Senior biology and secondary science education major

I’m not sure if this is a common problem for you, but I often find myself talking way more than I should. One of the many problems with my inability to shut up is that eventually, after I run out of “valuable” things to say, I start going for the shock factor. Often, this comes in the form of strong, obstinate declarations of my opinions that I haven’t completely thought through.

In my defense, these statements aren’t usually about important moral or political issues, but rather pointless things such as what is and isn’t appropriate to order at Noodles & Company. Even though I might not get myself into trouble by saying these things, I usually end up regretting it.

Grand, sweeping statements are limiting. By stating aloud that you hate this or would never do that, you are putting up verbal barriers that you might be more hesitant to cross in the future. Though your feelings on a topic can change over time, the rigid stance you once held could hinder the evolution of your opinions, even in the face of compelling evidence.

Irrationally strong comments also have the potential to damage your character. Stating your opinion as an obvious fact makes you appear closed-minded and ignorant of others’ perspectives. Though it might be easier to interpret the world in black and white, it would be imprudent to ignore our shades-of-gray reality.

There is no way to end a conversation faster than by making a bold and unyielding proclamation. Speaking in definite terms, such as “always” and “never” is not a sustainable plan for sharing your views. Those phrases’ inflexible and immutable nature discourages conversation. No one wants to have a discussion with someone who is so stubborn in their own opinion that they won’t even recognize there are other ways to think about things.

The problem is that grand, sweeping statements leave no room for the exceptions. Most opinions, even firmly held ones, bend in particular circumstances. For example, you might consider murder morally reprehensible except in cases of self-defense, or be against the use of marijuana unless a doctor prescribes it for medical reasons. By generalizing our opinions into concrete yesses and nos, we are taking away our ability to refine those opinions to suit different situations.

This isn’t to say you shouldn’t have strong beliefs or a concrete moral code. Some might overcompensate for the oppressive views of others by not forming any beliefs of their own. Never saying yay or nay, they are basically the Switzerland of people. But constantly professed indifference is an opinionless extreme that should also be avoided.

As with most things in life, balance is key. Confidence in your beliefs is important and admirable, but there are ways to show it without using overly strong and absolute language. When you are expressing your viewpoint to others, it is crucial to keep in mind the difference between telling someone your opinions and creating a space that invites other people to share theirs.

Danielle Wilkin is a senior biology and science education major. She can be reached at dwilkindbk@gmail.com.