We don’t talk anymore.
Just because you said it, doesn’t mean you’re right.
We DECLARE.
“This is a fascinating topic to me. I feel that dogma is when opinion gets so loud, it forgets how to listen. It’s the moment belief becomes a rulebook, and curiosity gets kicked out of the room. It’s the end of the conversation – not the beginning of one. There is a time and a place for everything. And not everything is dogma. And not every opinion is fact. The art of dialogue is crucial in our everyday lives.”
creator of maison 1973, Nic Tierney
Agree to disagree? Is that even a thing anymore?
Welcome to the age of the mic drop. Where certainty on everything and everyone – is now our currency, and anyone who dares to disagree is instantly dismissed, dissected, or digitally obliterated. We seem to not want to really talk anymore? Instead, it feels as if everything is a declaration. And if you’re not clapping, you’re clearly the enemy.
Somewhere along the way, we lost the art of respectful disagreement. We lost our appetite for nuance. We became afraid – or even allergic? – to not being right.
What does this mean and what is going on? Let’s explore.
It’s Everywhere Now
It lives in social captions and podcast rants. It masquerades as moral superiority. It seems to punish curiosity and curious people?
Dogma says, “I’m right. You’re wrong. End of story.” Dialogue, on the other hand, says, “Here’s what I think. What about you?”
As Gen X women, we remember a different kind of conversation. One where people could sit across from each other with totally opposing views and still share dessert. We weren’t so threatened by contradiction. We knew that opinions didn’t define the person – or at least, they didn’t have to.
But now? Opinions are treated as identities. And any challenge to your viewpoint is seen as a threat to your entire sense of self.
But here’s a truth: just because you make a point, doesn’t necessarily make it right. And just because someone doesn’t agree with you, doesn’t make them wrong. It’s a harsh truth for some, but it is a truth nevertheless.
We’ve confused having a platform with having the last word. We’ve mistaken confidence for correctness. We’ve equated volume with value.
Here’s a thought to ponder – if your belief system can’t handle being questioned, maybe it’s not a belief system – it’s a performance?
It takes strength to hold space for views that challenge your own. It takes grace to say, “I see it differently – but I still respect you.” It takes maturity to let the moment pass without needing to win it.
This is happening everywhere: families divided over dinner, 24/7 with virtual strangers online, some people are just opting out of conversation altogether because it’s just not worth the backlash. People’s general interest in just simply seeking to understand – being stifled by those with louder opinions.
But silence isn’t the answer. And neither is shouting louder.
So What is?
It’s curiosity. It’s emotional maturity. It’s being okay with not being right. It’s knowing when to walk away, not to prove a point but to preserve your peace. It’s understanding that some things in life hold a lot of uncertainty and with that, there needs to be some understanding.
It’s becoming so rare (particularly online) to find and meet people where you feel completely at ease with sharing a thought, an opinion, a viewpoint, a question – and you know that it will be met with a considered response, not a defensive one. A dialogue. We can remember a time, where this was how we just functioned in life – what happened?
At maison 1973, we believe in deeper conversations, challenging the ‘status quo’, asking and really listening. There will always be discomfort in our paths to growth – always. We never stop growing and evolving – regardless of our age. We believe you can disagree with someone and still love or respect them (or both). We like to learn and embrace change. And with change comes uncertainty – and that’s part of life. We’ve lived through many decades, we know that change is inevitable.
You don’t need to shout to be sure of what you believe. You don’t need to be right to be worthy. And you don’t need everyone to agree with you to lead with confidence.
Let’s bring back nuance. Let’s bring back listening. Let’s bring back the beauty of I see it differently, and that’s okay.
Because disagreement doesn’t need to mean the end of the conversation. Sometimes, it’s where the real one begins.
THE maison 1973 Takeaway
Not every differing opinion is an attack. Sometimes it’s just… another point of view.
Not every opinion needs a rebuttal. Not every point needs a mic drop. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can say is simply: “I hear you.”
What do you think?
Certainty is trending.
maison 1973
But curiosity? That’s timeless.