Thank you, but no. I will not sit down quietly. I’m coming for you and everything that you do that I don’t agree with.
How will some of us be the world changers that we dream of being, if we are going to silently accept everything everyone does?
It’s one thing to let everyone enjoy their time here the way they want to, but it’s a whole different story to let everyone dictate the rules the way they want to. The fact that you enjoy surfing or hiking does not affect the world. The fact that you are a democrat or republican does.
How long would you shut up and let others tell you what you should do? After all, Hitler was trying to do his own thing convinced that it was the best path for the world.
Look, if you think something’s wrong, you try to fix it. Why should other people’s actions and opinions be any different?
Yes, conflict will arise. The moment we start avoiding it, we become average. No significant event throughout history would have occurred if it weren’t for conflict. Caesar, Alexander, Gandhi, Obama. They didn’t let others call the shots. They did it themselves. To have any sort of impact during your time here, you have to be confident enough to “destroy” other people’s visions of what should be done.
Every time the world has had a problem, we have had conflict. Not with the problem, but between ourselves. It has always been a matter of one vision trumping the rest. Conflict is what brings a solution.
The problem is that nowadays we all want to “get along.” That sounds beautiful, but it’s impossible. Democracy is expanding throughout the world, so it’s only logical to have MORE conflict now that individuals have been empowered, not less. This democratic way of solving conflict has caused a very harmful effect: ignorance now has a voice.
Ignorance now can decide.
This is why marketing is so important, and also why our world is not the best possible version of itself (and never will be). Because for your solution to prevail you have to communicate it better than anyone else, not have the best one.
In the end, I need to trust my vision, and you should trust yours. We need to clash, someone should triumph and the other one should keep his own thing to himself. Otherwise the most mediocre and damaging ideas will also become real. I won’t let that happen.
People, if we can’t accept this, if we are going to keep trying to avoid conflict and get along, then we have become too weak to see any real change happen.
It’s not the time to be soft, it’s time for civilized conflict.
Fight for any idea that you believe in, even if that hurts someone else’s, and let the best one win.
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey Carlos…
Civilized conflict, eh? I challenge you to a duel. Quick, choose your second and we’ll get on with this fight to the death.
The problem inherent in conflict is that, sometimes, the ignorant will be stronger and the minority, with its better ideas, will be trampled by the democratic process. That’s why we *can’t* fight and hope that the best man wins, because, sometimes, the best man doesn’t win. That’s the harsh truth of the situation and why I advocate “peace, love, and happiness” to an extent.
But you’re dead right: this isn’t a physical fight, it’s a fight of ideas. But the same problem exists with ideas… Sometime the best ones don’t come on top.
All true. So, I have two things to say:
1) Are you going to stop trying?
2) This is why we need to be good marketers, to convince the majorities with elitist ideals.
I intend to bring your article to the attention of the leadership of the American Dental Association.
D. Kellus Pruitt DDS
Fantastic, let me know how that works out. I’d love to help you.
While I think compromises can be a good solution, they most often are not, because they let mediocrity win. So yes, let the conflict arise and let’s discuss what has to be discussed, although this won’t necessarily mean bloody knuckles on any side.
Civilized is the key word
Carlos, I thoroughly enjoy it when you bring the heat (so to speak) with your blogs like this haha
I look forward to seeing what types of change you want to implement
Heat is where it’s at.
Yeah, I believe in this. Very strongly. Right on.
I thought we were never going to agree again
Haha! Usually when I agree, I just don’t comment
Why does someone always have to “triumph?” Is it really possible that for every problem/conflict/issue there is only one resolution and solution? Or do we spend so much time bloodying our knuckles and holding to steadfastly to our opinion that we miss out on some brilliant compromises.
I’m not saying that sometimes compromise should never be an option (for example, Hitler’s genocide plan = bad idea no matter what) but for much of the time blind belief does not bring the best results.
Do you really believe we spend enough time bloodying our knuckles? Nowadays we are way too nice, really. All we do is compromise.
Blind belief does not bring the best results? I think it’s quite the opposite. If it weren’t for blind belief we wouldn’t be where we are today.
Someone has to triumph because we need to take our chances. Compromise holds us still.
Blind belief probably not the best wording. I meant blind in that you refuse to see any other points of view or ideas. Stubborn might be a better word.
And for that I’ll stick to the updated sentence stubborn belief does not always bring the best results. The mere fact that you allow comments on your blog alludes to the fact that you are interested in collaborative and compromising thought processes. Otherwise you would just write static pages for people to read and not offer any opinion or ideas on.
If someone were to propose an argument that completely made you rethink your original stance and instead compromise and adjust the original stance to make it even better wouldn’t you rather do that? My question is why are you looking at compromise to always lead to a loss or worse situation?
I so enjoy your posts. Your vision, clarity of thought, and ability to express them convincingly is unmatched. Keep the thought-provoking diatribes coming (lol). Bravo to you for taking a stand for what you believe.
Thank you very much Nichole, that means a lot.
I’ve definitely said it once before, probably twice, but again, I think this is my favorite post of yours. I love this entire post, but I especially love the last line.
Keep it up, buddy. We need you to.
Thanks Tim, your support all this time has been fantastic. I’ll try to keep it up.
But who are we to decide which ideas are great and which are mediocre for someone else. Value is in the eye of the beholder and to assume that someone is doing something wrong because of your own perception is pretty selfish and arrogant.
Never be afraid to fight for what you believe in and face conflicts when they arise. At the same time, you should never embrace conflict in order to impose your beliefs on unwilling parties. I think sacrificing the enforcement of some beliefs in order to “get along” is necessary in a civilization. Otherwise it’s devolved into survival of the fittest, and the best thinkers aren’t always the fittest.
We have to choose our battles, while realizing that the occasional battle is necessary. To focus on conflict and neglect compromise however will serve thinkers no better than avoiding conflict altogether.
David
Community Manager, Scribnia.com
If there is anything you carve, Carlos, it’s conflict. I don’t think I’ve had a single conversation with you that didn’t result in a very heated debate.
That said, I have to thank you for challenging me to stand up for my beliefs and not be afraid of conflict. There are few people with whom I have felt the fight is worthwhile; now, when it is, I’m excited to have it. I don’t anticipate any friendly conversations in our near future.
Sincerely,
your favorite second class citizen