“There is world of a difference between meaningful conversation and a pointless argument.”
The freedom to be able to ‘think and express’ without fear and ‘be heard and counted’ lies at the heart-centre of human existence. In fact, it is the soul of thriving democracies, societies and institutions. It therefore needs to be protected against all kinds of violations and attempted subversions.
However, this freedom to express is understandably not absolute and must not be mistaken for freedom to spit and abuse. It must always be exercised within the bounds of reason, goodness and civility. -Anonymous
Whenever we dig deep into history, we will realize that we have not descended from fearful men, not from men who feared to write, to speak, to associate and to defend causes that were for the moment unpopular. The right to dissent or if you prefer, the right to be wrong is surely fundamental to the existence of a democratic society.
However, to be persuasive, we must be believable.
To be believable, we must be credible.
To be credible, we must be truthful. –Edward Murrow
Professional Dissent is not disloyalty,
Professional Discussion is not denial.
Professional Dissent is not disloyalty,
The path to truth lies in Augmentation, not acclamation.
Any organization without a little chaos is Dead.
However, there is a time for bold, aggressive thought and there is time to fall in line. Endless argument is tiresome and irritating-it gets into the way of action. Continuous questioning, like endless studies, postpones decisions and action.
A decision is reached usually when some outside power requires it or when the decision maker judges that further information will add very little value. At that point, the process progresses from argument to action. Without a decision, no metal is cut, no rounds put on target. –William Holland Jr
For God’s sake, please speak up and tell me where I may be going wrong before it is too late.
However, to be heard and to obtain agreement, it is vital to learn the fine art of disagreeing without being disagreeable. –Anonymous
It is very hard to express views nowadays without being judged or name called. You question right wing; you are default leftist. You question left, then we are extreme right-wing ideologists. You want to express an opinion in variance to the majority, you are trolled out and your thoughts drowned. It appears that they just want to blow you away. Sane voices are just not being heard anymore.
Absolutely right.
However, before we argue with someone, we need to ask ourselves if that person is even mature enough to grasp the concept of a different perspective. Because if not, there’s absolutely no point in wasting your time and energy. -Anonymous
Sometimes, no matter how clearly you express yourself, the other person isn’t listening to understand — they’re listening to react. They’re locked inside their own beliefs, unwilling to even consider another point of view. Engaging with them only drains you.
That’s the difference between a meaningful conversation and a pointless argument.
However, before we damn them, we need to conclusively establish that we are not guilty of our own accusation. Therefore, a few questions we must ask ourselves in sequence:
What is my real intent behind the conversation?
What is my credibility in their eyes and how do I improve it?
Have I given them a patient hearing?
Am I being logical, reasonable and unbiased? –Anonymous
Talking to someone open to growth and understanding can be enlightening — even if you don’t agree.
However, if you are trying to reason with someone who refuses to see beyond their own convictions, it’s like talking to a brick wall. No amount of logic or truth will reach them — not because you’re wrong, but because they’re unwilling to see anything else.
Maturity isn’t about winning arguments. It’s about recognizing when the argument just isn’t worth it. It’s choosing peace over proving a point to someone who’s already decided not to change their mind. You don’t have to fight every battle. You don’t owe everyone an explanation.
Sometimes, the strongest thing you can do is walk away — not because you have nothing to say, but because you know they’re not ready to listen. And that’s not your burden to carry. –Helen Mirren
So much resides in that little pause before pressing the SEND button. Only if I had reflected, “How would I have felt on receiving what I had sent across so hurriedly?” Billions lost, relationships destroyed beyond repair, and goodwill of generations eroded in that tiniest of moment. –A Man in Regret.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Air Vice Marshal Rajeev Hora is a Qualified Flying Instructor and an Experimental Test Pilot with over 3800 flying hours on multiple types of aircraft. His last appointment was as AOC HQ MAO at Mumbai. Previously held appointments are AOC Adv HQ WAC (Jaipur), Comdt Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE), Deputy Comdt AFA, AOC AFS Bidar and Deputy Technical Manager (Air) in the Acquisition Wing of MoD. He has earlier commanded a Jaguar squadron and was also the Team Leader of the IAF’s Hawk Aircraft Project Team in the UK.
