Understanding the Contrarian Position

We have a great mentor and friend in a wise man named Hugo these past 22 years because he constantly suggests we remain in an inquiry focusing upon the solution not the problem.

He also usually demands that we look at the contrarian point of view. While we used to rail at this suggestion to the point of complete opposition (e.g. no pun intended), we now recognize the value in being a contrarian because it helps brings new perspective present – most often with perfect timing: when we need a different view, either to balance or counter-balance us.

Recent Articles – Print Examples

Yesterday, we spent some time reading opposing and supporting views that helped enlighten us on a few subjects:

1. WSJ – Scott Adams: Dilbert creator about passion and diligence

2. Hillsdale College, Imprimis – John Miller: Football and The American Character about continued contact violence and changes that saved football.

Our first read and reaction was not too favorable. But, after pondering and re-reading the pieces a second time, we gained laughter, a rye sense of the possible and certainly new perspectives. What came present for us was the needed reminder about taking the contrarian position: if you can’t think of anything to oppose an idea, support it or vice versa.

Practicing

This requires rigor to exercise your support or opposition for any subject: research helps a lot with reading, studying and of course pondering with wonderment – you pick:  take both sides – Ha!

You may shy away from this exercise because of the time required and feeling frustrated about the idea, but don’t – we say schedule the time and go ahead and engage in the exploration of it.

What is the worse thing that can happen? You may get stuck trying to define your contrarian arguments and you will be the better person for the learning.

At the very least, you may break your “YES” habit of going along with the majority.

At the very best, you will understand the other’s position much better and it may just change some of your fixed and solid positions. What would occur if that happened? The world will not end and you will gain new ideas about the subject.

(Wisdom Sidebar) However, stay with this research and study because we have been told that you should be able to think of a least ten things about a particular subject : a past mentor encouraged this with us – see Lew Hewitt. We know this to be true because we have been practicing this suggestion for about 10 years. Sometimes we make lists of things for the top 50 or 100 ideas which come to mind – you can experience this too!

The old school positioning states that you must place yourself in the others’ shoes to understand. There is plenty of goodness awaiting you – start exploring.

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