1816:
If I think I’m right it
doesn’t bestow magical powers on my arguments. Just because I’m fearless with
my words, it doesn’t make everything I say impressive; it’s more likely to be
irritating. Perhaps I like to see myself as radical and outspoken, as brave and
admirable. But it’s likely, anyway, that what I’m saying will be disagreed with
by others, if only for them to save face. And one more thing. When I try to
make people feel ashamed, they remember that and avoid me in future. They see
it that I’m boasting about my own achievements, and that will cloud everything
else, with the result that they won’t be picking up the information I’m trying
to get across.
I might enjoy chatting about
my favourite subject, but I run the risk of my being regarded as a bore,
especially when I show no interest in what the other person might want to say.
As soon as I start ‘going-on’ about eating meat or animal cruelty, it might be
seen as one big yawn. And it’s taken personally, as if I’m being purposely
offensive. They’ll want me to stop, and if I don’t stop there’s likely to be a
flare-up. So, a light hearted chat between two people with opposing views may
be, on any other subject than this, stimulating. On any other subject we can
agree to disagree, but not with this subject. This is between two entirely
different values, the one seemingly selfish, the other seemingly unselfish.
Disagreeing on this matter of indulgence versus self-denial can soon enough
turn into a full blown fight.
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