We all have opinions. I don't know when it begins, but we form opinions really early on in our lives. A while back, I talked about how, by the time we go to elementary school, most of us have a theory on how the world works and how teachers should not assume that students enter school with a blank slate. The same rule, I think, applies to opinions. Somewhere along the line, we hear someone else's opinion, we read a newspaper article, we watch a TV program, or possibly an amalgamation of all three.

Depending on the issue, and how much we care about it, our opinion can be well thought out or superficial. If we're passionate about the issue, we dig deeper. We read voraciously, we follow the progress of the subject matter and make sure our opinions are up to date and we use every opportunity to bring our opinions up in conversation. Sometimes, we argue an issue when we're not even well educated on it, but my beef today is not with those people.

Today, I have a word or two for the people who care about an issue and have done their homework on it. People who're thick in the mud of it. People who claim they are well acquainted and passionate about a topic. These people are intelligent. They often are passionate and care about the issue, but just as often they are so deep into their own beliefs that they have stopped listening to others long ago.

These are people who glance at a few lines of the opponents' article just so they can lift one or two sentences and attack them. They don't care if the sentence is taken out of context. They don't even care if it's an outright lie. They are only concerned with their own agenda and they use everyone and everything to further their cause.

I have absolutely no respect for such individuals.

I've also previously talked about people's listening skills, or lack thereof. Most of us are busy preparing our replies before the other person even finishes his statement. This is even truer in the case of people with strong opinions or agendas, the ones I mention above. People who claim that they are speaking for women's rights or for minority rights or any other equally 'touchy' subjects. Each time I hear or read about a case when a woman, claiming she's a feminist, start berating men for being men, I cringe. I am embarrassed that such a person represents my gender and feels like she can speak on behalf of women everywhere.

Personally, she can never speak for me.

I think what matters most in life is not that we have opinions or that they are right or wrong (not that there is such a thing when we're talking about an opinion). What matters is that we're open-minded and that we never lose sight of the issue. We should be careful when we listen to our allies and even more careful when we listen to our opponents. I believe that the more dignified person always wins. Not that this is a race. But in the end, we only have our integrity.

Next time you disagree with someone, I recommend you listen or read twice as carefully. Who knows? You might even learn something.

Ps: Apologies for the preaching tone today, I guess I am slightly peeved.

Previously? Uninspired.