Many of us may know someone who lives and has made an occupation of being an eternal sceptic. People who may continually choose to question, or throw doubt on another person's knowledge.
Being an eternal sceptic
Anyone who is an eternal sceptic, may have his or her own opinions, may discredit what's being said and may usually want to carry out their own research before they consider or believe the facts, knowledge or opinions that are being presented. In a way, it may almost becomes a personal quest, because a sceptic never seems convinced by what is being said is true and may continue to mistrust people.
Discrediting someone's opinions
When we discredit someone’s opinion without giving that person a chance to be believed, it points the finger directly at us. It’s something we may learn, we’re not born with those traits. If our parents behave with scepticism, we are more likely to copy them, but we should have an open mind.
It's okay to disagree
It’s okay to disagree when we have the full facts in front of us and there may be times when it is necessary for us to be sceptical, particularly if the other person wants to involve us and we have our doubts. In those circumstances, we should always have a right to throw doubt on what's being said.
Using scepticism can be damaging in relationships, but once we are aware we're using scepticism, we should change how we relate and communicate with one another.
I think my sister is a sceptic. I love her dearly, but there are times when we get in a discussion about something medical and she 'knows what the right answer is' even though she is a teacher and didn't study in the medical field.
I'm a nurse and when she does this it makes me doubt what I know... and there are others that make me doubt what I know to be the truth. I live around sceptics!
I wonder how many sceptics will actually admit to being a sceptic! It's important to go with your gut feelings and stick to your guns on what you know to be the truth.
I know I've been very sceptical in my life, which is something that I'm trying very hard to change.
I haven't had a lot of positives in my life that would make a skeptic out of almost anyone. I just need to learn to get beyond it. Then I know I will be much better off.
When we're surrounded by negativity it would be so easy to learn how to be sceptic. It becomes a coping mechanism I would imagine. Good role models don't do that.
I am pleased you're trying hard to change how not to be sceptic and hope you succeed.
When I was younger, I definitely was much more sceptical than I am nowadays; although experience especially in business has still left me a healthy sceptic!
It's good that you've changed from being much more sceptical to being less sceptical now. There's obviously room for improvement but that's a start!
I think people and business is a different entity completely to a social setting; in business a little scepticism can be a good thing.