Comments on: why are you so sure? http://www.sockparade.com/2009/02/04/why-are-you-so-sure/ Fri, 06 Aug 2010 16:51:30 -0600 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: becky http://www.sockparade.com/2009/02/04/why-are-you-so-sure/comment-page-1/#comment-1858 becky Wed, 11 Feb 2009 01:43:48 +0000 http://www.sockparade.com/?p=602#comment-1858 "The question I have to keep asking myself is, to which community do I find myself most frequently in service?" That is a really great question. Unfortunately, the community I frequently serve is usually not the one I intend to serve. Thanks for jogging my thoughts, I need to think about this some more. “The question I have to keep asking myself is, to which community do I find myself most frequently in service?”

That is a really great question. Unfortunately, the community I frequently serve is usually not the one I intend to serve. Thanks for jogging my thoughts, I need to think about this some more.

]]> By: nick http://www.sockparade.com/2009/02/04/why-are-you-so-sure/comment-page-1/#comment-1857 nick Mon, 09 Feb 2009 05:58:05 +0000 http://www.sockparade.com/?p=602#comment-1857 I think you're right that people aren't often willing to be placed in situations where they have to account for their positions. Being in regular contact with those with whom you disagree is a good way to hold your convictions at a critical distance and to reevaluate them. On the other hand, I don't think it's always a bad thing that people have their opinions formed by their surroundings; they should admit to it with humility, rather than repent of it. I don't put that much stock into the "individual search for truth" and priding myself on views at which I arrived by my own volition. We're always being shaped by the fundamental communities to which we belong and their respective grand narratives of the world. The question I have to keep asking myself is, to which community do I find myself most frequently in service? One reason why I try to be a Christian and not a Friedman capitalist or a Marxist (although Marx and Jesus probably would have some interesting conversations). I think you’re right that people aren’t often willing to be placed in situations where they have to account for their positions. Being in regular contact with those with whom you disagree is a good way to hold your convictions at a critical distance and to reevaluate them.

On the other hand, I don’t think it’s always a bad thing that people have their opinions formed by their surroundings; they should admit to it with humility, rather than repent of it. I don’t put that much stock into the “individual search for truth” and priding myself on views at which I arrived by my own volition. We’re always being shaped by the fundamental communities to which we belong and their respective grand narratives of the world. The question I have to keep asking myself is, to which community do I find myself most frequently in service? One reason why I try to be a Christian and not a Friedman capitalist or a Marxist (although Marx and Jesus probably would have some interesting conversations).

]]> By: becky http://www.sockparade.com/2009/02/04/why-are-you-so-sure/comment-page-1/#comment-1856 becky Mon, 09 Feb 2009 02:29:05 +0000 http://www.sockparade.com/?p=602#comment-1856 Nick, I think most people have the capacity to know the difference. I just don't think it's often that they are pushed to assess which one it is. I think it's mostly about the investment of time they've spent thinking about it -- whether someone has really tried to search for the truth or if they believe something and can only superficially explain why. Jen, I liked Last Chance Harvey but I don't know if it's for everyone. I have a really soft spot for romantic comedies so I don't think I'm a good gauge. This one was pretty subtle and quiet. It didn't use the usual comedy gags. It felt more realistic? But still had a bit of a fairy tale feeling to it. Well, and I really like Emma Thompson... Nick, I think most people have the capacity to know the difference. I just don’t think it’s often that they are pushed to assess which one it is. I think it’s mostly about the investment of time they’ve spent thinking about it — whether someone has really tried to search for the truth or if they believe something and can only superficially explain why.

Jen, I liked Last Chance Harvey but I don’t know if it’s for everyone. I have a really soft spot for romantic comedies so I don’t think I’m a good gauge. This one was pretty subtle and quiet. It didn’t use the usual comedy gags. It felt more realistic? But still had a bit of a fairy tale feeling to it. Well, and I really like Emma Thompson…

]]> By: JEN T. http://www.sockparade.com/2009/02/04/why-are-you-so-sure/comment-page-1/#comment-1855 JEN T. Mon, 09 Feb 2009 00:55:02 +0000 http://www.sockparade.com/?p=602#comment-1855 PS just saw "Last Chance Harvey" in your sidebar. It was good? PS just saw “Last Chance Harvey” in your sidebar. It was good?

]]> By: JEN T. http://www.sockparade.com/2009/02/04/why-are-you-so-sure/comment-page-1/#comment-1854 JEN T. Mon, 09 Feb 2009 00:54:27 +0000 http://www.sockparade.com/?p=602#comment-1854 Thanks for the post :) I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks for the post :) I thoroughly enjoyed it.

]]> By: nick l. http://www.sockparade.com/2009/02/04/why-are-you-so-sure/comment-page-1/#comment-1847 nick l. Sat, 07 Feb 2009 00:01:04 +0000 http://www.sockparade.com/?p=602#comment-1847 "But I think there's a big difference between speaking loud and clear about a belief you hold deeply (in intellectual thought and in heart) and speaking loud and clear about a belief that is popular to support because of the environment you are in or because of a convincing piece of news media that you've happened upon. " This is interesting. Do you think people have the capacity to know when they're doing which? I feel like social context and emotion are always tied up with belief. I don't know if it's possible to disentangle them. “But I think there’s a big difference between speaking loud and clear about a belief you hold deeply (in intellectual thought and in heart) and speaking loud and clear about a belief that is popular to support because of the environment you are in or because of a convincing piece of news media that you’ve happened upon. ”

This is interesting. Do you think people have the capacity to know when they’re doing which? I feel like social context and emotion are always tied up with belief. I don’t know if it’s possible to disentangle them.

]]> By: becky http://www.sockparade.com/2009/02/04/why-are-you-so-sure/comment-page-1/#comment-1846 becky Fri, 06 Feb 2009 15:59:44 +0000 http://www.sockparade.com/?p=602#comment-1846 Linton, I didn't know you read sockparade! Welcome. And congrats! :D Nick, I definitely struggle between the two as well. I want to be cautious not to lose my convictions in my attempts to invite open and honest conversations. Unfortunately, strong convictions about certain truths usually deter open conversations from people who disagree. But I think there's a big difference between speaking loud and clear about a belief you hold deeply (in intellectual thought and in heart) and speaking loud and clear about a belief that is popular to support because of the environment you are in or because of a convincing piece of news media that you've happened upon. April, that article is hilarious. It really does read like a humor piece. I especially like the part about being flattered and feared at work and then having to go home and clean the gutters. Haha, thanks for sharing. :D Linton, I didn’t know you read sockparade! Welcome. And congrats! :D

Nick, I definitely struggle between the two as well. I want to be cautious not to lose my convictions in my attempts to invite open and honest conversations. Unfortunately, strong convictions about certain truths usually deter open conversations from people who disagree. But I think there’s a big difference between speaking loud and clear about a belief you hold deeply (in intellectual thought and in heart) and speaking loud and clear about a belief that is popular to support because of the environment you are in or because of a convincing piece of news media that you’ve happened upon.

April, that article is hilarious. It really does read like a humor piece. I especially like the part about being flattered and feared at work and then having to go home and clean the gutters. Haha, thanks for sharing. :D

]]> By: april-mae http://www.sockparade.com/2009/02/04/why-are-you-so-sure/comment-page-1/#comment-1845 april-mae Fri, 06 Feb 2009 08:29:47 +0000 http://www.sockparade.com/?p=602#comment-1845 What I'm saying about those NYT articles is that everyone's whining now how horrible life is now that their star playa is out and DC guys are running the show. So you get these crazy headlines and negative comments even about good things that are happening. What I’m saying about those NYT articles is that everyone’s whining now how horrible life is now that their star playa is out and DC guys are running the show. So you get these crazy headlines and negative comments even about good things that are happening.

]]> By: april-mae http://www.sockparade.com/2009/02/04/why-are-you-so-sure/comment-page-1/#comment-1844 april-mae Fri, 06 Feb 2009 08:23:36 +0000 http://www.sockparade.com/?p=602#comment-1844 How about articles from the nyt about how NYC is over now and DC's the new kid on the block? They're kind of funny. This one reads like a whitepeoplelike blog: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/03/opinion/03brooks.html?_r=1&em Ward Three Morality How about articles from the nyt about how NYC is over now and DC’s the new kid on the block? They’re kind of funny. This one reads like a whitepeoplelike blog: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/03/opinion/03brooks.html?_r=1&em Ward Three Morality

]]> By: nick l. http://www.sockparade.com/2009/02/04/why-are-you-so-sure/comment-page-1/#comment-1843 nick l. Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:19:44 +0000 http://www.sockparade.com/?p=602#comment-1843 good post, becky. i really admire the way you express yourself on your blog. while not being afraid to put forth your own well-formed opinions, you show charity to positions that aren't your own and disagree well with others -- an example that i'd like to emulate, as i'm often tempted to let my emotional investment in an issue get away from me. especially when there are certain figures in my head from my past that i'm still reacting to, consciously or unconsciously -- the evangelical pastor who's thoroughly wedded his christian beliefs to neoconservativism, the knee-jerk secular humanist, etc. i struggle with the tension of truth and humility. i do think there's a time and place for polemic - there are things worth saying strongly or not at all. but more often than not, there's plenty of room to reexamine my own position and see where my passions and prejudices lie, as well as the fault lines in my logic. it's probably better to err on the side of humility. good post, becky. i really admire the way you express yourself on your blog. while not being afraid to put forth your own well-formed opinions, you show charity to positions that aren’t your own and disagree well with others — an example that i’d like to emulate, as i’m often tempted to let my emotional investment in an issue get away from me. especially when there are certain figures in my head from my past that i’m still reacting to, consciously or unconsciously — the evangelical pastor who’s thoroughly wedded his christian beliefs to neoconservativism, the knee-jerk secular humanist, etc.

i struggle with the tension of truth and humility. i do think there’s a time and place for polemic – there are things worth saying strongly or not at all. but more often than not, there’s plenty of room to reexamine my own position and see where my passions and prejudices lie, as well as the fault lines in my logic. it’s probably better to err on the side of humility.

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