The paragraph and three questions below appeared in a recent post about learning from people whose ideas and views I don’t know enough to agree or disagree with. After writing them, I thought they deserved their own post.

Part of why I’m posting and practicing these things is how clear disagreements become when one seeks to understand everyone independently of taking a side. Have you heard of the trend to counter the concept of a Fear Of Missing Out with Joy Of Missing Out? I want to counter the fear of understanding someone we disagree with implying we support them with the joy of understanding them leading us mutually to resolve conflicts.

Anyway, I wrote in the post:

I’m trying to understand people on their own terms. People have a hard time understanding that understanding someone doesn’t mean agreeing with or supporting. This point is so important and in my experience so misunderstood, I’ll repeat it: People have a hard time understanding that understanding someone doesn’t mean agreeing with or supporting. I’m trying to understand people I don’t yet understand. I have no problem learning from them.

Are you more open to influence from people who understand you or people who don’t?

From people who speak your language or those who call you names?

From people who acknowledge your values or those who try to impose theirs on you?

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