Gransnet forums

Chat

Challenging thinking

(53 Posts)
grannyactivist Sun 20-Oct-19 16:49:08

Just been discussing this with The Wonderful Man and he suggested I listen to this podcast, which gives a very interesting take on the complexities of holding views that don't 'fit' with one particular political party.

Gemini1789 Sun 20-Oct-19 15:27:51

Oh yes ! I grew up with a fairly traditional set of ideas. My own children opened my eyes and challenged my thinking in ways I did not dream of. For me acceptance was the key. I might not choose some of their ideas for myself but I now accept that it is ok for others to think differently. I have certain deal breakers but mostly I like to try to understand why people feel the way they do.
I dislike posters on here who seem to wade in with fixed ideas and won’t shift. I prefer people who think a bit first.

grannyactivist Sun 20-Oct-19 15:16:51

I may have to put on my tin hat and hide behind the sofa, but I sincerely hope not as this is a genuine question.

Would you say that you actually challenge your thinking and if so, would say that your views are evolving because of it?

Let me give you an example: in my much younger days, I was married to a member of the armed forces, I read only the newspaper that he bought and listened to people (primarily his friends) whose views mainly mirrored his. I didn't expose myself very much, certainly not deliberately, to contrary views and yet at the time I could have given a rationale for what I 'believed'.

Later I went to college and was exposed to a range of different views and I tried to teach myself to really 'listen' to others rather than react by 'defending' my own opinions and in doing so I found that my own thinking not only changed quite radically, but continued to evolve.

Now I read widely, I try very hard not to demonize others' points of view, I seek out the opinions of people who hold views that are antithetical to my own - and I try (not always with success) to find points of commonality or mutuality.