My Two-Bit Opinion #12: Defensensitivity

"Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence."
-- Robert Frost

This statement stuck in my mind for quite some time. Eventually it produced this corollary:

Your level of anger at receiving information that runs counter to your belief system is inversely proportional to your true level of confidence in that belief system.

And anyone who disagrees heatedly with that statement, proves it. Those who are the most defensive in an argument are those with the weakest position.

To put it in perspective, recently I was faced with an individual who needed to be made aware of certain personal errors and indiscretions on their part. This individual was greatly offended and immediately attacked me angrily rather than admit to those shortcomings. Had I been in error, my statements could've been confidently disputed, and I would've been dispatched with an appropriate bitch-slap. But instead, I was personally attacked (and insufficiently rebutted).

Another example: tell any fundamentalist Christian that the Bible is a book written by people they don't know, translated to English through several languages over the course of 2,000 years, and editorially interpreted by such shady individuals as King James IV, and they'll very often get testy with you. If their faith were strong, they would take no offense. I know I wouldn't. Faith is something that transcends facts, for better or worse...either you're comfortable with your faith not answering a few questions or you're not. If you're not, you should re-examine your faith.

Which brings me to another godless, atheistic thought:

"I would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong."
-- Bertrand Russell

The inability to admit the possibility of wrongheadedness plagues scientists and religious folk alike, so I certainly don't want it to seem like I'm singling out the latter. The ability to re-evaluate a belief structure is a bit like the ability to re-evaluate the foundation of your house. It's dangerous, but vitally necessary if you wish to continue living in that house. Of course, if you're mortgaged to the hilt, maybe ignorance is bliss...

My point with all this, is that security in your beliefs, whether they be religious, scientific, personal, or whatever, will render all incoming assualts null and void. If you truly believe in yourself, all attacks will fail. You will dismiss your critics as simply uninformed or otherwise unfortunate souls. All the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune will bounce off the armor of your resolve.

So if someone insults you, calls into question something you hold dear, or otherwise challenges something you feel to be right, check yourself and examine any anger that may arise. It's most likely a by-product of some inner lack of confidence in your beliefs. If you are strong, you will need no defense.