Hot Headed, Light Heart

The stubborn cannot view themselves as wrong, but what comes as more significant is whether or not others view them as wrong. The pride of life is a shallow thing and not much can be said about these people other than that their self serving tendencies have done them more wrong than right. Simply, when they become stubborn they are attempting to reverse the mounds of evidence that point towards them being wrong. In the end they only appear as a fool to the world and no dignified creature.

But I write not of that man. He may not learn anything till he admits he knows nothing. I write for another. Not in praise, but a clearing of the perspectives that have misinterpreted his actions. I write for the light hearted stubborn man. He who decides to hold to his position no matter what, while he has solemnly accepted his defeated stance. He loses the battle and still he fights for what he believes, but still he fights with resignation; with a smile on his face that says, "Gentle opponent, you have made me the unorthodox; good sir, you have made me taboo; gracious master, you have made me the insane. I, who am comically loyal to my stance, proved'st me wrong; for I lie here in the dirt and suck up the humors that may only make me weaker. Great victor, may I, by your leave, oppose you still in an arm wrestle that has predetermined consequences? I ask as a light hearted mule."

This supplication is all that must be understood when dealing with this man. How is he treating the loss? Does he attempt to return to it later to convince you still that he was right? Does he become embittered? No. Not this man of whom I speak. The experience for both parties should walk warily; all things said should be taken in good faith, provided that it is a discussion between Christians. And it should be noted that no hard feelings are solidified by the light hearted mule; but merely he plays a game.

Why is he this way? It is annoying. Well, quit being annoyed. He practices. Practice makes perfect. What is he practicing for, that warrants such blatant stubbornness? Sophistry. He wants to become a sophist. The sophist is a master of argument. His skill and talent in this typically cursed practice is so tuned, so precise, so threatening that he is able to argue any point regardless if he believes it, or regardless if it is objective truth. We will argue it and win. So, the youth that attempts such goals will lose and he will know it, but his stubbornness teaches him. It presents himself opportunity to practice (all in good fun and light hearts, if I can't stress that enough) the art of sophistry.