My Struggle with Bigotry

[Cirion Spellbinder]

Hello comrades!
I would like to address a serious problem I experience. This may appear as trolling at first, and if you believe it to be so, then your observation is justified. In a few ways, I fit the "fedora wearing neck-beard" atheist stereotype. I have a lot of trouble tolerating people's Religous beliefs as I feel the militants of religion are inherently bad, while the moderates of religion are hypocrites. I don't know, but it's been beginning to cause problems in my life. I am a very strong opinionated person and I honestly don't know what to do. I was hoping someone could provide me some reasoning of why tolerance of ideals and other things people choose should be a part of my life. Anyways, assuming my little rant made sense, thanks, and sorry for the inconvenience.

[brimstoneSalad]

Migrate. Move somewhere with fewer stupid people. Is that not an option?

[Cirion Spellbinder]

I wish I could!

[brimstoneSalad]

I wish I could!

You can. Or are you out on bail and not allowed to leave town?

[Cirion Spellbinder]

I am still a small child. Transportation is not readily accessible to me.

[Jebus]

Cirion. Try instead to use some of that energy in the struggle against carnism. This is more important and you will likely have a higher success rate.

[DDDx8]

I have a sort of personal philosophy when it comes to differing beliefs and other peoples ignorance and intolerance of opposing beliefs.
Before you decide to argue your point to anger you should: Know the topics that are touchy, where are you at?, whats the relation this person has to you?, if your opinions and arguments are not getting through what do you hope to accomplish from continuing?
As a vegan atheist I come across people with differing opinions and a need to express it to me often. This mostly happens at my work. When they bring it up I try to answer their questions the best i can. But if its a touchy subject I refrain from trying to argue too much because its likely at this point in time I can't convince them but only make them defensive and angry. When people get like that they are not going to get any more reasonable and likely you are just going to cement them even more in their previously held beliefs. Getting them angry and making an enemy doesn't do ethier of us any good. So I just agree with what I agree with and disagree with what I disagree with. When faced with expressed "facts" that counter my beliefs I ethier say "I've heard differently, we will have to look it up" or simply "I don't know, we will have to look it up".
The way i see it: if I really cared about changing peoples opinions I should try to gather as much information on the subject and write books or participate in open debates or something like that. It seems like the best way of convincing people is targeting the masses and the argumentative sheep will follow when the people around them believe a certain way. Sure it'd be better if everyone could just come to these conclusions from their own reasoning but that's expecting too much.
Yes, stick up for your beliefs but pick your battles. Ask yourself "is this a good place to argue and why am I argueing?" If you are arguing just to prove yourself right about something all thats going to do is alienate the other person and make yourself feel better. Remember people skills and body language, express your beliefs as neutrally as possible. When things seem to be going nowhere don't press the issue nor should you let them press it drop it the best you can. Its not admitting defeat its just admitting you can't convince the other person this way. Thats fine, because just imagine if the other person thinks they can convince you. What happens when they think that? Do you think they will convince you? What happens when they keep trying? Annoying right? Then why would that work on the other person? Cause your right and have facts and evidence? The other person thinks that too regardless of the truth.
If you really want to change minds you are not going to do it by arguing with the people around you. If you really want to change minds you have to be more refined and more far reaching.
Maintain positive relations if you can. It does more for the movement if we actually seem more reasonable then the other side. But there are times when you really do have to stand up for your beliefs to the people around you but I think thats only when you think you have to prevent an action that goes against your beliefs and not whenever someone expresses a contrary belief or disagrees with you.
Like someone once said to me: pick your battles.

[Cirion Spellbinder]

Thank you so much!

[Neptual]

It's a shame that most people are in this situation. Seeing as you are still a minor and most likely have no money and don't have legal permission to leave it seems you're in a bit of a binding.

If you mind me asking, how many more years until you're able to legally move?

[Cirion Spellbinder]

I'd prefer not to answer. There is a certain stigma attached to being a minor and the younger you are, the more relevant it becomes. I apologize.