I was talking to Pastor Mark today and it struck me as I reflected on our conversation that my opinions are so much shaped by the last person that I have talked to. Whilst I am talking to a person I will be absolutely convinced that that person is telling me the way it is when what they are really doing is giving me their opinion on how it is. Over time I might chew throught things and change slowly but nothing can change my opinion faster than talking to someone else with a different slant on things. Part of the reason for this I think is that I tend to trust people easily and that I like to apply my mind to what they say and try to fit it into my worlkd view.

I guess I'm not alone in this, salespeople always want to have the las meeting with a customer when selling against their competition to leave the lasting impression. Maybe I should be more aware of this and be more discerning when listening to people?

posted by Peter at 9:19 PM

4 Comments:

You know, Pete, I think I know where you're coming from with this post. I often find elements of what you described here ringing true in my daily life.

My problem, however, is that it seems to be opposite to what you describe, whereby I find it difficult to believe any part of what the last person said to me. I'm serious and not pulling your leg in any direction with this. I find it difficult to believe anything that comes from another person's mouth and I blame this bizarre personal trait on having watched years of commercial TV station news and having evolved to where a fact or opinion from another person's mouth angers me so much that I could hurl solid steel cars at them.

As there are usually none around, I usually just slam the front door shut or walk away from them as avoiding confrontation in better than mopping up someone else's blood.

As for salesmen, well, I'd venture to guess that you're already aware of what I think of them without me having to use every expletive I'm presently capable of remembering.

Nice post, mate.

By Andy K, at 2:42 PM  

I'm in with the 'Top here. It takes alot to sway me for the same reason. If you'd ever watched Australias Channel 7 news, you would want to do the same as him and your opinions would form in carbonite.

However this does not mean i am not open to consideration. I am merely quite resolute in my opinions. They are rarely formed without serious consideration on the subject in question

By Ultra Toast Mosha God, at 1:21 AM  

Maybe you should be aware of this and be more discerning. MAYBE? No maybes, you DO need to be aware of this and have discernment. Otherwise you may be doubleminded with no backbone, and frankly, a bit pathetic.

By Lisa, at 6:59 PM  

I think I'm with you when it comes to commercial news and current affairs. Ever since Frontline I haven't been able to watch commercial currnet affairs without becoming extremely cynical.

I guess what I was referring to was talking one on one to people. This doesn't mean to say that my opinion can be swayed completely away from what I believe. There are definitely things that I am passionate about and I do have opinions, too many sometimes. If you read the rest of my blog you will quickly realize that I am a Christian and I take my beliefs seriously. Anything against that runs up against the filter of belief pretty quickly.

As well as that there are definitely people that immediately raise wariness flags in me, those that I immediately distrust because of prejudice or experience. On the other hand there are people that I like and respect that will influence me greatly as I talk to them. Part of the problem is that I trust their judgement about situations too much. Just because I respect them it doesn't mean that their perspective on an issue is completely right.

The balance between suspicion and cynicism and wisdom is a hard one to find sometimes.

By Peter, at 1:14 PM  

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