RE: Strong Opinions

Dear Ted,

When I think about your blog, there are only two posts that spring to mind. The first is that Spanish one about the orange or the orange tree or something that you were too ashamed to link me to. The other is one that I think was entitled 'Strong Opinions'. The basic point you made was that you had a lot of strong opinions that were weakly held. You felt (and I agree) that being able to change your opinions in light of new evidence on the subject is admirable and demonstrative of an open and inquisitive mind. But conversely, having no especially strongly held opinions is, well, kind of pathetic. If you consider yourself intellectually superior enough to be able to change your mind on something, why can you not make your mind up about something in the first place?

For my whole life, I have shied away from voicing my opinion on any topic I felt was divisive, controversial, or where there was a possibility that expressing my thoughts could lower somebody else's esteem for me. Well, no more. We do not live in a time where it is morally justifiable to simply try to sit on the fence, appease everyone, and be 'open to changing my mind'. Society needs to change, and I have a responsibility to do my bit to try to change it. I am going to seek out strong opinions to strongly hold. I am going to find out precisely which hills I plan to die on.

- Jonny