RE: Ideas Are Just Things
May 5, 2015 at 2:42 pm
(This post was last modified: May 5, 2015 at 2:49 pm by robvalue.)
I don't think it makes any sense to expect your beliefs to be "respected" just because you say so. What does this even mean? If your beliefs are stupid, I don't respect them. Respect is earned. Of course you have the right not to have to discuss them if you don't want to, and not to be hassled because of them. Maybe this is what "respect my beliefs" means? That's more like "don't hassle me" really though. Which is fair enough.
But sometimes you have to override people's beliefs for their own good. Say someone is crossing the road and clearly believes there are no cars around. Or he can see the cars, but is saying, "Jesus will save me." I can see there are cars around, and he's going to get hit. So I scream at him to move, or if need be I push him out of the way. If instead I "respect his beliefs" I would watch him get killed. That's an extreme example, but I hope it makes a general point.
But sometimes you have to override people's beliefs for their own good. Say someone is crossing the road and clearly believes there are no cars around. Or he can see the cars, but is saying, "Jesus will save me." I can see there are cars around, and he's going to get hit. So I scream at him to move, or if need be I push him out of the way. If instead I "respect his beliefs" I would watch him get killed. That's an extreme example, but I hope it makes a general point.
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