(December 2, 2014 at 6:58 pm)Exian Wrote: My grandma calls me a mugwump, which, I guess, loosely means fence-sitter. I find, in my life, that fence-sitters are not common. I'm usually the only one in an informal debate listening to both sides, and not just listening, but understanding how a person might arrive at a particular conviction.
I've had too many strongly held ideas in my past, that were overturned by a single addition of information, to hold too strongly to anything anymore. Can't see the forest for the trees.
One reason I joined this forum was to better inform myself, and maybe to learn to have stronger convictions in conversation, as I've always been a smidge ashamed of my fence-sitting, so seeing your post was nice.
I feel that fence-sitting goes hand in hand with listening, peacekeeping, and open-mindedness.
There is no shame in being a fence-sitter who listens to both sides, IMHO. Rather than rushing to decision, the fence-sitter has the opportunity to come to a reasoned decision. You aren't doomed to stay in the fence. I find listening more than speaking is illuminating.
"It is better to be silent and thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt."
