weighing in

When weighing in on an issue or argument, do we need to have a balanced answer? In those times we are seeking to express an idea contrary to that which is being expressed, do we need to avoid extreme comments?

Most of the time my response is in proportion to how far out there the other person is. If there are "really wrong" then I give a "really right" response. If the person is only a little off, I share just a "little" true perspective. But is this manipulation of the degree of truth, untruth?

I have found two things I do not like. The first is just answers (answers that are seeking the truth not counter balance)seeking peace. Peacemaking is a Godly character so I ought to be seeking it. But in truth, I love a little conflict so I often move beyond peace to tension with an calculated imbalanced answer. On days when I have had 12 or more caffeine drinks and start to crash I can move from hearing to out right fighting in less than ........, we as fast as I can.

The second thing I found that I do not like is thinking before I speak. It is much easier to just speak and listen to what you are saying as you say it. If you listen to your words before you speak them, much of the creativity and energy is lost in the time listening. But when we do this "listen as we speak" method, we sometimes find that we do not agree with all we are saying, but since we are the one who is saying it, we must agree, to a degree.

Well I thought I would just weigh in on this issue.

We are so vain that we even care for the opinion of those we don't care for.

Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach