Because they are not sitting across the table from me every night (and because they left for college before I was done imparting my knowledge), here are the nightly bits of wisdom you received at the dinner table.

Love Dad

Monday, November 1, 2010

Opinions

Opinions are not like assholes.

You should never limit yourself to a single opinion that fits everything.

Your opinions should never be so rigid that they cannot be swayed  by overwhelming evidence that is fact based and not anecdotal.  Your opinions are supposed to change as you gain more life experience.

Your ability to lead and influence people has a great deal to do with your ability to carefully listen and consider their opinions.  This is especially true when the opinions differ from your own.

The opinions of people who disagree with you do not make them assholes.  You are an asshole if you feel compelled to impose your opinion on anyone at the expense of their emotional or physical well being.

Having an opinion that is well researched and thoughtful should always be the goal.  Opinions that are not well researched and thoughtful should be given the appropriate weight in any discussion.

Expressing your opinions in a loud, emphatic, or forceful way does not make them better.

On the other hand, you are only going to have one asshole and it is going to be in the same location -  unless it is relocated due to medical necessity.  And like an opinion, an asshole should never be the first thing that a person see's in you.

Love Dad









 


 

 

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