Opinions:

I always use to say to my mother that you can’t tell other people what to do but you can inform them there is another way to view their situation. I found that some people when they lived a very long time are set in their views and don’t see a reason to change them. It worked for them and who is anyone to say different, is the overriding thought.

I think we have the option of everyday to wake-up and decide what we are going to do with a new day. Looking forward tends to make one younger in spirit as opposed to always reflecting on the past. The past can be good if one looks back to view their mistakes and determine what they could do to make things better in the present

I think a lot of how we look at things as we get older depends a lot on what values and attitudes were being taught to us when we were young. It is amazing how we develop similar attitudes of our parents. I would like to think I adopted the good attitudes from my parents and rejected the not so nice ones.

Everyone has an opinion. You can’t open a closed mind.

All working people should definitely go by the book, and everyone under the age of 55 should automatically comply. Those over 55 should be able to do whatever they darn well please. :spoken:

It's a know fact that old timers become short tempered, crotchety and lack tolerance. But do they really, or do they become gentler and wiser because of life lessons they have learned?? Personally, I think you just become more of who you've always been.

Dale Carnigie
 

"When dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with creatures of logic, but with creatures of emotion, creatures bristling with prejudice, and motivated by pride and vanity”

Or maybe a little of both?

There are things I have more patience with and things I have no patience at all for! I'm more likely to let someone in front of me in the store (providing there is no one behind me to hold up) and yet I am more likely to speak up if someone tries to butt in, where when I was younger I might not have said a word.

Can't Stay Away
 

You've raised some very important points.

People who have always been in charge,in their old age, tend to believe that they that they are always right.

People who have always worked for someone else, in their old age, tend to believe that there are other opinions that have to be considered.

People who have never worked, in their old age, tend to believe that someone else will take care of everything.

I think that pretty much covers it.

This is way too deep for me.

The reason you don't have a joint checking account is...........?????

I think changing others opinions is difficult because one's beliefs are usually a fairly consistent gestalt...a world view. If one little thing maybe gets tweaked, the whole belief system can become shaky and very few are really comfortable with that. It is like having to hold the fort and not let it get breached anywhere. There was tons of research done during WWII about changing beliefs...and very little was successful. The one I remember most is the one that was a failure in getting people to eat more organ meats.

I have said many times that some folks only see black and white, while others can see shades of grey. My life has always been the shades of grey...which can make you a little unsettled because you constantly question everything. If this is right...how can that be wrong? I have just learned to live with inconsistency because I try very hard to think through every big issue independently. When I was a kid our dinner conversation was always fairly deep..discuss world events and my dad would challenge us with "what ifs", so I think alot about what ifs....and there come the shades of gray.

My favorite philosophy book is Alpha to Omega by Pierre Teiliard DesChardins. He was a Jesuit priest, but also a scientist. This book is about how he was able to finally embrace both evolution and the bible. If you have a chance to read it, do so. It is worth it.

Ted
 

Thanks LadyDoc for that insight.

I've heard several speakers on this subject. One that I remember can be found on TED. He talks about the difference in our minds and how we think.

I'm also one who questions EVERYTHING. I am ever changing because of it. Lucky for my my friends and family roll with it. I have had changed my mind about a lot of things as new ideas come to light. Talk about rocking my foundation! Whoa! When I see something to be true, I just can't turn away from it and keep living the same way and then it will prompt more questions.

I remember where there was another study and I believe they did an MRI on the brains of conservatives and liberals (not trying to take this political so please don't go there). In this study they found our brains were wired differently. That one would not easily be able to switch to the other. I don't know if I could and every time I try to figure out how the other group thinks, it only frustrates both of us. I think the same goes for religion.

My point is.... Yes there is one. Maybe we could just enjoy our differences and not judge the other because of them.

I don't think I'm saying anything any different then anyone else... You you guys know me. I like to get my 2 cents in once in awhile. :)

I always enjoy reading your insight and it is so true
 

Also not wanting to take this to political, I must show you an example of a conservative in our neighborhood that has such STRONG beliefs that when he received an e-mail, he chose to contact everyone that had received that same e-mail and try to convenience us all that the e-mail passed around was OUTRAGEOUS and a LIE, never considering that there MIGHT be a GREY area, and his word IS NOT the bottom line....Why, Oh why, can't we all be MORE open minded!....I like GREY!

I like gray too!

My hair's getting gray.......... :D

Bill :)

You are cute
 

Only my hairdresser knows for sure!

Not to be argumentative nor political I know liberals who act in the very same way as is explained above. The problem with this thread is that if two people are on different philosophical planes they are never going to agree. Heck they may not even understand one another. Add to this your core beliefs, ethics morals, etc. I believe in Mom. apple pie and America.

We are such complex creatures that I believe it is a mistake to attempt to define us with words based on our color, religion, political leanings, etc. Certainly it can point us in the right direction but most of us our much deeper

That was the point of the studies. We won't agree. We can try to understand, but we won't agree. Neither one is good or bad. They are just different.

I also like that quote by Soren Kierkagaard;
“Once you label me, you negate me”


Did I understand what you were trying to convey?

I don't know. I hang with a large group of guys here and we golf, and go out to eat, and sit in the bar and shoot the breeze. It doesn't seem to be much different than when I was younger. We talk about sports, politics and women, and not necessarily in that order. We goof on each other and share each others problems and are pretty much the same kids we ever were. We just don't always expect to see that old guy in the mirror.