People don’t like your opinions
IN THE 21st century, where the concepts of free speech and political correctness are almost always at war, our opinion can easily be seen as a weapon. Even if we don’t use it as a tool for conflict, our personal thoughts on a matter, once broadcast, are likely to elicit a multitude of different reactions. How do people normally react to your opinions or interpretations of a situation? Are you usually reserved or opinionated? How far are you willing to go to defend your take on a matter? Use some of these situations to help stimulate your thoughts.
You posted a long rant on social media, detailing your liberal opinion on a certain controversial, explicit topic. People seem to agree with you, as it’s your first tweet to go viral; you got 2.5K likes and hundreds of new followers. However, your father, whom you know will be surprised and angered by this opinion, suddenly follows your account. He’ll get suspicious and confront you if you block him, but you don’t want to delete the tweet and lose all your new followers. You also strongly believe in your opinion, but your father will create a huge fuss over your view.
WOULD YOU RATHER:
■ Delete the tweet and compromise your opinion? (60%)
■ Stick to your opinion and deal with the wrath of your father? (40%)
“It depends on what exactly the tweet said, but if it’s on the topic that I think it’s on, I’d rather not let my Dad see my view on that.”
– Kevion, 16) “My father would never find my social media in a million years. I always post my opinions and keep my tweets, especially if what I said made sense.” – Julia, 15
Your friend has recently processed her natural hair, thinking that she looks better with that style. As a strong supporter of natural hair, you disagree. You decide to share your opinion, which is that her processed hair looks unattractive and fake. Her feelings are hurt, and everyone in your friend group is telling you to apologise and take it back. You don’t like her feelings being hurt; however, you genuinely believe in your opinion.
WOULD YOU RATHER:
■ Apologise and take it back? (60%)
■ Stick to your opinion and have her feelings remain hurt? (40%)
“Your friend is your friend and if she likes her hair a certain way, then I don’t see how it’s my place to say something bad about it.” (Jas, 17)
“I always tell my friends the truth, that’s what they like about me.” (Lorraine, 16)
For literature class, you wrote an essay you thought was very good; it was well researched and structured, and all your friends gave positive comments. However your teacher gave you a poor grade, stating that your interpretation of the literature book was wrong. You’ve found quite a few Internet sources supporting your interpretation, but the teacher won’t accept it. You’re determined to get the grade you think you deserve, thus you want to appeal to the principal. However, you are hesitant as the principal is rarely known to act in favour of students over staff.
WOULD YOU RATHER:
■ Concede and accept the grade you got? (40%)
■ Continue arguing with the teacher and take the matter to the principal? (60%)
“That sounds like too much stress over one grade. Just take a note on how to deal with that teacher in the future and avoid the argument.” – Marlon, 17 “If I really think my essay was good, like well researched and everything, then of course I’d go to the principal, and with my receipts.”
– Anna, 16