Fickleness

Kiersten Richards has used this word a couple of times in my presence to describe people who are just that. I’m not sure if she has ever called me this, but at times, I find myself being it.

Nick Miller alerted me of this. We were talking about legalizing marijuana (which I believe I may write about in my next blog), and he told me initially that he thought it should be legalized for medicinal purposes because people use it anyway even though it is illegal. He then changed his answer because his mom asked him why it should be legalized and he couldn’t think of any reason why it should (because of its hazard to health, etc.) He then talked to me again and was talking about how if he isn’t strong in a certain set of beliefs toward a particular topic, he can be easily swayed in one direction by biased accounts and such.

I believe that I am the same way, in retrospect. If I have little knowledge in a particular subject, I am usually greatly influenced by the first account I come across about that subject. I am then usually biased later toward the way I was first swayed, and like Nick, I find this aggravating. Why can’t I have more willpower (for lack of a better word) to keep myself from becoming easily persuaded on a topic?

I found myself really noticing this during the latest presidential election. President Obama, the great orator he is, made me side with many of the things he said just because he worded his statements in such a way as to greatly influence me to do so. I suppose this is what one tries to do during an election, try to get people on his side, but it still vexes me that I am almost powerless to the will of well supported and explained theses.

I believe I will try to curb this habit as much as possible from here on out.

Dakota