Disagreements often start from differences in opinion, whether at school, home, or social gatherings. These differences can lead to conflicts that, if not managed thoughtfully, may harm relationships. For me, discussing important topics is necessary, especially when they address big issues. However, for these discussions to be productive, it’s crucial to listen to others’ perspectives openly. When people prioritise being heard over listening, discussions can quickly turn into conflicts and misinterpretations can happen easily. 

I believe people are brought up differently and can believe in different things. We meet these people in our own families, among our friends, neighbours, coworkers, teachers, and even strangers. They have access to different facts and have had different personal experiences growing up, such as believing that knowing less about a subject makes them less worthy. In other words, they only care about being right and proving that they’re not clueless. Also, online platforms make disagreement even simpler, it allows people to state their opinion without facing any real consequences compared to face-to-face interactions.  

Being a good listener is a way of showing that you respect and understand the other person’s perspective. That makes it more likely he or she will do the same for you. When the other person is talking, try to stop yourself from thinking about why you disagree or what you’ll say next. While disagreements can sometimes create tension, and discussion, when done at the right time and in the right way, can help us understand our views and those of others more deeply.

Nina Pel