Acceptance or resignation?

April 14th, 2023

I wanted to say something as my stylist was cutting my hair this afternoon. Not about my hair or the cut she was doing — I mean she is a talented professional and she still can do miracles with my thinning and surprisingly quickly disappearing hair. I wanted to tell her that she is wrong on a political/social subject she was making a point on. Offensive point and without any basis in reality but one that is common on specific social media sites maintained by specific people. And by specific I mean racist and xenophobic and idiotic loudmouths.

I didn't say anything. I kept my mouth shut.

By there was something different about this ordeal that is unfortunately common in my interactions with other people — I don't correct them and don't make my point (strongly and loudly enough) and I don't present my point of view and I don't even tell them not to talk about something in that matter since I find it offensive. After that happens, I stew and steam within myself — thinking about tens of replies and comebacks I might have said, and how I could easily make my point and make them look foolish. And I promise myself that next time I will let that person have it.

Of course, after next time I promise myself that really next time …

Today it was different. I mostly ignored what was said with only occasional grunts when I saw that my reply was expected. I didn't make a scenario in my head about how I should react and behave and how next time I will speak my mind. I heard what was said, but didn't register it on any deeper level. And after we were done, I went out on my way without much care about this incident. But now I wonder — was it an acceptance that other people can have widely different ideas and beliefs than me and they can be profoundly wrong, or was it simply a resignation with the knowledge that there is no cure for idiocy and I will have live surrounded by people whose views I don't respect?