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Cowards.
Blah. I hate them. People who're so scared to stand up for things they supposedly believe.
There are a few reasons I can see why this might happen.
One, they might be afraid that they can't explain their views in a way that sounds rational and sound. I don't know about you, but if I couldn't represent my views in ways that others found credible, I might reconsider whether the problem is in the expression or in the views.
Two, they're not used to the idea that you can change your mind based on what you observe. The whole "new evidence changes shit" notion is wild and foreign. As a result, they don't expect that anyone else who supports a certain view will care about any new evidence offered to them.
Three, it's not a mistake at all. They get a rush out of hiding things from people. Out of the mistaken impression that silence equals friendliness, and friendliness can cover backbiting gossipy crap. I've known people who really think that it makes them morally superior to maintain an appearance of civility, only complaining about people when they think no one'll find out.
I hate cowardice. If you believe something and you've got good reason to believe it, act like it. This underhanded bullshit is nothing but running scared from the burden of justifying oneself, and y'know what else? The next time someone is being passive aggressive, I'm going to go right along with the act. If they say one thing and they're hoping I'll get another message, I'm ignoring their little "subtle" hints. Maybe then people will learn to say what they mean instead of expecting people to read their fucking minds and accomodate accordingly.
What do you despise? By this you are truly known.
--from Manual of Muad'Dib by the Princess Irulan.
Edit: I'm not sure what I'm hoping to accomplish with this. Perhaps I'm trying to goad them into owning up to their beliefs (as opposed to weaseling them around like well-supported convictions are something to be ashamed of). Perhaps I'm trying to make other people who feel the same way I do realize that they're not alone in a sea of cowardice. Perhaps I'm just venting on my journal. You decide. Respond accordingly.
There are a few reasons I can see why this might happen.
One, they might be afraid that they can't explain their views in a way that sounds rational and sound. I don't know about you, but if I couldn't represent my views in ways that others found credible, I might reconsider whether the problem is in the expression or in the views.
Two, they're not used to the idea that you can change your mind based on what you observe. The whole "new evidence changes shit" notion is wild and foreign. As a result, they don't expect that anyone else who supports a certain view will care about any new evidence offered to them.
Three, it's not a mistake at all. They get a rush out of hiding things from people. Out of the mistaken impression that silence equals friendliness, and friendliness can cover backbiting gossipy crap. I've known people who really think that it makes them morally superior to maintain an appearance of civility, only complaining about people when they think no one'll find out.
I hate cowardice. If you believe something and you've got good reason to believe it, act like it. This underhanded bullshit is nothing but running scared from the burden of justifying oneself, and y'know what else? The next time someone is being passive aggressive, I'm going to go right along with the act. If they say one thing and they're hoping I'll get another message, I'm ignoring their little "subtle" hints. Maybe then people will learn to say what they mean instead of expecting people to read their fucking minds and accomodate accordingly.
What do you despise? By this you are truly known.
--from Manual of Muad'Dib by the Princess Irulan.
Edit: I'm not sure what I'm hoping to accomplish with this. Perhaps I'm trying to goad them into owning up to their beliefs (as opposed to weaseling them around like well-supported convictions are something to be ashamed of). Perhaps I'm trying to make other people who feel the same way I do realize that they're not alone in a sea of cowardice. Perhaps I'm just venting on my journal. You decide. Respond accordingly.