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BillMagicguy

I think people have the idea that forgiveness means moving on, it doesn't. Forgiveness means not allowing another person to effect you anymore. You can forgive someone while still learning a lesson and never wanting to see them again.


lordm30

Exactly. You can even forgive them (for what they did) but do everything you can to stop them from doing it again (removing them from your life, alerting the authorities in case it was something illegal, suing them, etc.).


DrugChemistry

Similarly you can move on and not forgive someone. It’s nbd. 


BillMagicguy

I would argue that's a form of forgiveness. Holding a grudge is only hurting yourself. Forgiveness just means letting go of that grudge or anger for ourselves. The other person barely plays into the process at all.


qam4096

What's the point when the choice of the other party is to be an obnoxious fucktwat?


lordm30

The point is to not carry hatred or any negative feeling in you in relation to them. After all, any negative feeling is poisoning you, not them.


qam4096

If a bear eats your kid, do you forgive the bear?


lordm30

Of course. Right before I shot it dead.


qam4096

Murderous intent is a negative feeling that simply poisons you, not them.


lordm30

It is not murderous intent. It is simply a necessary step to achieve a goal (that the bear will not kill any other human in the future).


qam4096

And thus the bear is not forgiven.


lordm30

It is. You confuse forgiveness with forgoing the consequences of their actions. Forgiveness is letting go of your anger, hatred, frustration, etc. What remains is the rational mind that would conclude that they could repeat again the action that hurt me, so I need to prevent that. In case of a bear, the simplest form of prevention is to kill the bear.


qam4096

Sounds like a made up word salad to me, void of logic, friend.


Theblankthing

"obnoxious fuckwat" is how you see them, not who they are. Challenge your perception of them, not only for their sake but for your own. At the end of the day, forgiveness is not mandatory anyway.


qam4096

I think it's willful ignorance to pretend that some members of society are not actively choosing to be as horrendous as possible.


Theblankthing

I see it from a different perspective.


AnyOffice8162

You are correct, but you should still forgive them.


Mental_Victory946

No they should not be


Inolk

In most case, doesn't really matter, so it is better forgive.


ArtemisLi

Too often, in my experience, forgiveness is taken as permission. Too many people think that you forgiving them for shitty behaviour means they get to do what they want carte blanche. 


Massive-Mention-3679

One must ask for forgiveness. It’s never just given. I’ll never forgive my parents and brothers for being the biggest assholes on earth. And it was never my burden to carry when not forgiving them.


AnyOffice8162

God forgave you. You just have to accept it.


TweakyIsNotDead

Preach bro, I agree with this opinion


Yuck_Few

This post is word salad and self-contradictory. First you said forgiveness is overhyped and then you proceeded to criticize people for not forgiving


magicfeistybitcoin

Spite and revenge fantasies are my source of peace. I'm not forgiving the monsters who enjoyed harming me. Fuck forgiveness. Hold abusers accountable.


Theblankthing

If it works for you


Unfair_Explanation53

It's not peace it's anger.


AnyOffice8162

You don't grasp what forgiveness is. You harbor anger and grudges. How much anguish has that brought you in life?


Lost_Needleworker285

Not much it's actually quite peaceful.


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JamieTransNerd

I think real peace is for ourselves, and forgiveness is a way to acknowledge that the wrongs of the past don't control us or bother us anymore. This kind of real peace takes real time and effort to achieve. It also requires some attempt to understand the other's actions.


thee_gianna

>It also requires some attempt to understand the other's actions. I agree with everything except this part. Not everything can or should be understood. Of course, this depends on the particular situation and severity, but attempting to understand can sometimes become a way to excuse, rationalize, and/or minimize.


throwaway74329857

That's a half-popular opinion. I think everybody would agree that forgiveness is over-hyped. For me I don't think it's under-practiced unless we're talking about forgiving ourselves. I don't think forgiveness is the best or only way to heal from something somebody did to you. You can even remain friends or confidants with somebody without forgiving them for what they did to you. It's more complicated than simply "let it go" or "hold a menacing grudge for life".


Legendarybbc15

> You can even remain friends or confidants with somebody without forgiving them for what they did to you. It's more complicated than simply "let it go" or "hold a menacing grudge for life". Summed up my relationship with my dad right there. Can’t ever forgive him for some event that occurred 10 years ago (more so because he chooses to ignore it). I’m still “cordial” with him and still keep in contact with him but there’s always that elephant in the room.


Unfair_Explanation53

More people should practise forgiving themselves for letting other people treat them badly. And practise letting go and trying to forget these people. They can find their own absolution.


Old_Heat3100

You don't forgive because the other person deserves forgiveness. You forgive for yourself and your own mental well being The best revenge is living a good fun life The person who robbed and assaulted me traumatized me but I take comfort that I'm going out and having fun while they're trapped in a one room house with a shitty husband and too many kids


OnyxCam6ion

Depends for me, like for example, the guy who bumper into you on the subway and you STILL like "people are evil and self-centered" yeah silly forgive and forget but someone you're actively with such as a family member or spouse I think holding accountability is fine because constantly forgiving them is enabling behavior. It's fine if you disagree or downvote me, this IS r/unpopularopinion afterall


AnyOffice8162

Forgiveness isn't for the offender. It's for the offended. When everything truly \*does\* roll off of you like water off a duck's back, it infuriates your enemies. It is so nice to have that peace. It's biblical, too. **Luke 6:27-28**: But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.


Theblankthing

Also in that passage from Luke, this implies kindness to the offender. As in it is for the offender as well. So this quote didn't justify your take at all


AnyOffice8162

Something rolling off of you doesn't mean you won't be kind to the person.


YourCrazyDolphin

Imma downvote this but solely because I agree.