Friday, March 7, 2008

Please leave if [vol. 4]: Conflict

you can't handle conflict. Or if you're unwilling to learn how.

The biggest question of the 21st century is how do we live with people who are different. Right now there seems to be two main answers: reject diversity with violence or oversimplify diversity with tolerance (ie pluralism). Contrary to popular opinion, neither of these paths are helpful. One is aggressive, the other is passive (or sometimes, passive aggressive).

Conflict is a normal healthy part of any relationship. A close therapist friend has always told me that the one of the most important tests when dating is the first fight. If you can't fight well together, it's not going to last.