Elaina C

Opinion-Forcers

Everyone is entitled to their individual opinion, and I can wholeheartedly respect that, but one thing I can’t stand is when I hear someone attempting to force their own opinion on others. Hearing someone crudely imposing their opinion onto another person irritates me more than can be described using purely words. Having your own opinion ought to be something that is respected by others. Now I understand that you don’t agree with some people’s values however that doesn’t mean you have the right to attempt to change them against their will.

            Now what I have learned over the years is that many people who are ‘opinion forcers’ are the same people who refuse to admit when they are wrong. These people also seem to think they are above others. In my personal experience, not everyone has to agree with this statement, these ‘opinion forcers’ are often close-minded and seem to judge others quickly.

            Growing up in an area where I don’t regularly agree with many views I tend to notice this issue more than others. I have often had individuals try to tell me that my opinions, and even my morals, are wrong solely because they were not identical to those of their own.

            Many people have told me that they see my views as “ridiculous”, “improper”, and even sometimes seen as “silly”. It used to bother me but over time I just started to disregard it. Just because I disregard it though does not mean I do not find opinion forcing as one of the most infuriating action ever. Now I am not one to get easily aggravated so the fact that I view this as so awful says a lot.

            I understand that everyone is entitled to their own individual opinion but what I do not understand is why others cannot respect or at least not say anything about the views that they do not agree with. If we could as a society accept that individuals will have views that are different than one another’s we could finally put an end to the incredibly ridiculous thing I know as my major pet peeve. Some of the quickest resolves so I can finally stop being so infuriated with this are to just one, respect each other’s opinions, two, consider their opinion and if you disagree just say ‘agree to disagree’ then just be done with it, and three don’t start conversations on topics you know you won’t agree with the person you are talking to. If we can all just do one of these simple things then maybe I can finally get rid of the incessant headache I receive from this never-ending annoyance.