Have you ever watered down your beliefs to be friendly?

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nightbender
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05 Sep 2008, 5:16 pm

Having your found yourself water down your beliefs with someone just to friendly or keep a friendship? i found that i had to do that alot not talk about certain things with people or water down what i realy believed or because it would damage a relationship or conversation i was having with someone because they were not mature enough to have an exchange of ideas.

I often found myself agreing for the sake of a conversation.



Rainbow-Squirrel
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05 Sep 2008, 5:24 pm

I think this is completely normal.



nightbender
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05 Sep 2008, 5:31 pm

i dont think thats right, that you have compromise your integrity to have a relationship



Lene
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05 Sep 2008, 5:33 pm

This is pretty normal. Most people tend to hang around in groups that all have a similar set of beliefs and values to begin with, so it's not such an issue. Even so, the longer the group sticks together, the more the views of the individuals start to homogenize as they all attempt to fit in with each other

People on the autistic sprectrum (and other loners) are more likely to formulate their value systems relatively independantly from other people, thus there is more chance of a clash of opinions. Unfortunately, there's not really a lot you can do about it, save try to see things from other peoples' view point as well as your own. Hopefully they are trying to do the same for you (wouldn't count on it though).

For the most part, I go with the flow unless I feel strongly about an issue or I know the other person likes a debate a much as I do (in that case, all thoughts of 'watering down' my views go out the window :P)



IdahoRose
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05 Sep 2008, 6:12 pm

I do it towards everyone except my mom and brother. I hate starting arguments.



zghost
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05 Sep 2008, 6:27 pm

Yes, always. I'd rather they not know what's really going on in my head.



Rainbow-Squirrel
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05 Sep 2008, 6:58 pm

nightbender wrote:
i dont think thats right, that you have compromise your integrity to have a relationship


A relationship IS a compromise, so you've got to "give up" on something. Perfect integrity can exist only in perfect isolation (which actually means it can't exist).



i_Am_andaJoy
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05 Sep 2008, 6:59 pm

nightbender wrote:
i dont think thats right, that you have compromise your integrity to have a relationship


you don't have to agree, but I can't see anything wrong with being vague or avoiding certain subjects. i would say i have done the latter. but i wouldn't say i have watered down my beliefs for people. i still have the same opinions, i just don't voice them all the time.


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ShawnWilliam
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05 Sep 2008, 9:26 pm

nightbender wrote:
i dont think thats right, that you have compromise your integrity to have a relationship


I agree.. but you have to make a choice of which is more important to you.. a leader has to stand alone with his beliefs, so are you willing to stand alone?.. otherwise you put your friends first if that is more important and keep doing what you're doing. But i dont think compromising your beliefs is too healthy..



Ryn
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05 Sep 2008, 9:33 pm

It depends. When I'm with strangers I tend to avoid certain subjects, but around my friends I'm pretty honest.


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jkm2
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05 Sep 2008, 10:46 pm

nightbender wrote:
Having your found yourself water down your beliefs with someone just to friendly or keep a friendship? i found that i had to do that alot not talk about certain things with people or water down what i realy believed or because it would damage a relationship or conversation i was having with someone because they were not mature enough to have an exchange of ideas.

I often found myself agreing for the sake of a conversation.


All the time. You don't want to get into a debate all the time with everyone. Just because you have different opnions doesn't mean you can't get along/even be friends.



CelticRose
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06 Sep 2008, 11:51 pm

It's okay to disagree with someone's beliefs. It's also okay to not say something out of respect for others' beliefs.

It is not, however, okay or necessary to say or do anything that would seriously compromise your beliefs. Other people need to respect your beliefs too. It's a two-way street. I'm not saying you should impose your beliefs on other people, but rather that there should be mutual understanding and respect, even if only that you agree to disagree on a certain subject.


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AngryJessman
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07 Sep 2008, 4:32 am

no offense to anyone in particular, but NT are fukwits, they all love to live in the GRAY area of life, causing them all to be corrupted morally, yeh, ive tried to CONFORM to there lifestyle, but honestly giving up your own belief to FIT IN WILL ultimately have you ended up settling for less



Landaree
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07 Sep 2008, 5:02 am

I've usually found that, if you can express your beliefs (or lack thereof) in an objective, rational and non-offensive way, most people can accept them and still maintain a good relation with you, even if their own beliefs are quite different. For example, I have good friends which are religious (catholic).

Of course, there are people which will be offended by the very difference in beliefs; but I don't usually regard them as potentially good friends, anyway. If someone is offended by my agnosticism, then I'd rather not sweat if he doesn't want to be my friend because of that.

It often comes down to tolerance.



Mishi_Sings
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17 Sep 2008, 8:36 am

AngryJessman wrote:
no offense to anyone in particular, but NT are fukwits, they all love to live in the GRAY area of life, causing them all to be corrupted morally, yeh, ive tried to CONFORM to there lifestyle, but honestly giving up your own belief to FIT IN WILL ultimately have you ended up settling for less
Saying "no offence meant" before saying something offensive doesn't excuse the offense. If you don't MEAN the offense, then don't SAY it.

You just insulted all my friends, my family, my teachers and my classmates.


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0_equals_true
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17 Sep 2008, 10:05 am

Mishi_Sings wrote:
AngryJessman wrote:
no offense to anyone in particular, but NT are fukwits, they all love to live in the GRAY area of life, causing them all to be corrupted morally, yeh, ive tried to CONFORM to there lifestyle, but honestly giving up your own belief to FIT IN WILL ultimately have you ended up settling for less
Saying "no offence meant" before saying something offensive doesn't excuse the offense. If you don't MEAN the offense, then don't SAY it.

You just insulted all my friends, my family, my teachers and my classmates.

Well put.