounce such good ideas and share such funny experiences with eachother, neither particularly listening to eachother, more thinking about a funny thought they have made you remember. I am usually off on a trail to out wit my friend and she is the same with me. Neither of us listen intently to eachother, nor do either of us care!
Sometimes I ask questions for serious answers, other times I am having the biggest laugh. When the questioner has a serious question, folk are listening, otherwise they are switched off.

Answer 6

Also, reading the question in it's entirety would help too
We are often quick to jump in with an answer far too soon
Listening is a skill that few master

Answer 7

People are self-centred, and religion brings out the worst in them.

People believe that their way of life is the only true path, and will do anything they can to justify that - this often includes exagerating things in their own minds and convincing themselves of the positive while overlooking the negative.

Answer 8

Some people stop listening because their angry, (at anyone or anything). Sometimes it is a personal thing with the person. And we could call it self centered.

Answer 9

I have noticed and agree.

If a question is important enough to be asked it should be important enough to the asker to read and consider all of the answers.

Answer 10

People need to reaffirm their own self-image even at the expense of others, unfortunately. It's a confidence problem and a self-identity thing.