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u/Coolheaded_Convector asked: What's the strongest opinion you've ever held that you changed your position on? What happened?
Interesting perspective.
GiphyI used to really believe that it's not worth doing something if you can't do it right. After all, no one wants someone who's not committed if there's someone out there who's more committed.
Kept this mentality through college and it cost me almost all my grades; I go to a really competitive school and the amount of work is such that it's absolutely unrealistic to expect to put my best foot forward all the time. I didn't understand that and as a result I would literally just not turn in assignments. I ended up failing 3 classes in one semester because I couldn't turn in any essays, problem sets, or fully prepare readings for class. I got depression and couldn't summon the energy to shower, brush my teeth, or eat breakfast, so I just didn't.
Taking a semester off made me realize that most of the things in life need to be done, more than they need to be done well. For example, I think most of us can understand that it's better to brush your teeth once a day, with no toothpaste, for 30 seconds, than it is to not do it at all. Similarly, it was a slap in the face when my English professor came up to me after I failed the semester and said, "you need to learn to be comfortable giving me bad essays because a 40% is better than a 0%."
I've found it applies to more of life than just college. Closed mouths don't get fed.
NOT lovin' it.
Used to complain about "frivolous lawsuits" and say things like "people can sue McDonald's when their coffee's too hot".
But came to learn the truth of that suit (Documentary "Hot Coffee") and realized the courts are one of the last places where the average person stands any chance against the wealthy/powerful/corporations.
True facts.
GiphyI thought people who didn't want go to college or people who didn't even try to pursue a higher education were making a mistake.
Now with the cost of college, student loans, and meeting people who were successful without college, I totally get it.
Thank goodness for them.
I was briefly on the anti vaxx train with it causing autism and stuff. Then seen a point about how we just got better at diagnosing it and was like "that makes sense" and that was that.
A blessing in disguise.
I grew up in a religious cult believing that I liked other guys because of imperfection and sin, and whole heartedly devoted my life to suppressing that "illness".
I ended up in the hospital. During my mandatory psychiatric stay, a psychiatrist gave me quite a figurative slap in the face. Unlike therapists up until that point, he had absolutely no respect for the idea that I could suppress being gay.
He was openly against it to the point of being rude. Would straight up laugh in my face when I said with all determination that I could lead a celibate life.
I didn't appreciate it at the time, but his words stuck with me and made me rethink my priorities. Long story short, I'm now out of the cult and have 0 contact with any of my old friends or family. It still hurts a lot but I can say with confidence now that I made the right choice.
Glad you're still here.
GiphyI used to think people who committed suicide were cowards and selfish for inflicting suffering on their loved ones.
Then I began to suffer from depression and attempted it.
I have a daughter who has made multiple attempts. It makes me rage when some assert that she is merely sad, should just get over it, etc. I'm glad you made it through.
A major shift in priorities.
I used to want kids.
I really, really wanted to have kids. My whole life I wanted to be a Mom, dreamed of what my children would be like. I was always fairly practical about when I wanted to have them, though, and was pretty careful not to get pregnant. After being married for 5 years, my husband and I decided to go for it. We tried for a little over 2 years, unsuccessfully.
It sucked.
One day I got my period and was relieved. Relieved that I wasn't pregnant. I realized that I didn't want that anymore. Talked to my husband, he felt the same, I got back on birth control. That was a couple years ago, and now we are discussing sterilization for both of us.
There are jerks in every group, unfortunately.
When I was younger I hated the US with a passion for many reasons.
Now, after meeting some average US citizens I realized although the place and it's people aren't perfect (no one/nowhere is) I no longer hate the US. My hate was always unwarranted and petty.
You don't understand until it happens to you.
Universal Healthcare.
I used to be AGAINST it. I now SUPPORT it.
I did a college project showing the case AGAINST Universal Healthcare. I had fantastic insurance through my dad's employer at the time.
Fast forward: 26th birthday.
Lost my dad's insurance.
Had a crappy retail job and couldn't afford insurance. Wasn't able to find work in my field. Was also in my state's gap for coverage. I was scared to death about getting sick. Even the simplest problem like needing antibiotics scared me so so much. There was no way I could afford a hospital bill.
Eventually I clawed my way up and landed a job with good pay and great health insurance. Regardless those few years where I was uninsured scared me so much... I worry about those who don't have adequate coverage and aren't fortunate enough to move up in the workplace. It's a nerve wracking place to be.
Everyone should be taken care of. Period. Nobody should have to make a choice between keeping a roof over their head or having health insurance.
Mental illness is a real thing.
GiphyI used to think that people who claimed to have an anxiety disorder were mostly exaggerating and crying for attention. Then I moved away for an internship one summer and got to walk a mile in their shoes. I knew no one where I was living, and ended up isolating myself. Symptoms crept in one at a time, and while I never reached a point where I felt it absolutely necessary to seek professional help I did get pretty close.
Going from feeling generally comfortable in my own skin to constantly worrying about what you've screwed up and what you're going to screw up next is a terrible feeling. Not being able to sleep a wink despite being exhausted for nights on end is something I don't ever want to experience again either. It made my performance at that job horrendous. Luckily I spend enough time on the internet to stumble across really inspiring people and sources that helped me fix my situation. Others aren't quite so lucky, and have to work 10x as hard to battle through it
Forming your own opinions is very important.
I was brought up by a mother who hates tattoos and piercings. Now, my mom is super accepting and non judgmental, she just doesn't like them and hates the thought of them on her precious children. My dad likes them but only has one, my younger sisters baby footprints on his shoulder blade. She still wasn't in love with it. So I always hated them too.
Even a woman I dated for several years wanted to get one and I cringed but am not the controlling type so I rolled with it. Actually kind of didn't hate it. Then sort of liked it. We split and I made a good friend who was a tattoo artist and piercer. On a dare and a little pressure from him and some friends, I had him pierce my tongue. I loved it.
Then dated a few women with more and bigger tattoos than I would ever had thought I'd be into. Turns out? I don't have a problem with tattoos, MOM had a problem with tattoos and I was indoctrinated! Now, I LOVE girls with (good) ink. Like it's one of my biggest turn ons. But, I still didn't want any myself. Ended up getting my ear pierced later on too.
Then finally met a couple in Dallas at a brewery in Deep Ellum and made friends with them. They seemed to have some money and when they found out that I didn't have any tattoos, the guy told me that we are all going across the street right then to get one. He gave me a $150 limit. I had way too many tatted up friends who would kill me for passing up a free tattoo. So I took the leap. Something maybe five inches long on my shoulder blade that came out to $148.
Well, it's over. I've got the bug. I want more than my wallet will allow but I'm already planning my second. I LOVE them and mom has had to get over it, needless to say. But hey, I softened the blow for my brother, who wants any more than I would ever want. Two full sleeves at least. Sorry ma!
A good watch.
GiphyI was a firm believer that the death penalty was reasonable in certain circumstances as a deterrent/punishment.
Then my partner and I watched through the show Penn & Teller Bullshit. One of the episodes was about the death penalty. It's like 45 minutes long, and by the end of it, my opinion on the death penalty had completely and irrevocably changed and I am 100% against it under any circumstances now.
I have never had my mind changed so thoroughly on something in such a short time. Highly recommend people go watch that episode.
That's some maturity right there.
I used to be really against any form of sexuality. Grew up in a home that I was taught it was bad. So I was one of those girls who thought sex workers/openly sexual women were less than.
Well, I ended up getting cheated on with a cam girl. Started to cam just to prove I could do it, then saw how sweet a lot of the girls were. Also that the job wasn't solely sexual, talking to some of my regulars gave them enough confidence to approach women in person.
Valuable lesson.
On the other side of the coin...
GiphyI became a bit more nihilistic but also more hardline on lawbreaking. I am now pro-capital punishment for the worst offenders. I used to strongly believe in life sentences as the worst punishment, as prisoners would have to live with their mistakes until they died. However, I didn't think it was our place to kill them.
But now, if you're a psychopathic serial killer, you deserve to die. This world doesn't need you and the legal system has the authority, in my opinion, to rid the world of evil people that act upon their cruel intents.