Opinionated or pushy?

Upon receiving the results from the SOAR test I was a bit confused. 

Not about the sociability thing, though. For real, I am that anti-social sometimes. 

I was more surprised about the "tolerance of opinions" score. I got a 17. 

Being surrounded by an opinionated family and even more opinionated peers I never thought of myself as intolerant of other people's opinions. I think I am pretty understanding of others' opinions. 

I feel pretty hypocritical now since I kept preaching in the first days of Scholars class that we should be more open-minded to others' ideas and everything. 

But like Professor Birgen and Dr. Earl said, this test isn't always very accurate. 

This got me to thinking about how I feel about people that have opposing ideas to my own. I listen to them. I digest them. I question the person to learn more about the beginnings of the opinions. I don't think I attack their beliefs in any way. At least not outwardly. I am perfectly fine being around others with differing thoughts as long as they don't try to convert me to their opinions, too. 

I guess this makes me a pacifist, eh?

I do enjoy debating in classes or even just in conversations. I love hearing about another point of view on a topic. Perhaps I'll adopt some of the ideas of another person. But if I don't, does that make me intolerant?

No. It doesn't. It makes me someone who is set in their beliefs. Going into college, I was proud to know what I believed in and even more proud to know how set in my beliefs I am. 

Next time we differ on opinions, you can speak your mind and I'll speak mine. I'll politely listen and let the points settle into my brain. But don't expect me to change my beliefs; I don't expect you to change yours.