It's Madness

Why is everyone so mad all the time?

Why is everyone so mad all the time?

It seems that many people are quick to have an opinion on everything. And it’s not just political ideals, it can be about pretty much anything, even milk.

My sweetheart showed me a Facebook post this morning— our local hardware store made an announcement that they are now offering goat milk for sale.

“Okay…” I said, waiting for the rest of the story.

Next she scrolls down to the first comment on the post, it’s a guy we all know— Actually you probably know him too, right? He’s posted this looong comment bashing unpasteurized milk. He says something like, “Raw milk of any kind is extremely risky for consumption, and despite what online proponents claim, has not been shown to have any greater benefit over pasteurized milks,” and so on. He then provides his own ‘online research links’ to back up his view.

Y’all, it’s goat milk, for goats. The hardware store sells feed & seed. On their post it shows the label that clearly reads, “Not for human consumption.”

“You always own the option of having no opinion.” -Marcus Aurelius

It’s something I’m constantly reminding myself of— That it is perfectly okay to not have an opinion. I don’t have to pick sides. Yup that’s right, I’m Switzerland.

I know that our perception of things shapes our view, which in turn creates our individual reality.

So if I am seeing something from this side, someone else may simply see it completely differently. That doesn’t mean that either of us are wrong— We are each correct in our view, from our own life experience.

Knowing this, I am then able to decide whether this or that is even worth forming an opinion over.

And frankly, I find myself more often than not deciding that it’s not worth it. That it doesn’t make a hill of beans to me one way or the other. So that being the case, why would I allow that thing any of my time? My time is precious, and most of the trivial things that people argue over are a complete waste of it.

Just skip the debate, chances are highly unlikely that the other person is willing to look at the situation from your angle anyway…

There’s an old saying– Opinions are like buttholes, everybody has one, and they all stink.

So the next time you hear someone else screaming from atop their own little soapbox, ask yourself— Will engaging in that argument add to my happiness? Am I an expert in this field? Or, is what that person’s talking about something I’m passionate about? Could my engagement in this issue lead to the happiness of others?

If the answer is Yes to any of those questions, then by all means engage in the conversation. Lend your expertise on the issue. But even then, we must remember to teach, and not preach. And also to keep in mind that raising our voice does nothing but turn others off. Aggression makes enemies. Compassion is the way with others. We must be mindful that just like ourselves, they too know that they are correct. Let’s listen to understand, not to respond.

But, if the answer to those questions is No, just let it go.

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