There are a lot of people who cannot tolerate any discussion of religion or politics. There are entire families of these people. What do they talk about?
I know not everyone has a debater personality type, but it still seems like anyone should be able to tolerate discussion on these things. I can understand people who are passionate about their political or religious beliefs and I can understand others who are apathetic. It is the people who are passionate but repressive who baffle me.
How do they know what they actually believe and why do they believe it so strongly? Maybe they would change their minds if they allowed themselves to hear new ideas? Maybe that is what they are afraid of.
My family always had religious, philosophical, and political discussions at the dinner table. Nothing is off-limits because nobody gets offended just by discussing ideas. We have a blast. Maybe that is why I am the way I am…
Construction, work, school, weather, and dogs. And probably sometimes renegade daughters.
Some spend the whole meal telling “personal anecdotes” designed mostly to give them the opportunity to brag about what they’ve accomplished or what they have and to make everybody else at the table feel badly about themselves. Or angry. Or jealous. Or wishing they were somewhere else where people talked about religion and politics at meals.
How many of them can tell “anecdotes” about getting a PhD, professor? They’ll probably be scared this year.
I don’t think they’ll be too scared.
Most of the stories are designed, in a round-about way (and perhaps unconsciously?), to highlight earnings and acquisitions, and alas, humanities professors don’t get high $$ bragging rights. Of course, I knew that going in. I followed my heart, and I’m happy with my choice. But it’s kinda sad, isn’t it? That it takes that for some people to feel good about themselves?
On a lighter note, the last time I made a comment about religion to my Mom her response was, “You better not let your Dad hear you say that!” ;-D