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The Nuisance and Nuance of Neutrality

"Standing in the middle of the road is very dangerous; you get knocked down by the traffic from both sides." -Margaret Thatcher

Hello World,

It's been awhile, I thought today I might discuss any number of topics. However the one which stood out to me more than the others I'd considered happened to be one of personal trouble recently. The trouble with playing devils advocate...on both sides.

I often find people claiming to me that I am attempting to take the "high ground" or that I am on a high horse. This I think aside from just my *recently diagnosed autism* may result from how I view things and how the average person (in my experience) views things. I am certainly not the only one who does this by far, but I can see the troubles with seeing both sides of any given situation, or wanting to. People kind of expect you to pick a side and stick with it, so when you start out agreeing with a person then begin offering criticisms to their claims it may become unclear to most exactly what you're trying to say.

That is, for example: If I said I liked apples more than oranges, then proceeded to explain why apples were better, but also started labeling the faults with apples and merits of oranges within the same statement, many would consider this an Imbalanced argument and they would not be wrong. However I do think there is merit in trying to see both sides of any situation even if you have a side you lean towards. It offers an expanded understanding of complex and simple issues alike in a way that simply defending one side can never quite accomplish; something that is often criticized within fan bases, fandoms and loyalists. It is far too easy to become disillusioned with the bigger picture when you are die hard about your truths being the only truth. This if I may be so bold may be one of the greatest problems in politics, religion and society as a whole. I am not of course free of making such fallacies or defending things with rigidity, it is infact one of my greatest flaws, But I believe if anything despite the risk we should all be more open to the idea's presented by both sides.

I think another good quote for this particular situation may have been brought up by JFK when he said "Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one's own beliefs. Rather it condemns the oppression or persecution of others." Truth be told it's much easier to rest easy in one's own opinions rather than bother to concern oneself with the alternative in most cases. Which is what I believe to be the root of intolerance in many situations.

But maybe it's better to choose a side? As Always I leave that up to you dear reader.

Yours In Text,

Mjax Majoran